TALA'S 2025 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Opening Keynote Speaker:

Pete Smith
SmithImpact

Closing Keynote Speaker:

Anthony Ormsbee-Hale, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Civitas Senior Living

Anthony Ormsbee-Hale is the Chief People Officer at Civitas Senior Living, an innovative provider of senior living services operating across multiple states. As a member of the executive leadership team, Anthony strategically aligns HR initiatives with the company’s overarching objectives, advocating for innovative business solutions through effective people strategies.

In his role as CPO, Anthony leads a broad range of HR functions, including strategic leadership, talent management, workforce planning and development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, organizational development, HR operations and technology, compliance, and risk management. He also provides executive coaching and mentoring, enhancing the leadership capabilities within the organization.

In 2018, Anthony co-founded the Texas Assisted Living Association’s Young Professionals Network, demonstrating his commitment to mentoring the next generation of leaders. He remains actively involved in industry committees, including the Texas Assisted Living Association’s Workforce Development Committee.

Anthony is a Master of Public Policy student at Southern Methodist University (SMU), further expanding his expertise in policy analysis and ethical leadership to drive impactful solutions in the senior living industry and beyond. Additionally, Anthony holds senior-level certifications from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) and the HR Certification Institute (SPHR) and recently completed the Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt program.

When not leading HR strategy at Civitas, Anthony facilitates the Texas Assisted Living Association’s Regulations Class and the Administrator’s Overview Class in addition to hosting the monthly TALATalks podcast series.

Anthony has been recognized for his achievements with the 2021 Texas Assisted Living Association HERO Award, Senior Housing News’s Future Leaders Class recognition, and the Civitas Employee of the Year award in 2022. He was also named one of HR Executive Magazine’s HR Rising Stars in 2024.

Identified as a Maverick by his Predictive Index Profile, Anthony is known for his innovative and ‘outside the box’ thinking, driving change and embracing challenges with unwavering resilience. Outside of the office, Anthony can be found enjoying time with his family, chasing down two energetic beagles, and trying to catch up on the latest book he picked up at the airport when he still hasn’t finished the last book he picked up.

Topics: “Why Your 'Why' Isn't Working: Reclaiming Our Purpose in Senior Living” and “From Living Well to Staying Longer: The Revenue Magic of Great Experiences”

Aaron Fish, MBA, CHS
Trestle Hospitality Concepts

Aaron Fish is the Founder & CEO of Trestle Hospitality Concepts and founding partner of The Mentoring Company. With nearly 30 years in the hospitality & senior living industries, Aaron’s focus has been on leadership & elevating the customer experience. His experiences with top hospitality organizations has let him develop a unique ability to build customer-focused food & hospitality operations. A seasoned senior living hospitality executive, Aaron’s best-in-class experiences for operators & residents are accomplished through innovative concept design, implementing best practices, system development, & training programs. Aaron holds a B.S. in Hospitality Management from Kansas State University and a MBA from Baker University.

Topic: “From Discovery to Decision: Purpose Aligned Sales Processes”

Agatha Li, CPA
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)­­

Agatha is a principal in CLA’s Federal Tax Strategies (FTS) team. She leads the West region’s Fixed Asset practice and serves as the National Fixed Asset leader. Prior to joining CLA, she has over 20 years of fixed asset experience at a Big Four firm. She has performed cost segregation studies, fixed asset income reviews and repairs and maintenance studies on a wide range of industries, including banking, pharmaceutical, retail, hotels, manufacturing, winery, technology, venture capital and sports.

Agatha’s technical experience includes:

• Fixed Asset Income Review
• Cost Segregation
• Repairs & Maintenance Analysis
• Qualified Improvement Property Analysis
• Change in Accounting Methods

In addition to fixed asset experience, she also works closely with the Energy Incentive Team to collaborate and identify Section 45L, 179D and Inflation Reduction Act opportunities and bring seamless experiences to her clients.

Topic: “Unlocking Tax Savings: The Power of Cost Segregation”

Amanda Daughters
Primrose Retirement Communities

Amanda Daughters was first introduced to senior living when her grandfather moved to a skilled nursing facility, sparking a lifelong connection to the industry. Amanda earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota and worked outside of the sector before returning to the senior living field in 2010.

Drawn to Primrose’s mission-focused culture, Amanda began her journey with the company in sales and marketing, later transitioning into operations. Over the course of 14 years, she has been committed to driving growth through new development and acquisitions, helping expand Primrose’s reach.

In 2023, Amanda became Executive Vice President of Operations, where she remains deeply committed to advancing excellence in care, culture, and community. With a strong foundation of trust and respect, she leads with a focus on empowering others and fostering an environment of growth and innovation. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys reading, spending time with her grandkids, and traveling.

