top of page

Conference
Schedule

Conference Program | Monday, May 19

8:30-9:15am Registration & Breakfast

8:30-9:30am Exhibitors & Networking


9:15-10:00am | General Session 
*More information coming soon 


10:40-11:40am | General Session 
*More information coming soon


11:45-1:15am | Lunch & Keynote Speaker
*More information coming soon 


1:45-2:30pm | Breakout Sessions:

 
  • What is Pace?

    Jennifer Boyd, MBA, RN
    Centra PACE Senior Director​

     
  • The Invisible Arlingtonians: Examining Community Discrepancies using the ACSM American Fitness Index

    Erin Staker, BS

    Research Coordinator, Center for Optimal Aging, Marymount University

    . Aging in Community: Fostering and facilitating difficult, yet critical conversations on aging, through education, reflection, synthesis, and personal growth

    J. Shannon Hammons, M.S.
    Assistant Director, Cornerstone Alumni Relations and Engagement

    E. Carlisle Shealy, Ph.D., MPH
    Assistant Director, Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology

    Pamela B. Teaster, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., NREMT
    Professor and Director, Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology
  • Understanding Income & Poverty Statistics
                 
                 Julie Northcott-Wilson, MS, MCP
                  Statistician, Bay Aging
​1:45 -4:00pm | Deep Dive: Discussions of Dementia Related Topics 

          George Worthington, MS

          Dementia Services Director, DARS

         Annie Rhodes, PhD

         Assistant Professor: Virginia Center on Aging -Virginia College of                           Health Professions 

         Virginia Gallagher, PhD

         Assistant Professor, Neuropsychologist, UVA School of Medicine

         Shannon Reilly, PhD

         Assistant Professor, UVA Department of Neurology 

         Christy Jensen, PhD

          Director, Health Services Research, Martha W. Goodson Center,                              Riverside Health

         Rachel Coney 

          Brain Health Coordinator, Virginia Dept of Health

         Diane Hartley

         Vice President Care Coordination, Peninsula Area on Aging
2:30 - 3:00pm | Networking & Snack Break
3:00 - 4:00pm | Breakout Sessions:
  • How Scammers are Using AI to Defraud Seniors
         
           Shawn L. Smith
           Senior Medicare Patrol, Virginia
 
  • From Hidden to Healthy: How Virginia Beats Food Insecurity Among Older Adults
           
          Hollie Lutz, MA
          Director of Development and Communications, Federation of                                  Virginia Food Banks
 
         Jennifer Ayers, MPA
          Executive Director, ALIVE! Alexandria
 
         Teri Zurfluh
         Western Tidewater Community Hub Manager, Foodbank of Southeast                 Virginia & the Eastern Shore
  • NO COUNTRY FOR OLD PEOPLE  Documentary-A Case Study in Leveraging Film Media to Advocate for Better Care for Aging Populations
   
         Rick Mountcastle, Retired United States Attorney (WDVA)
           Producer, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD PEOPLE
           Susie Singer Carter, Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Producer
           Owner, GoGirl Media
 
  • Elder Justice Shelter Innovation: Lessons in Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation
 
          Gigi Amateau, PhD​
          Assistant Professor & Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care Lab                    Director; Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of                                       Gerontology & Virginia Center on Aging
 
          ​Kelly King Horne, MA
          Executive Director, Homeward
 
4:15 - 5:00pm | Breakout Sessions:
  • Wisdom & Innovation 
 
            Bettina Mason MSEd., SHRM-CP, SWAM-VA, AI Certified Consultant
            Founder/Principal-Mason Education Solutions Group
  • Food Justice for Older Adults
 
            Emily Varvil, MPH
            Project Manager, PositiveAge (a LeadingAge Virginia Foundation)
           
             Missi Boyer
             Vice President of Nutrition, Wellness and Transportation, SPAN Center               
            Kristin Cummings, LCSW
            St Thomas Episcopal Church Richmond Food Pantry Director
  • Drilling Down on Guardianship in Virginia: What do New Studies Show?
          
         Pamela B. Teaster, Ph.D., M.A., M.S. , NREMT
           Professor and Director, Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology
           Erica F. Wood, J.D.
           Former Assistant Director of the American Bar Association                                       Commission on Law and Aging
          Sally Balch Hurme, J.D.
          Virginia Elder Law Attorney and retired AARP Attorney
  • The Difference Value-Based Care is making in the lives of the Senior Population in Virginia and Around the Country
          Sheila Turbides Minaya, MD
          CenterWell Area Medical Director, Virginia Market
 
         Nick Judd
         CenterWell Market President, Kentucky & India
5:00 - 6:30pm | Evening Reception
Conference Program | Tuesday, May 20
 
8:00-9:00am Registration, Breakfast, & Exhibitors
 
9:00-10:00am | Breakout Sessions:
  • GUIDE Model
          More information coming soon!​
  • Team Building 101 
 
        Wayne Damron
          Director of  Aging Services at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens
        
         Katie Justus
         Team Lead, Care Coordination at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens​
 
         Lynna Mitchell
         Grant Writer at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens
  • Sharing Across Communities: A PCTI (Person-Centered Trauma-Informed) Approach to Caregiving
 
​          Lily Liu, Family Caregiver
 
  • Statewide Initiatives Addressing the Shortage of Qualified Workers in the Aging Services Arena
 
       Leland "Bert" Waters, PhD​
        Director, Virginia Geriatric Education Center, VCU
 
