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Wanda Anae-Onishi
Wanda Anae-Onishi is Director, Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). She has been the Hawaii SHIP Program Director for the past 2.5 years, bringing her state government experience since 2007. Her work assisting Medicare beneficiaries, their families, caregivers, and soon-to-be retirees is fulfilling because of the ongoing learning SHIP provides and the ability to constantly enhance program development to ensure the highest quality of service and supports. Hawaii SHIP’s recent project (known as Project 65), various tracking and monitoring tools, and the program’s focus on continuous volunteer training will be highlighted during the presentation.
Rob Baillieu
Robert Baillieu, M.D., M.P.H., is a physician and senior clinical and practice advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. He is a board-certified family physician and holds degrees in medicine, public health, business, and modern languages. Dr. Baillieu has worked with underserved patients across America, and he is published in numerous international peer-reviewed journals.
Abby Batterson
Abby Batterson is the Interactive Media Manager at the Senior Medical Patrol National Resource Center. She creates and manages content for the Center’s social media platforms and national website. These public-facing platforms serve as resources for SMP network outreach as well as a national presence for the program to help in its mission to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. Ms. Batterson brings over 10 years’ experience in media management and content creation.
Brandy Bauer
Brandy Bauer is Associate Director for the Center for Benefits Access at the National Council on Aging, where she works with community organizations and state agencies to promote outreach and enrollment into benefits for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Ms. Bauer has 20 years’ experience in communications related to improving access to health and human services for vulnerable populations.
Ellen Blackwell
Ellen Blackwell is a senior advisor at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Center for Clinical Standards and Quality. She is a geriatric social worker with an extensive background in aging, disability services, and long-term services and supports in Medicare and Medicaid. At CMS, she works on programs that support improved quality, program efficiency, and person-centered care. She joined the federal service as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2001. Prior to joining CMS, Ms. Blackwell was a consultant at the Horizon Foundation, a philanthropic organization that promotes local health and wellness. She interned as a graduate student at The Hilltop Institute, a health research center at the University of Maryland–Baltimore County, and at the Howard County Office on Aging. Ms. Blackwell also founded a chapter of the Autism Society of America.
Jennifer Bush
Jennifer Bush is the lead analyst with Booz Allen Hamilton and is in her fourth year of supporting the development and maintenance of SIRS and STARS. She oversees the Booz Allen SIRS and STARS Help Desks and works with users to address any of their technical questions.
Denny Chan
Denny Chan serves as Justice in Aging’s inaugural Directing Attorney for Equity Advocacy. In this role, he is responsible for developing and leading Justice in Aging’s Strategic Initiative on Advancing Equity, with a primary focus on providing racial equity for older adults of color. He also coordinates the organization’s equity team. Mr. Chan joined Justice in Aging as an attorney on the health team in 2014, and is based in Los Angeles, CA. The son of working-class Chinese immigrant parents, Mr. Chan has worked significantly on non-discrimination, language access, and health care delivery reform issues for low-income older adults and brings all of these experiences to his advocacy. He previously served as a rotating law clerk for the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and participated in the Fulbright English Teaching Program as a fellow in Macau, China. Mr. Chan is a member of the California bar and is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Michael Cohen
As a Headquarters Operations Officer with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations, Dr. Michael Cohen is responsible for pharmaceutical fraud law enforcement program oversight in Washington, DC. He has been at OIG headquarters for the past 9 years. He previously worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, FL, in the Healthcare Fraud division. Dr. Cohen’s current work includes schemes and analysis of newly approved pharmaceuticals subject to diversion. Dr. Cohen also has 30 years’ experience in clinical health care. He received undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry from the University of Richmond, physician assistant training from George Washington University, a law degree with a specialty in Health Law, and Doctor of Health Sciences from A.T. Still University.
Akia Dieuseul
Akia U. Dieuseul, MSW, is a Program Analyst/Project Officer with the Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling at the Administration for Community Living. Prior to joining OHIC in April 2019, Akia worked for the Connecticut State Unit on Aging as the Director for the SHIP, MIPPA SHIP and MIPPA AAA grants. She also participated on the SHIP Steering Committee. Before becoming the SHIP Director, Akia worked for the CT Department of Social Services, initially as an Eligibility Services Worker administering Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to families with dependent children. She went on to become a Social Worker for six years, assisting older adults, persons with disabilities, and families with programs such as Protective Services for the Elderly, Personal Care Assistance Waiver, Community Based Services, Acquired Brain Injury Waiver, and Security Deposit Guarantee.