 Topic: “Reaching the Profitability Milestone: Successful Strategies for Turning Around a New Acquisition in the First 90 Days”

Angela Nichols, M.A.
Elevation Health

Angela Nichols is a seasoned leader in health and fitness management, corporate wellness, and exercise science, with over two decades of experience. She holds a Master of Arts in Sport and Recreation Management from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Ohio University. Her expertise is further enhanced by certifications in nutrition, health coaching, behavior change, and fitness instruction, as well as specialized training in yoga and active aging.

As a Partner and President of Elevation Corporate Health since 2007, Angela has spearheaded business innovation, fitness center design, and client relationship management, earning her recognition as a leader in wellness programming. Her expertise in active aging has been instrumental in designing and implementing programs that support older adults in maintaining vitality and independence.

Angela’s prior roles include managing fitness and health centers for major organizations like Amgen, where her leadership earned her accolades such as the Phoenix Award for excellence through perseverance. A frequent presenter at industry conferences, she is passionate about promoting holistic health, empowering diverse populations, and inspiring organizations to integrate wellness into their culture.

Topic: “Wellness on Every Budget: Building Engaging Physical, Mental, and Social Programs in Assisted Living”

Ara Sayabalian, MBA, Ed.D, MCSO
Total Incontinence Management (TIM) System

Dr. Ara Sayabalian is an expert in the development, manufacturing, testing, marketing, and sale of bladder wellness products. He brings valuable insights and expertise to the evolving landscape of clinical care in senior living. With a focus on empowering individuals, Dr. Sayabalian advocates for maintaining an active lifestyle, which has been shown to improve both physical and mental health outcomes.

Throughout his career, Dr. Sayabalian has published numerous articles, sharing his knowledge with users and caregivers alike. His goal is to raise awareness and educate the growing demographic of individuals affected by incontinence.

Dr. Sayabalian holds a Doctorate from the University of Southern California and recently earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Services and Operations from Harvard Medical School. In addition to his academic achievements, he serves as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Southern California, where he teaches graduate students about healthcare delivery models. His research focuses on value-based care, with particular attention to senior living.

Topic:  “Optimizing GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) for Senior Living Operators and Investors”

Austen Powell, MBA, MDiv
Civitas Senior Living

Austen Powell serves as the leader of strategic operations at Civitas Senior Living, where he leverages his extensive background in project management and organizational strategy to foster company growth and efficiency. Holding an MBA and an MDiv, Austen combines thorough business acumen with a values-driven approach to ensure decisions not only align with the company's mission but also enhance resident experiences. His career transition from academia to executive leadership includes roles such as Assistant to the President and Vice President for Advancement, during which he has empowered teams and optimized operations. Austen's expertise in project management and the use of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) drives the company’s pursuit of excellence, fostering innovation and streamlining processes for impactful results.

Topic: “From Living Well to Staying Longer: The Revenue Magic of Great Experiences”

Ben Brewer
McGriff

Mr. Brewer is an 18-year veteran of the Commercial Insurance industry, having worked in Senior Living for the past 4 years. He is part of McGriff's National Senior Living practice where he focuses on providing Risk Management consulting and creative solutions in insurance program design throughout the country. He studied Risk Management & Insurance at The University of Mississippi.

Topic: “Controlling Your Liability in A Litigious Environment”

Brenda Calbow, RN-BC
Brookdale Senior Living

Brenda Calbow obtained a Registered Nursing Degree from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is currently a Registered Nurse-licensed in the State of Texas for 39 years and Certified in Gerontological Nursing.  She started her career in acute care, spending 11 Years in Critical Care and functioning in the role of Administrative Nursing Supervisor, while always leaning into Geriatrics.  For the last 28 years, Brenda specialized in all aspects of Senior Living to include long term care as a Director of Nursing, Regional Nurse; Administrator of Assisted Living, and as an Executive Director in Senior Living.

The last 21 years, Brenda has served as a Clinical Leader for Brookdale Senior Living in various positions; currently overseeing clinical operations for 125 communities in six states; to include CCRC’s, freestanding Assisted Living, Independent Living and Memory Care. Brenda has enjoyed participating in multiple educational/information public speaking events related to Geriatrics and the Continuum of Care.  Brenda was a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant for many years and was recognized as one of the “Great 100 Nurses” in the DFW area, by the Texas Nurse Association in 2011.

Most importantly, Brenda’s personal mission is to support others while they develop and then master the opportunities in delivering care to Seniors.  She “loves” what she does every day and is inspired to be a resource to others; while “enriching the lives in which we serve with compassion, respect, excellence, and integrity.”

Topic: “Confidently Delegate: Best Practices for Assisted Living RN’s”

Carmen Tilton, MGPS
Texas Assisted Living Association

Carmen Tilton, VP of Public Policy, oversees legislative and regulatory affairs. She represents TALA with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and is a leading voice at the Texas Capitol. She joined TALA in February 2020 after two years as a Senior Executive Policy Advisor for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and five years as a Senior Policy Analyst for several members in the Texas Legislature.

She has an extensive background in both the legislative and rulemaking processes with a focus on long-term care and behavioral health policies and programs. Carmen received her Master’s in Global Policy Studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a sixth generation Texan, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and a native of Terlingua, TX.