  • Dementia and Elder Abuse: Best Practices for Supporting Survivors with Cognitive Impairments
 
        Sydney Palinkas, LMSW, CDP
        RAFT Dementia Education and Outreach Coordinator, RAFT Dementia                Support Program 
       
       Carol Cooper Driskill
       Advocate, disAbility Law Center of Virginia
10:15-11:00am | Breakout Sessions:
  • "Delivery With A Ring" Doorbell Program
           Nikki Dean, B.A. in Economics
           Nutrition Program Coordinator, Piedmont Senior Resources Area                           Agency on Aging
  • Opening Minds Through Art
   
         Dana Parsons
           Vice President and Legislative Counsel, LeadingAge Virginia
      
          Cindy Paullin
          CEO, Art for the Journey 
  
         Stephanie Shanks
         Director of OMA Training Center and Volunteers 
  • Aging in Place & Overcoming Housing Barriers
 
       More information coming soon!
 
  • Older Workers, Digital Literacy, and the Future of Employment
 
          Megan Grey
          Older Worker Programs Director, Virginia Department for Aging and                      Rehabilitative Services
 
  • Addressing Dental Care Access Barriers Faced By Aging Virginians
 
          Patricia "Trish" Bonwell, RDH, PhD
             Assistant Professor, Virginia Center on Aging, Virginia Geriatric                               Education Center, VCU
 
11:00-11:30am | Networking & Snack Break
11:30-12:15pm | Breakout Sessions:
  • Creating a Culture of Connection: More than a Volunteer Ride
 
         Emily Braley, RN, MSN
          Manager Volunteer Services, Pozez JCC 
     
       Elena Alergant, MS
          Manager, NV Rides
  • Cooking Up Connections: Intergenerational Culinary Programs as a Recipe for Healthy Aging in Virginia

            Duane Brown, M.A., Organizational Leadership
            Chef/Owner, Culinary Coach LLC
  • Village Sponsorship: Collaborations to Reduce Social Isolation of Older Virginians
 
           Carol Paquette, J.D.
          Convenor, Virginia Villages Collective
 
           Mary-Jane Atwater, M.A.
          Steering Committee, Virginia Villages Collective
 
          Ray Parks
          Executive Director, New River Valley Agency on Aging
 
  • Adapting to Changing Workplace Demographics and Sustaining the Workforce
           
         Tiffany L. Speas
         Chief Financial Officer, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc.
          La-Netta Davis
          Human Resource Manager, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc.
 
  • The APS Final Rule: Is Virginia Ready?
 
          Paige McCleary, MSW
          APS Division Director, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative                                Services 
 
12:15-1:15pm | Lunch & General Session 
1:15-1:30pm | Exhibitors & Networking
1:30-2:30pm | Breakout Sessions:
  • Public Libraries: The Third Place for Older Adults
   
         Barry Trott, M.L.S.
        Adult Services Consultant, Library of Virginia
  • Why We Sing: How Community Choirs Support Healthy and Creative Aging
        Mary Ann East, DMA, CDP
        Arts and Aging Research Director, Encore Creativity for Older Adults
 
  • Trauma Informed Work Places: The What, Why and How
            Annette Clark, MSG, CDP, CADDCT
            Dementia & Geriatric Specialist - Department of Behavioral Health and                Developmental Services 
  • Dementia Friends: Harnessing Community Collaborations to Raise Awareness
 
        George Worthington, MS Clinical Psychology
        Dementia Services Director, DARS 
 
       Joyce Nussbaum
       Program Director, Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) 
 
       Allegra Joffe
       Supervisor of the Caregiver & Support Services Unit, Fairfax Area Agency         on Aging
2:45-3:45pm | Breakout Sessions:
  • Stuck Inside: The Extraordinary Barriers to Discharge List and How it Relates to Older Virginians
Carol Cooper Driskill, MHSA
Disability Rights Advocate, disAbility Law Center of Virginia
Virginia Pharis, MSW
Data and Incident Review Unit Manager, disability Law Center of Virginia
 
  • A Drink of Courage "Being Bold Enough to Problem Solve with Intergenerational Approaches"
 
       Gregory Ford, Social Worker
        Director of Program Development and Partnerships - Beacon.                                  Communities LLC
  • Senior Living Communities: A Strategically Planned Housing Solution
 
         Brian Beck, MBA
         Chief Executive Officer at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens
    
         Caleb Perkins
         Executive Assistant at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens
  • Co-Creating a Roadmap to a Stronger Aging Services Workforce
        Jennifer Yanez Pryor, MS
        Gerontology Program Director, Virginia Commonwealth University
      Jenny Inker, PhD
      Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Beyond Memory Loss: Reframing Dementia as Neurodivergence to Embrace Strengths and Abilities

           Jessica Fredericksen, MSW, CADDCT, CMDP
           Director of Brain Health, Goodwin Living
 
           Theresa Mandela, RN, BSN, QCP, CDP
            StrongerMemory Outreach Coordinator, Goodwin Living
 

Questions?

Conference Manager & Staff

Martina James, martina@vgcoa.com

   ph: 540-809-7505

Conference Staff

Eldon James, info@vgcoa.com

Gillian Saul, info@vgcoa.com

 

FULL ADDRESS:

VGCOA

c/o V4A

PO Box 636

Richmond, Virginia 23218

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
bottom of page