Heather Flory
Heather Flory is the Training Manager at the SMP National Resource Center. She coordinates and hosts Center-sponsored web events and implements training for SIRS (the SMP Information and Reporting System) and other national initiatives. She also coordinates development and updates of volunteer training manuals, kits, and other resources.
Maggie Flowers
Maggie Flowers is the Program Manager for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) program at ACL. In this role, Maggie is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and administration of all things SHIP and MIPPA. Before joining ACL, she was the Associate Director, Economic Security at the National Council on Aging (NCOA) where she played a central role in the development of programmatic activities across NCOA’s economic security division. She directed the Economic Security Initiative, which helps older adults create a plan to build their economic security, and the Benefits Enrollment Centers project, which uses person-centered strategies to help low-income seniors access benefits. Her prior positions include Interim Director of the Elder Economic Security Initiative at Wider Opportunities for Women and the International Association of Homes & Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) Services Manager at LeadingAge. She received her Master of Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University and her Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin.
Leslie Fried
Leslie Fried is the Senior Director of the Center for Benefits Access at the National Council on Aging (NCOA). She directs the Center’s activities to support community-based organizations’ outreach and enrollment activities of low-income older adults and advocates for improved access to Medicare, Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and other public benefits for seniors and adults with disabilities of limited means. Prior to joining NCOA, Leslie was a senior attorney with the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Law and Aging. Before joining the ABA staff, she was in private practice representing clients in various elder law and domestic relations matters. Leslie received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland. She is a member of the Maryland, District of Columbia, and Supreme Court bars.
Yvonne Gamble
Yvonne Gamble is the Deputy Director of Communications at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). In this role, Ms. Gamble leads the team responsible for the creation and dissemination of digital products used to inform the public about HHS-OIG’s work, mission, and priorities. Prior to joining HHS-OIG, Ms. Gamble spent over a decade working at the U.S. Department of State as a Public Affairs Specialist and Digital Engagement Strategist, specializing in using strategic communications and digital media to expand the reach of U.S. foreign policy to a domestic and international audience. Ms. Gamble holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elizabeth City State University and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and Media Studies with a certificate in International Studies from Howard University.
Kathleen Gouveia
As a training coordinator, Ms. Gouveia develops trainings and tools for Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE) Counselors, Regional Directors, and consumers, and oversees training and volunteer management throughout the state. She developed programs to minimize elder isolation and encourage socialization as a town outreach coordinator for elderly services.
Marie Gress
Marie Gress is a licensed master-level social worker with specialties in macro practice and older adults. She is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Organization Development Specialist at Kovir LLC, a social enterprise helping aging sector community-based nonprofits increase their capacity and impact. She is the founder of WizeCove™, a professional development community for the aging sector, and AgeFlux, a virtual senior center solution and digital community building training platform. She has worked with community-based grassroots nonprofits formally for the past 12 years, and specifically with those doing older adult services and senior centers for the last 7 years. More about the work Kovir LLC does can be found at https://kovir.org/.
Sharon Graham
As Regional Administrator and Staff Director for CMS Philadelphia, Sharon Graham leads and coordinates local external engagement efforts with all regional stakeholders and customers in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. She also provides administrative and operational support to all employees in CMS Philadelphia, promoting cohesion and collaboration throughout the regional office and with other CMS components. Sharon has been with CMS since 1992, most recently serving as Deputy Consortium Administration for the Consortium for Medicare Health Plan Operations (CMHPO). Sharon is a graduate of Moravian College and holds a master’s degree in Political Science from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University.