Topic: “TALA’s Public Policy Update”

Charles Turner, CEO
KARE

An innovator in the senior housing space, Charles is currently the CEO of KARE, which is the leading solution to solve the labor shortage in senior care. Prior to KARE, Charles was the President and CEO of Lifewell Senior Living and PinPoint Senior Living where he led development and operating initiatives for the companies.

Charles has been instrumental in identifying and developing nearly a half billion dollars in Medical and Senior Housing projects including Hospitals, Medical Office Buildings and Assisted Living developments in several states throughout the Sun Belt United States.

Charles has also been Vice President of Finance, Planning and Operations for Attachmate (formerly NetIQ), a $400 Million software company, where he was responsible for financial management, strategic planning activities and real estate. Prior to Attachmate, Charles worked at BMC Software where he was responsible for internal strategic planning as well as restructuring the company’s real estate portfolio, saving the company over $30 Million per year in real estate expense from asset sales and lease restructuring. Charles also has several years’ experience in Big 4 consulting as well as industrial distribution management. Charles holds a B.A. in History and Politics from Wake Forest University and an M.B.A. in Finance from The University of Texas in Austin.

Topic: “The Future is Now: Emerging Technologies and the Staffing Evolution”

Chastiti Horne
Horne, Rota, Moos, LLP

Chastiti Horne is an equity partner with Horne Rota Moos, LLP whose primary practice is healthcare and personal injury defense and hospitality litigation. Chastiti represents hospitals, physicians, nurses, healthcare staffing agencies, LTC/ALF facilities and dentists in defending against medical malpractice lawsuits. Chastiti acts as panel counsel for several national leading NH/ALF companies and also is counsel for several large hospitals and healthcare staffing companies. She also represents one of the largest restaurant and entertainment chains in the United States. Other areas of practice include: premises and products liability, insurance defense claims and employment law.

She has been the recipient of a number of awards professionally including one of Houston's 50 Most Influential Women of 2017. She was named as a 2014 Woman on the Move by Texas Executive Women, featured in Time Magazine’s “Salute to Women in Leadership” (2008) and was awarded the 2012 Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Award for an Individual for her work with Child Advocates. She also received the 2001 Harris County Adult Volunteer of the Year award and has been named to the Texas Super Lawyer list by Texas Monthly 2012 - 2017, as well as, Texas Rising Star-Super Lawyer 2007 through 2011. She was named “Litigator of the Week” by Texas Lawyer Magazine for a dismissal she obtained for a healthcare client in 2014.

Chastiti is a Life Fellow with the Houston Bar Foundation, President of the Greater Houston Society for Healthcare Risk Management Board of Directors, member of Association of Defense Trial Attorneys and member of Texas Association of Defense Counsel. She serves on the Child Advocates, Inc. Advisory Board, Alumni Board of South Texas College of Law, Alumni Board for Panola College and is on the St. Paul's United Methodist Church Board of Trustees. Chastiti obtained her law degree from South Texas College of Law and undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Topic: “Controlling Your Liability in A Litigious Environment”

Chris Mahen
Legend Senior Living

Chris Mahen has been Chief Operating Officer for Legend Senior Living since 2015. He has worked in the Senior Living Industry since 2004 having served in various Operations roles for in the past 21 years managing from 8 building portfolios to 130 building portfolios.

Chris serves on both the LeadingAge Colorado Board of Directors and Texas Assisted Living Association Board.  In addition, he has been a member of Argentum’s Chief Operating Officer Round Table since 2016 and is a former chair of the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association, having served on their Board from 2004-2007. He has been involved in association lobbying and advocacy days in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida as well as in Washington, DC. He received the Excellence in Health Care Award in Kansas in 2021.

Topics: “Controlling Your Liability in A Litigious Environment” and “Optimizing GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) for Senior Living Operators and Investors”

Craig Simons
Roobrik

Craig Simons leads the marketing team at Roobrik, where he drives brand, demand, and product marketing initiatives to help senior living operators engage and convert prospects through decision support. Since joining the company, Craig has played a key role in shaping Roobrik’s voice and expanding its thought leadership presence.In 2024, Craig spearheaded the launch of two popular senior living brands: the Senior Living Minute thought leadership video series and the interactive Know Your Audience gameshow-style series, designed to educate and engage senior living professionals in a fun, impactful way. A recognized marketing strategist and storyteller, Craig is passionate about helping senior living providers better understand and connect with their audiences. His work blends industry insights, creative campaigns, and data-driven strategies to support operators in reaching older adults and their families during critical decision-making moments.

Topic: “Know Your Audience Challenge: Breaking Down Barriers for Adult Children and Older Adults”

Danyele Homer, MPH
August Health

Danyele Homer is the Head of Customer Experience at August Health, the easy​​-to-use EHR that caregivers love. Prior to joining August Health, Danyele served as the VP of Operations at Pear Suite, overseeing implementations of new software users, and led the population health team at Epic Systems, supporting the large-scale implementation of EHRs and strategic initiatives at leading health systems across the country. Danyele holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degree in public health from Boston University.

