Agenda
Times are listed in EDT.
2026 New Directors Training
April 28—29, 2026
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852
8:15 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Registration
9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Welcome, Introductions, Icebreaker, and Day One Agenda Review
Katie Glendening, ACL
Vonetta Norman, ACL
Staff members from the Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling (OHIC) will welcome everyone to the training. This session will include an introduction to the OHIC team and programs, as well as a review of the agenda and an icebreaker.
9:30 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks & ACL Overview
Kelly Cronin, ACL
Rebecca Kinney, ACL
This session will feature an overview of ACL, including its mission, vision, organizational structure, and key functions supporting older adults and people with disabilities. It will highlight major programs and priorities within OHIC, including the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), along with their funding, roles, and partnerships. Overall, the session is designed to orient new directors to ACL’s structure, ACL’s strategic priorities, and how their programs fit within the broader federal framework.
10:15 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
BREAK
10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Orientation (Center Services) and Data System Tips & Tricks
Brandy Bauer, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Technical Assistance (TA) Center and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Resource Center—Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging
Jennifer Teague, National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (NCBOE)—MIPPA TA Center—National Council on Aging
This session will be an orientation to the SHIP TA Center and the SMP Resource Center, highlighting the services, tools, websites, and support available to directors and their teams. It will offer practical tips for using STARS and SIRS, including access, reporting, troubleshooting, and key contacts for ongoing assistance. There will also be an overview of the NCBOE and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA)–related training, tools, and technical assistance it offers. The session will also highlight key NCOA resources available to support benefits outreach and enrollment efforts.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
LUNCH
1:00 p.m.–1:15 p.m.
Networking Activity
Melissa Simpson, ACL
1:15 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Person-Centered Thinking
Shefy Simon, ACL
This session will introduce person-centered practice and show how it can be applied in the role of a project director across SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA grant work. It will highlight practical tools and resources—including relationship mapping, cultural humility, and de-escalation strategies—to support more effective and responsive interactions. This session will help directors think about how to incorporate person-centered approaches into daily program management and beneficiary support.
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Typical Day as a Director – Tribal Relationships
Jeanné Larson, Alaska Medicare Information Office
Tim Smolen, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
This session will focus on building and strengthening Tribal relationships as a SHIP Director, with discussion centered on outreach, culture, trust, and the unique needs of Native communities. It will also explore how Tribal engagement can be reflected in program planning, education, partnerships, and service delivery, including support for Medicare and dual-eligible populations. The session is designed to help directors think more intentionally about respectful collaboration, relationship building, and sustaining this work over time.
3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
BREAK
3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Typical Day as a Director – A Model of Teamwork
María Alvarez, New York Statewide Senior Action Council
This session will highlight how the New York SMP uses teamwork across staff members, volunteers, and community collaborators to advance its mission. It will focus on building an effective team by selecting people with the right skills, values, capacity, and commitment while also emphasizing planning, partnerships, and ongoing evaluation. The session will also offer a practical model for new directors on how strong teamwork can support program success and service delivery.
4:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Typical Day as a Director – Leading SHIP and SMP for Impact
Anne Chansler, Florida Department of Elder Affairs
This session will focus on how SHIP and SMP directors can lead with greater impact by strengthening supervisor relationships, building partnerships, and clearly communicating program value. It will emphasize practical leadership strategies such as managing up, setting clear expectations, using data and stories to show return on investment, and positioning the program as an essential resource. Overall, the session will encourage directors to move beyond daily operations and lead in ways that make their programs more visible, understood, and sustainable.
4:30 p.m.–4:45 p.m.
Wrap-up/Share Learnings
Katie Glendening, ACL
Vonetta Norman, ACL
This session will comprise announcements, and grantees will be able to participate in the evaluation of the New Director Training. Your feedback makes a difference and is important for sharing content in future sessions. Please be sure to complete this evaluation.
4:45 p.m. –6:00 p.m.
Team Bonding (Optional)
8:15 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Registration and Networking
9:00 a.m.–9:15 a.m.
Welcome Back and Day Two Agenda Review
Katie Glendening, ACL
Vonetta Norman, ACL
Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling (OHIC) Leadership will host an icebreaker.
9:15 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling (OHIC) Program Overview
Maggie Flowers, ACL
Rebecca Kinney, ACL
Melissa Simpson, ACL
This session will provide an overview of OHIC programs, major reporting requirements, performance data, and key initiatives across SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA. It will feature highlights and updates related to outreach materials, data systems, certification requirements, casework, and program management. The session is designed to help directors better understand OHIC’s priorities, expectations, and available resources.
10:15 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
BREAK
10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Partnerships – ACL, CMS, and ASPR
Rebecca Kinney, ACL
Natay Minor, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
Jennifer Syria, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
For a new director, identifying partners to engage with can be challenging. It's common to feel uncertain about where to direct your efforts and how to establish meaningful connections that will support your initiatives as a leader.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
LUNCH
1:00 p.m.–1:15 p.m.
Networking Activity
Donna Bethge, ACL
1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Managing Your Grants: Programmatic Aspects and Interactive Case Studies
Katie Glendening, ACL
Chiquita O’Cain, ACL
James Terrell, ACL
Participants will work in small groups to learn about the top five areas to focus on when starting to manage OHIC grants: (1) connecting with people, (2) connecting with systems, (3) reading grant documents, (4) meeting deadlines, and (5) reviewing performance data. The groups will present their lessons with the larger group.
2:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m.
BREAK
2:45 p.m.–3:15 p.m.
Typical Day as a Director – Lessons Learned from Wisconsin and Maximizing Data Impact
Michelle Grochocinski, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
This session will feature lessons learned from the Wisconsin SHIP. Ms. Grochocinski will offer practical tips for managing grant operations, fiscal oversight, and day-to-day program responsibilities as a director. The session will emphasize the importance of using data effectively to monitor performance, tell a stronger program story, and support outreach, advocacy, and decision-making. Overall, the session will provide both operational guidance and strategies for maximizing the impact of SHIP and MIPPA data.
3:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
Typical Day as a Director – A Day in the Life
Shawn Smith, Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging
This session will provide an overview of Virginia’s SMP structure and offer a practical look at the day-to-day responsibilities involved in being a state SMP director, including responding to emails and voice messages, data reviews, monthly reports, volunteer coordination, event preparation, and data entry. It will highlight how SIRS data, monthly reporting, and event tracking are used to monitor performance, support coordinators, and plan outreach activities across the state.
3:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
Typical Day as a Director – Teams + Tools + Data
Tiffany Erhard, New York Statewide Senior Action Council
This session will outline the role of an SMP director through three key areas: teams, tools, and data. It will emphasize the importance of strong relationships, practical resources, hands-on case awareness, and regular data review to support staff members, monitor fraud trends, and strengthen program operations. Overall, the session will give new directors a practical framework for managing daily responsibilities while staying focused on the SMP mission.
4:15 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Wrap-up/Share Learnings
Katie Glendening, ACL
Vonetta Norman, ACL
This session will comprise final daily announcements. Grantees will be able to participate in the evaluation of the New Director Training. Your feedback makes a difference and is important for sharing content in future sessions. Please be sure to complete this evaluation.