Ann Kayrish
Ms. Kayrish is the Senior Program Manager for Medicare at the National Council on Aging (NCOA), where she helps local, state, and regional organizations develop and implement strategies to find, counsel, and assist Medicare beneficiaries as they apply for and enroll in benefits for which they may be eligible. Over the past 25 years, Ms. Kayrish has worked in many parts of the health care industry, including managed care, patient assistance programs, and provider and sales force relations. Prior to joining NCOA, Ms. Kayrish managed operations for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program in Montgomery County, MD, helping the most vulnerable populations gain access to health care benefits and services. Ms. Kayrish received her B.S. in health care management from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN.
Elana Kieffer
Elana Kieffer is the Acting Director of The New York Academy of Medicine’s Center for Healthy Aging. She has 15 years’ experience working in a wide range of older adult services, with a focus on project management, program development, and sales and marketing. Prior to her time at the Academy, Ms. Kieffer worked at The New Jewish Home and at MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care. She also worked in affordable and market-rate senior housing for two Boston-based organizations: The Community Builders and Hebrew SeniorLife. Elana has an M.B.A. in nonprofit management with a concentration in aging services from the Heller School at Brandeis University.
Rebecca Kinney
Rebecca Kinney is the Director for ACL’s Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling (OHIC). In this role, Rebecca is responsible for the administration of the programs that reside within OHIC—SHIP, the MIPPA program, and the SMP program—as well as for the support of CMS’ Duals Demonstration Ombudsman Technical Assistance program. She provides oversight and direction to OHIC’s project officers, the state grantees, various administrative contracts used to support state grantee work, and the three primary programs’ national resource centers. Rebecca has worked as Program Manager for all three OHIC programs since 2011, when her tenure at ACL began. Prior to coming to Washington, DC, Rebecca worked with the Michigan SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA grantees as the statewide Trainer. In this role she was responsible for the education and certification of the volunteers statewide and became known for her expertise on both Medicare and Michigan Medicaid. Rebecca acquired her Master of Social Work with a focus in aging and management in 2006 from the University of Michigan where she was also a Geriatric Fellow. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in drawing and painting from Alma College.
Norma Kop
Norma Kop is the Director of Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaii. Ms. Kop was named SMP Hawaii Director in February 2021, after serving as its volunteer coordinator since December 2019. She brings experience working with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, as well as providing expertise in marketing communication, education administration, teaching, and news media to strengthen program management to the Hawaii Department of Health–Executive Office on Aging. She is both honored and proud of the growth of SMP Hawaii, the high quality of volunteers, and incorporating the indigenous culture of Hawaii to inform and develop the program.
Sara Lauer
Sara Lauer is the Systems Manager for the SMP National Resource Center. She manages the ongoing development of TRAX: Training Tracker and answers questions about TRAX, SIRS (the SMP Information and Reporting System), complex interactions, and much more. She also develops online training modules, such as those used in SMP Foundations Training.
Nicole Liebau
Nicole Liebau is the SMP Resource Center Director. She manages the Center’s coordinated efforts with the Administration for Community Living (ACL); promotes national SMP visibility at national conferences; and provides technical assistance in developing all Center written materials, webinars, and other products.
Nora Lindner
Nora Lindner is a health communications contractor for the Administration for Community Living’s Office of External Affairs. Through her education and career, Ms. Lindner has cultivated an effective approach to managing communications—one built on a strong foundation in public health fundamentals, communication principles, and behavior theory. She has supported a variety of innovative health communications campaigns and programs, including brand development for state and federal organizations and outreach efforts targeting diverse communities. Ms. Lindner earned her M.P.H. from SUNY at Albany, School of Public Health.
Shari Ling
Dr. Shari Ling is the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). She assists the CMS Chief Medical Officer in pursuit of CMS’s efforts to address health care quality, equity, and access. Dr. Ling’s focus is on the achievement of meaningful health outcomes for beneficiaries through the delivery of high-quality, person-centered care across all care settings. Dr. Ling also contributes her clinical expertise as a geriatrician, internist, and rheumatologist to the development and implementation of the CMS response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. She currently leads CMS’s efforts to address the nation’s opioid and substance use disorders crisis as leader of its Opioid and SUD Steering Committee, which includes a strong focus on strengthening behavioral health services
Althea Mathews
Althea Mathews, M.S., RHIA, CPC, is a statistician with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Center for Program Integrity (CPI), Data Analytics and Systems Group (DASG), Division of Modeling and Analytics (DMA). She is responsible for coordinating and performing analytics in support of the Center’s fraud prevention and mitigation activities. She oversees analysis of service areas particularly vulnerable to fraud due to CMS regulatory flexibilities put in place in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Ms. Mathews also leads the CPI Tiger Team, a cross-functional team comprising investigative, analytic, and provider enrollment components of CPI and Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) law enforcement partners. Through the Tiger Team forum, she works with the DASG and contractor team to develop and present leads on particularly egregious providers for expedited referrals to the UPICs, I-MEDIC, and law enforcement.