Topic: “An Operator's Journey to Value-Based Care: Improving Outcomes & Operational Metrics”

Emily Briggs, OTR/L, RAC-CT, PAC Certified Independent Trainer
Empowering Care Partners

Emily has been practicing occupational therapy for over 20 years.  She is the co-founder and principal of Empowering Care Partners, a company providing training and consulting to individuals living with dementia and their care partners who support them, including family members, dementia care professionals, and organizations.  Emily also provides occupational therapy services in Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Independent Living communities.  Prior to that, she served as the Director of Clinical Compliance for a skilled nursing company, in regional clinical and director of rehabilitation roles for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).  In each role, Emily has focused on clinical programming and mentorship of students, new grads, and those new to the SNF setting.  She has also been involved in the planning and training for addressing regulatory updates and payment model changes.

Emily holds an Independent Trainer Certification with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC) and provides training to care partners of all levels in the care of those living with dementia.

As the Principal and Co-Founder of Empowering Care Partners, Emily has created and presented numerous continuing education courses across several national and international platforms, been a guest speaker on podcasts, and have written blogs and articles for online publication.

Emily is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and was part of their Leadership Development for Middle Managers Class of 2016.  She has also served AOTA on a variety of Technical Expert Panels and Advisory Groups.

Topic: “A Collaborative Approach to Dining Well with Dementia”

Erica Holman, LMSW, LNHA, CPT
CAC Specialty

Erica Holman is the Vice President and risk Advisor of CAC Specialty Senior Living practice. She has over 30 years of operational and clinical experience in long-term care. Erica works with people and groups across the country to improve resident outcomes, employee recruitment and retention, and incident and accident reduction.

Topic: “Don't Let Me Down - Keeping Residents Upright to Reduce Fall Risks”

Erin Thompson
Aspire for More with Erin

Erin Thompson is a seasoned professional with a remarkable 20-year career in the senior living industry. Her exceptional leadership has been pivotal in achieving the Great Place to Work distinction for two consecutive years. Erin created opportunities for her teams to grow low occupancy communities into high occupancy communities, showcasing her expertise in building and leading high-performing teams.

As a Leadership and Confidence Coach, Erin is the founder of Aspire for More with Erin, where she empowers senior living leaders to grow through what they go through. She further extends her impact as the podcast host of "Aspire for More with Erin Podcast" a platform that shares inspiring stories of triumph and struggle within the senior living industry. A founding partner at The Mentoring Company, Erin brings a wealth of experience and insights to her leadership programs that build confidence with the transformative power of vulnerability. With a track record of creating positive workplace cultures, Erin is dedicated to inspiring others to reach their full potential in the field of senior living.

Topic: “From Discovery to Decision: Purpose Aligned Sales Processes”

Evan Friedkin
Roobrik

Evan Friedkin leads the business development team at Roobrik. Since joining the company in 2019, Evan has played a pivotal role in helping senior living operators engage and convert prospects through decision support. A recognized industry thought leader, Evan was named a 2024 Future Leader by Senior Housing News and is regularly featured on podcasts, webinars, and panel discussions. He shares insights on senior living sales and marketing challenges, decision science, and strategies for industry growth to better serve older adults and their families.

Topic: “Know Your Audience Challenge: Breaking Down Barriers for Adult Children and Older Adults”

Fidel Calvillo
SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council

Mr. Calvillo currently holds a position as the Emergency Management Operations Coordinator – Special Populations for the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC).  As the Emergency Management Coordinator, he is part of team responsible for the implementation of the Hospital Preparedness Program for 25 counties with a combined population of over 8 million people, 180 hospitals, over 1,000 nursing homes/assisted living facilities and numerous EMS agencies.

With over nineteen (19) years of experience in working in disaster preparedness and response in emergency management, public health preparedness, and healthcare preparedness has developed a wealth of knowledge with over dozens of response activations.  Mr. Calvillo’s largest disaster response was hurricane Harvey assigned at the Catastrophic Medical Operations Center with the responsibility of overseeing information management, brokering requests for assistance and supplies, coordinating patient movement, and providing situational awareness across emergency response disciplines within a 25 County Region.  Last regional activation to support the SETRAC Region was for Hurricane Beryl.

Topic: “Collaborating with Your Regional Advisory Council For Emergency Preparedness”

Gwen Wilburn, RN-BC
The Aspenwood Company

Gwen is a dedicated and experienced registered nurse with over thirty years of service in the healthcare field. Throughout her extensive career, she has gained valuable experience in both acute and post-acute settings across a number of states, adapting to various healthcare environments and challenges. For the past two decades, she has taken on several leadership roles within the realm of assisted living, demonstrating her commitment to improving care for seniors. Currently, she is the Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations at The Aspenwood Company, where she oversees the delivery of high-quality care and ensures the well-being of residents.

As a board-certified gerontological nurse, Gwen combines her clinical expertise with a strong academic foundation, holding an MBA in healthcare management. This unique blend of skills enables her to navigate the complexities of healthcare administration effectively.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Gwen is passionate about giving back to the nursing community. She actively volunteers for the American Assisted Living Nurses Association (AALNA), where she serves as the President of the Texas State Chapter and contributes as a member of the Board. Gwen's leadership in AALNA reflects her dedication to promoting best practices and supporting fellow nurses in the field.

In her personal life, Gwen values the moments spent with family and friends. She particularly enjoys gatherings that bring all three of her grown children home together.

Topic: “Confidently Delegate: Best Practices for Assisted Living RN’s”

Heather Tussing, CDP, CADDCT, President
The Aspenwood Company

Heather brings over 20 years of experience in operations, start-ups, sales, compliance, and marketing in senior healthcare services. Under her leadership as President, Heather provides oversight of daily operations encompassing strategic, financial, operational, sales and marketing aspects of the The Aspenwood Company’s multiple properties.

Topics: “Reaching the Profitability Milestone: Successful Strategies for Turning Around a New Acquisition in the First 90 Days” and  “Innovating Workforce Solutions for the Future of Senior Living”

Hollie Glover, MA, LPC, NCC
James L. West Center for Dementia Care

Hollie Glover is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who currently works for the James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth. She is the Director of Education and Family Support Services. She facilitates the center's family support groups and is involved in and writes many of the numerous education services provided by the center.

Hollie is a Dementia Care Specialist, Certified Grief Counseling Specialist, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional that has over thirty years of experience in education and working with people of all ages.  She has degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Sam Houston State University, and Dallas Baptist University.  She also attended Southwestern Theological Seminary to obtain hours in theology.

Hollie has been recognized as a national and statewide speaker on topics such as Dementia, Hospice, and Professional and Caregiver Stress. One of the highlights of her career includes getting to meet and speak before First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Senator Elizabeth Dole. She has also written a therapy to be used with patients at the end of life, that focuses on the individual needs of the person and their family.

Her passion is educating the public and helping families who have a loved one diagnosed with dementia.

Hollie has one daughter who is following in her footsteps. Joanna graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in August of 2020 with her master’s degree in social work, specializing in hospice care.

Topic: “Graceful Departures: The 11^th Hour Companionship Program”

Jaime Capelo, JD
Capelo Law Firm

Jaime Capelo is the legislative consultant for the Texas Assisted Living Association.  Mr. Capelo has been actively lobbying the Texas Legislature and regulatory agencies for over 14 years, advocating for his clients directly with the Governor, Lt. Governor, the Texas Senate, the Texas House of Representatives, numerous state and federal agencies, and even the U.S. Senate and Congress. Prior to initiating his legislative consulting practice, Mr. Capelo was elected and served 4 terms in the Texas House of Representatives from the Corpus Christi area.

In the Texas House, he served on the House Public Health Committee and was ultimately appointed Chairman of the Public Health Committee.

After graduating salutatorian from Roy Miller High School, Mr. Capelo earned his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law and his B.A. in history from Yale University.

Topic: “TALA’s Public Policy Update”

Jaime Cobb Tinsley, CAed
James L. West Center for Dementia Care

Jaime Cobb Tinsley, certified Alzheimer’s Educator and Montessori Dementia Care Professional is the Vice President of Dementia & Caregiver Education at James L. West Center for Dementia Care. She earned a degree in Integrated Marketing Communication at Abilene Christian University and has been working with persons with dementia and their families for over 18 years. Jaime has developed and implemented a variety of innovative programs that focus on enhancing the quality of life for families living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Jaime also leads collaborative models of training for current and future healthcare workers.

Topic: “Rethink, Reframe, Lead: Breaking Free from Mind Traps to Unlock Your Leadership Potential”

Jamisyn Endresen
Cardinal Bay & 4K Housing

Jamisyn Endresen is a Senior Living Professional with nearly a decade of dedicated experience in the senior living industry, all spent with Cardinal Bay & 4K Housing. As the Regional Operations and Recruiting Specialist, where she combines operational excellence with a deep commitment to resident well-being.

A native of Katy, Texas, and a proud mother of two, Jamisyn is passionate about her work in senior living. Her love for the industry shines through in her daily efforts to enhance the quality of life for seniors and create supportive, thriving communities. Known for her leadership and dedication, Jamisyn is not just a manager but a true advocate for the residents and staff she serves, making a positive impact in every community she touches.

Topic: “Next-Gen Leaders: Train Hard, Celebrate Big”

Jason Miller, DO
Athra Systems

Dr. Jason Miller is a prominent psychiatrist and the Chief Clinical Officer and Managing Partner of Athra Systems, where he provides behavioral health support across the country in senior living facilities. With extensive experience in psychiatric practice and medical leadership, he has dedicated his career to enhancing mental health services for seniors.