Laura Minassian-Kiefel
Laura Minassian-Kiefel has worked at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approximately 20 years. Ms. Minassian-Kiefel has experience with a variety of health care programs, including Medicare fee-for-service, Medicare Parts C and D, Medicaid/CHIP, the Exchanges, and value-based care. Currently, Ms. Minassian-Kiefel serves as the Deputy Director for the Division of Vulnerability, Innovation and Strategy (DVIS) in Center for Program Integrity (CPI). In this role, she manages work associated with the Vulnerability Collaboration Council, which is a CMS forum dedicated to identifying and ameliorating fraud, waste, and abuse in CMS’s programs using a strategic, risk-based approach. Additionally, Ms. Minassian-Kiefel manages work associated with corrective action plans related to reducing the Medicare and Medicaid improper payment rates, the annual Medicare and Medicaid Program Integrity Report to Congress, the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Report, and six goals related to the Government Performance and Results Act. Since April 2020, Ms. Minassian-Kiefel has worked with DVIS staff on analyzing vulnerabilities associated with the COVID-19 waivers and flexibilities issued by CMS, and has worked with her CPI colleagues on developing mitigations to address these vulnerabilities. Recently, Ms. Minassian-Kiefel has worked with DVIS staff and contractors on a comprehensive fraud risk assessment focused on the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies program. Ms. Minassian-Kiefel holds a Master of Public Health and is also certified in health care compliance by the Health Care Compliance Association.
Doug M. Nguyen
Doug M. Nguyen is the Regional Communications Director who oversees the public affairs program for the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) six-state Chicago Region. Doug was a speaker on the National State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) Virtual Medicare Fair and co-presenter on CMS’ 2020-21 National Training Programs. Doug currently serves as the Great Lakes Regional Lead for the White House Initiative on AANHPIs (WHIAANHPI) and the Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS). Doug is an alumnus of SSA’s Advanced (ALP) and Operations Leadership Programs (OLDP) in which he held assignments in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs and the Office of the Chicago Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge. He is a recipient of SSA’s Commissioner and Regional Commissioner Honor Awards and a previous recipient of the Chicago Federal Executive Board’s Award for Outstanding Community Service.
Rod Oyola
Rod Oyola of Booz Allen Hamilton has supported ACL since the initial development of SIRS and STARS. He works with the Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling (OHIC) and Booz Allen teams to enhance, maintain, and address any issues with the data system.
Ginny Paulson
Ginny Paulson is the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center Director at Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging. She has served in this role since 2014, having previously been SMP National Resource Center Director. Her background includes local and state positions in the aging network, including with Iowa’s Aging and Disability Resource Center and the Iowa Family Caregiver Support Program.
Brent Person
Investigations and Audits Group, Field Operations—West, Centers for Program Integrity. Brent Person serves as senior investigator and technical advisor with the Los Angeles Field Office of the CPI. The Field Office serves as the agency’s primary point for detection and deterrence of Medicare fraud and abuse-related activities within the western United States. Prior to employment with the federal government, Mr. Person served as a manager in the forensic practices at two major accounting firms. He has supervised special investigations units at government contractors and commercial insurers. During his federal employment, Mr. Person has been involved in specialized task forces and investigations in Florida, Texas, and the southwestern United States.
Corey Roberts
Corey Roberts joined the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in 2020 and works with the Duals Demonstration Ombudsman Technical Assistance Program, which provides technical assistance to support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) state grantees as a program analyst. Prior to joining ACL, Mr. Roberts worked at the Social Security Administration (SSA), where he served for 3 years, first as an administrative assistant and then as a management analyst. In his tenure at SSA, Mr. Roberts provided direct service to Social Security recipients initially and transitioned to support the Assistant Deputy Commissioner in the SSA Office of Inspector General. Prior to joining SSA, he worked numerous jobs at 1-800-Medicare. He earned a master’s in Human Services and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Liberty University in Virginia.
Laura Roskos
Ms. Roskos directs the Senior Community Service Employment Program to help older job seekers and adults in transition find work with purpose and fair compensation by connecting them with training and internship opportunities. Previously, she was Activist-in-Residence and Senior Lecturer with the Center for Women’s Health and Human Rights at Suffolk University, launching a practicum for advocacy at the United Nations and other collective initiatives.
Deborah M. Royster
Assistant Director, Office for Older Americans, CFPB Deborah Royster is the Assistant Director, Office for Older Americans. Before joining the Bureau, Ms. Royster served as Chief Executive Officer of Seabury Resources for Aging, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing, transportation, care management and other support services to older adults and family caregivers in the Washington, D.C. region. Ms. Royster is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Leena Sharma
As a Project Manager/Senior Policy Analyst, Leena Sharma is part of the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation (the Center) at Community Catalyst. In this role, Ms. Sharma provides policy expertise by translating knowledge and policies to support advocacy that promotes consumer and community engagement in health system transformation. She also serves as the lead for the Center’s efforts to improve care for Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries (dual eligibles) and is responsible for integrating lessons from this work into the broader work of the Center. Prior to this role, Ms. Sharma served as the Senior State Advocacy Manager on the Voices for Better Health project, which brought a consumer voice to the design and implementation of new programs aimed at providing better coordinated, comprehensive, high-quality care to Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries (“dual eligibles”). Prior to working at Community Catalyst, Ms. Sharma worked at the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, where she served as the public policy, advocacy, and volunteer coordinator. There she worked on advancing the public policy advocacy efforts on behalf of those who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers. Ms. Sharma holds a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Public Policy from Monmouth University. Community Catalyst works to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses, and on Capitol Hill.
Shefy Simon
Shefy Simon joined Administration for Community Living (ACL) in 2018 and works on State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) grants as her role as a project officer. Additionally, she works on CMS Financial Alignment Initiative technical assistance projects and manages the National SHIP and SMP Survey contract. Prior to joining ACL, Ms. Simon worked at CMS and is a former Director of Social Services at an SNF. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Benedictine University and a master’s in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago, where she also holds a certificate in Older Adult Studies.
Melissa Simpson
Melissa Simpson is the Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling’s (OHIC) Associate Director. In this position, she assists with the overall management of the office, staff, and programs (SHIP, SMP, and MIPPA). This includes leading general oversight of OHIC program activities and projects. In addition, Melissa continues to lead ACL’s efforts with CMS to provide technical assistance to CMS’s Duals Demonstration Ombudsman grantees. Melissa joined ACL OHIC in December 2016. She has extensive experience working with Medicare beneficiaries; previously, she worked as a senior program manager in the Center for Benefits Access at the National Council on Aging. Additionally, she served as the SHIP Director in Arkansas. She also worked in fundraising, marketing, and volunteer management with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas and the Heart of Arkansas United Way. She holds a Master of Public Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Volunteer Program Management Certificate.
Jennifer Trussell
Jennifer Trussell recently retired from a distinguished 35-year career with the federal government. Her previous positions with the HHS Office of Inspector General include Senior Advisor to the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, Special Agent in Charge of the Investigations Branch, and Chief Investigator (Office of Counsel to the Inspector General). She began her law enforcement career in 1989 as an active-duty Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and later served as a civilian Criminal Investigator for the U.S. Department of the Navy. Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Park University and a master’s degree in Policy Management from Georgetown University. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association and on detail to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. She is currently a consultant for the SMP and SHIP programs and is a frequent guest presenter at national conferences.