As the owner of Southtown Psychiatry PLLC, Dr. Miller developed a multi-specialty practice that collaborates with various organizations to deliver comprehensive psychiatric care. His roles have included Chief Medical Officer at Voyages Behavioral Health and Crisis Response Medical Director at the Center for Health Care Services, where he led initiatives to improve mental health crisis intervention.

Dr. Miller is also an Associate Professor and Residency Training Director at the University of Incarnate Word, shaping future psychiatric professionals. His commitment to advancing behavioral health services, particularly for older adults, positions him as a key resource for organizations seeking to enhance in-house mental health management.

With a focus on innovation and community engagement, Dr. Miller is set to share effective strategies for implementing behavioral health solutions tailored to the needs of seniors in senior living environments.

Topic: “Behavioral Health Blueprint: Strategies for Successful In-House Management”

Javier Young, CPA
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)­­

Javier is a Principal within the Cybersecurity Services Group at CLA and has been in the cybersecurity field for over 15 years.  Prior to joining CLA, Javier spent ten years supporting the Department of Defense as well as a financial services company in the fields of insider threat, incident response, fraud, waste and abuse, analytics, and systems engineering.  Since Javier has been with CLA, he has spent the majority of his time providing IT Security, Risk, and Consulting services to clients in healthcare, higher education, and financial related institutions.

Technical Experience

• Information technology and risk management
• Cybersecurity
• Security network architecture and design
• Incident management and response
• Insider threat monitoring and assessment

Topic: “10 Cybersecurity Questions your Senior Living Company Should be able to Answer!”

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Jeff McKissack is a noted national speaker on risk and reputation management.  For almost 40 years he has addressed some 300,000 in live audiences, millions more via radio and television addressing these topics.  He began his career working with the national media, so comes at these topics with a very different approach than most as he understands how such risks can cause irreparable damage to any business.

Jeff speaks at numerous conferences and conventions across the country, provides onsite employee training programs, offers continuing education events, and provides client/resident value-add programs as well addressing the same.

Within the association world alone, Jeff speaks to countless such audiences, from ASAE state chapters around the country to national and international event and property management associations focused on attendee and resident concerns.

But when asked, Jeff best sums up his message and mission by saying, "my goal is to help you spot trouble 'before' trouble spots you," and in today's world that is a message beneficial to us all, both personally and professionally.

Topic: “Risk & Reputation Management for Communities”

Jessi Weldon
Primrose Retirement Communities

Jessi Weldon started in the senior living industry while working as a Resident Aide in Assisted Living during college. After graduating, she began working in senior living sales. After seeing the magnitude of impact this role has on the lives of others, she knew this would be her career. She has spent the last 19 years working in senior living - both in direct sales and sales leadership. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Primrose Retirement Communities.

Jessi's sales approach focuses on relationship building and hands-on sales training and support. She prioritizes leadership development and coaching and is committed to continuous professional growth for herself and her team members.

Outside of work, Jessi loves spending time with her family, traveling, staying active outdoors, and advocating for disability rights and inclusion.

Topic: “Reaching the Profitability Milestone: Successful Strategies for Turning Around a New Acquisition in the First 90 Days”

John Kilanowicz, CPCU
CNA

John has worked in the Property and Casualty industry in various company positions since the mid 1980’s.

Since joining CNA in the Chicago Home Office in 1997, John has held various roles including program management, product automation, training and development, marketing, underwriting and staff development.

In 2000, John joined CNA’s Aging Services Underwriting team, assuming various regional and national underwriting positions over the years.  John’s current position is Industry Leader, which is national in scope. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the underwriting referral process, developing new products to meet the needs of the evolving Aging Services market, guiding the Aging Services team to execute strategic plans and initiatives, and serving as a trusted advisor to internal and external customers.

Topic: “Controlling Your Liability in A Litigious Environment”

Julie Podewitz
Grow Your Occupancy

Julie Podewitz is a senior living sales expert with many years of experience and a proven track record. Senior living sales is her passion. Julie has spent time on both the provider and consultant side, always with a focus on sales and marketing. She has presented at multiple national and state industry conferences including Florida Senior Living Association; Argentum 2022 & 2023; GSLA; CALA; SMASH; LALA; VALA; IALA; LeadingAge Michigan, Southeast, and Iowa; and Senior Housing News’ Sales & Marketing Conference. She has also participated in many expert panels.

Before founding Grow Your Occupancy, she spent eight years in the VP of Sales, CMO, and CSO roles on the provider side, most recently with Vitality Living. During her career, her track record of increased sales and occupancy has resulted in more than $70 million in increased revenue. All along, she kept her feet on the ground, never losing the “here and now” experience of the customer – the prospects, families, community, executive management, and ownership entities she serves.

She and her team have walked the walk, grown with the business, know what works, what to do, and how to do it. Her business is in the top 0.5% of startups. Many in the industry consider her the “go-to” resource for senior living sales; heck, she wrote the book!