Sara R. Vogler
Sara R. Vogler has 10 years’ experience working in local, state, and federal government. Ms. Vogler has been at the Administration for Community Living (ACL) for 9 years. Currently on detail, Ms. Vogler is the Program Lead for the Administration on Aging National Minority Aging Organizations, a new grant opportunity focusing on specific minority older adult populations (e.g., African American; Hispanic; Asian-Pacific Islander; Native American; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT]), and also a new opportunity at The Coordinating Center, which knits together the work of the five resource centers and looks across other ACL-funded resource centers. Ms. Vogler is a strong program operation professional with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations/Political Science from California State University, Sacramento. Her subject matter expertise includes diversity/equity issues, facilitation, and leadership in small and large groups. In her personal time, Ms. Vogler is an artist and a poet, and an avid CrossFit athlete, where she competed in the first ever Women’s Upper Extremity division for the 2021 CrossFit Open, ranking 35th out of 50 competitors.
Emily Whicheloe
Emily Whicheloe joined the Medicare Rights Center in 2015 and began work with the State Health Insurance Progam Technical Assistance (SHIP TA) Center shortly after. As education coordinator, she manages development of the SHIPTA Center’s educational materials, including online Medicare courses, questions for the national certification question bank, and the Medicare Minute program. She also works on the Medicare Rights consumer helpline to answer and research questions from beneficiaries, caregivers, and professionals.
Marissa Whitehouse
Marissa Whitehouse is the SMP Manager within ACL’s Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling. Prior to coming to ACL in 2018, she worked as Senior Program Specialist within the National Council on Aging’s Center for Healthy Aging, where she focused on falls prevention, chronic disease self-management, and business acumen. Her previous work also includes acting as Program Administrator developing Mississippi’s Aging and Disability Resource Center program at the Mississippi Department of Human Services. She holds a graduate certificate in Gerontology from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Clemson, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mississippi State University.
Candace Young
Candace Young is the Hawaii SHIP Volunteer Coordinator, and has worked with the program for over 2 years. She started as a volunteer with the Hawaii Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP Hawaii), then completed her practicum with Hawaii SHIP as part of earning her master’s degree in Social Work with a specialization in Gerontology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Ms. Young supports Hawaii’s Kupuna (Hawaiian for elders) through advocacy, outreach, and education, and most recently worked on the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act (MIPAA) grant to assist those hard-to-reach individuals, including those with disabilities, rurally isolated, and low income individuals.
Abigail Zapote
Abigail Zapote currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Her current portfolio includes leading SSA’s response to White House initiatives, Executive Orders focused on racial & gender equity and outreach to people with barriers to access. Abigail is a Social Security subject matter expert with 10 years of experience in coalition building, creating support structures, and training community leaders to serve their own communities. She has cultivated and maintained strong relationships to local grassroots and national organizations and key elected and appointed officials to advance racial and economic equity through strategic policy development and through culturally relevant programming, with swift adaptability to digital programing after the COVID-19 outbreak. Her background as a social insurance advocate and community builder provided her the expertise to bridge inequality gaps to provide high quality programs and services to older adults across the country, with a focus on communities of color. Before joining the Social Security Administration, Abigail served as executive director of Latinos for a Secure Retirement, Vice President for Young Adults at the League of United Latin American Citizens and worked briefly at the National Council on Aging leading the National Institute of Senior Centers. Her commitment to the community and to social justice lies in her experiences as a Dreamer and the 22-year process of gaining U.S. citizenship.
Emberly Zellars
Emberly Zellars began her career in 2012 as a Vocational Development Specialist for District of Columbia Government’s Department of Human Services (DHS). From 2012–2016, she provided management and oversight to low-income DC resident Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients toward efforts in obtaining education and employment, with the overall goal of obtaining financial self-sufficiency. She also provided oversight to DHS’s scholarship program (TAPIT—Tuition Assistance Program Initiative for TANF) for DC TANF recipients, and managed weekly work activity documentation and verification of DC TANF recipients for DHS’s Office of Work Opportunity. From 2016 onward, Ms. Zellars provided administrative oversite for DHS regarding the caseload capacity contractual agreements of awarded grantee organizations throughout the District of Columbia that were responsible for providing case management and supplemental assistance to low-income residents. She has also provided extensive leadership in special initiatives geared toward enhancing utilized database systems, as well as ensuring that DC residents were receiving an accurate amount of monthly TANF benefits.
Ms. Zellars has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Spelman College, and is currently in the process of obtaining her master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.