Topic: “Reaching the Profitability Milestone: Successful Strategies for Turning Around a New Acquisition in the First 90 Days”

Justina Pilkonis, MSC AC-BC CADDCT
Sinceri Senior Living

Justina Pilkonis is an accomplished leader in senior care with over seven years of experience in the industry. Currently serving as the Regional Director of Resident Experience for Sinceri Senior Living, Justina is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for seniors through innovative, purposeful, and enriching programming. A certified Activity Consultant (AC-BC) and a Certified Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Care Trainer (CADDCT), Justina brings specialized expertise in dementia care and resident engagement. She holds a master’s degree in Strategic Communications (MSC), which informs her approach to creating meaningful connections within senior communities.

Justina has had the privilege of speaking at state and regional conferences, sharing her insights on dementia care, purposeful programming, and best practices in resident engagement. With a background that includes consulting and training across Texas, the Midwest, and the East Coast, she is passionate about advancing dementia care practices and fostering environments that provide structure, purpose, and joy for residents. Her commitment to developing impactful programs reflects her deep understanding of the dementia disease process and her dedication to creating supportive, life-enriching experiences for seniors.

Topic: “Restoring the Rhythm: Leveraging Circadian Rhythms in Dementia Care”

Kevin Koronka, JD
Husch Blackwell, LLP

Frequently working with healthcare systems and providers, Kevin advises and defends employers on a wide range of issues, including high level investigations, leave and accommodation concerns, discrimination and harassment matters, non-competition agreements, reductions in force and sensitive terminations. He sees himself first as a problem solver who enjoys utilizing his industry knowledge to craft solutions to the day-to-day obstacles that arise in employment matters. Clients value his practical approach, as he provides quick and concise answers that minimize legal risk and permit businesses to avoid becoming unnecessarily sidetracked with workforce issues.

While Kevin typically aims to help clients stay in front of problems, at times litigation is unavoidable. When clients do find themselves in court, Kevin is a fierce advocate for their interests.

Topic: “Workplace Violence and Protecting Healthcare Workers”

Kim Doramus, CALM, LNFA
RevealSol, LLC

Kim Doramus is the Operations Specialist for RevealSol with over 25+ years of experience in program development, operations management and start-up communities. Kim has a BS in Therapeutic Recreation and is an ALF Manager and LNFA. Kim presented to Texas Search and Rescue in 2023.

Topic: “Elopement (PANIC) A Get Ahead Guide: Preparedness, Planning and Prevention”

Laurie Walther, MS, CCC-SLP, PAC Certified Independent Trainer
Empowering Care Partners

Laurie is an ASHA certified, Texas licensed Speech Language Pathologist with over 26 years of experience primarily in the Skilled Nursing setting. She is the co-founder and principal of Empowering Care Partners, a company providing training and consulting to individuals living with dementia and their care partners who support them, including family members, dementia care professionals, and organizations. Laurie currently provides speech therapy services in Assisted Living  and Memory Support communities and in the acute care hospital setting and is part of the Residency team for a college working alongside instructors and with graduate students on applying their clinical skills and knowledge. Laurie co-created a programming support series "Eating Well with Dementia", collaborating with colleagues in Malaysia and Wales.

Topic: “A Collaborative Approach to Dining Well with Dementia”

Lexi Zager
Belmont Village Senior Living

Lexi Zager is a highly accomplished financial professional with a career in senior living spanning from commercial real estate investment sales to development/owner/operating companies. Specializing in financial planning, sales & marketing development, analytics, and business intelligence, she currently serves as the VP of Financial Planning & Analysis at Belmont Village Senior Living, driving profitability and optimizing operational performance. Outside of work, she actively contributes to the community, co-founding the Texas Assisted Living Association's Young Professionals Network and currently serving as Neighborhood Outreach Assistant Chair for the Junior League of Houston, a leadership role that actively helps oversee their Sing Along with Seniors placement. She also holds a BA from New York University.

Connect with Lexi on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lexi-zager.

Topic: “Tech-Driven Financial Leadership: Enhancing Profitability and Sustainability in Senior Living”

Linda Craun-Lugar
Pegasus Senior Living & ProCare HR

Linda has been in the Senior Living industry for 30 years. She began her career as a single mother working as a certified nursing assistant on night shift while attending nursing school during the day. She got into the Senior Living industry after working in the ICU and in an emergency room where she often saw seniors coming in from the skilled nursing home early in the mornings. She was then driven to want to get into a position where she could have an influence and help give seniors the care and respect they deserve.

Linda is honored to have served seniors for over 25 years. She started with a entrepreneurial, passionate attitude by partnering and building a small assisted living in Virginia. Linda then grew and developed over the years holding diverse roles in marketing and operations. She now serves as a Regional VP of Operations for Pegasus Senior Living. She enjoys transitioning challenging communities and teams into successful partnerships with families and residents.

Topic: “The Future is Now: Emerging Technologies and the Staffing Evolution”

Loree Tamayo, MBA, LNFA, CALM, CDP
Loree Tamayo Consulting and Management (LTCM)

Loree has thirty years of experience in the long-term care area. Much of her experience has involved planning and opening new facilities and agencies. Loree Tamayo is the owner and CEO of LTCM (Loree Tamayo Consulting and Management), a successful senior care consulting and management company since 2009. She started her career as a nursing facility administrator and progressed in her career as a CEO for a Hospital District in Texas which included an acute care hospital, a rural health clinic, nursing facility, assisted living facility, home health, and hospice agency.

Topic: “Dementia: How to Catch a Thief!”

Matt Strange, MBA
The Aspenwood Company & ProCare HR

With a career rooted in a passion for problem-solving, Matt Strange is a senior care strategy and innovation leader. Starting with early explorations that often left household appliances in shambles, Matt’s two decades of adventurous leadership have spanned more than 300 communities in 37 states and impacted nearly 50,000 patients and residents. His passion lies in enhancing elders' quality of life and health outcomes. As Chief Transformation Officer at Procare HR, Matt leverages his extensive experience to help create smart, effective solutions tailored to our industry's complex challenges. Having previously held positions as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Revenue Officer at companies ranging from 5 to 120 communities, Matt has successfully transformed industry challenges into growth opportunities, significantly expanding company size and market share while elevating operational outcomes.

Topic: “Innovating Workforce Solutions for the Future of Senior Living”

Michael Wang
Inspiren

Michael Wang is the founder of Inspiren, an award-winning healthcare technology company. Inspiren's flagship solution, AUGi (Augmented Intelligence), has received an Edison Award, Fast Company's Innovation by Design Award for Artificial Intelligence, and Time Magazine's Best Inventions.

Wang held numerous roles as a clinician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and has vast clinical experience in cardiothoracic surgery and direct patient care. From his observations at the bedside, he assembled a team to create AUGi, a hybrid sensing wall-mounted AI that improves patient safety and clinical outcome.

He is the author of the Amazon best-selling book, "The Nurse's Guide to Innovation," and his articles on clinician led innovation have been published widely.

For his pioneering work and inventions in both healthcare and hospitality industries, he has been recognized internationally having received the inaugural innovation award from The American Nurses Association, Fast Company's Linda Tischler Award for Design, and Emory University 40 under 40.

Topic: “How Artificial Intelligence Enables Passive Documentation to Reduce Adverse Events”

Pat Nixon, RN - BSN, CALM – CDP, MBA
iNurse Delegate

Pat T. Nixon, RN – BSN, MBA is the owner of iNurse Delegate, delegating and training more than fifty Assisted Living Facilities, Home and Community Based Service Agencies and Personal Assistance Service Agencies across Texas. She has strategically studied the regulations from both Texas Health and Human Services as well as the Texas Board of Nursing to debunk the mysteries behind safe and effective nurse delegation. She maintains her Certification in Assisted Living Management and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She has spoken across Texas educating nurses, managers, and senior care operators on RN Delegation and how it can be used to grow their prospective businesses.

Having successfully operated assisted living facilities, home health agencies, and personal care service agencies, Pat is an expert on the regulations and legislation affecting senior care. As an RN, Pat holds a clinical background in the management of geriatric patients in both acute care, home health and hospice settings. Pat believes in education and mastery.

Throughout her career, she has achieved various certifications and awards in order to add value to the senior community. This strong passion led to the startup of iNurse Delegate, providing clinical consulting, caregiver training, and nurse delegation for Assisted Living Facilities, Home and Community Based Service Agencies and Personal Assistance Service Agencies. She holds designation as a Certified CPR instructor, Residential Assisted Living Specialist with Memory Care certification, she’s a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Certified Assisted Living Manager. She is a proud member of the Texas Nurses Association (TNA), Texas Organization of Residential Care Homes (TORCH), Alumni of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, and a mentee of the Small Business Association’s SCORE program.

Topic: “Confidently Delegate: Best Practices for Assisted Living RN’s”

Paul Jarvis
ProCare HR

Paul works closely with senior living leaders to design HR solutions that support business goals. Paul has 13 years of experience building and delivering data analytics solutions. Paul previously founded and led Clarent, a business intelligence software solution built for senior living owners and operators. Clarent was acquired by Procare in spring 2024 and Paul joined the Procare team as Head of Sales & Marketing to bring data-driven insights to the people side of the senior living business. Prior to Clarent, Paul worked at Palantir (big data analytics) for 7 years and helped scale the company from start-up to IPO, supporting customers, ops, finance, and the CFO & COO. Paul lives in Houston with his wife and young daughter.

Topic: “Emerging Technologies and the Staffing Evolution”

Rose Saenz, LVN, CALM, LNFA, MBA
RevealSol, LLC & Texas Assisted Living Association

Rose M. Saenz's 20+ year career is centered over serving seniors in various senior living roles from nursing care to operations to new developments. She has successfully opened, licensed and operated assisted living and memory care communities.

Rose actively serves the industry as President and Operations Specialist for RevealSol, LLC, a consulting company and as the Vice President of Workforce Development for Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA).  Additionally, she serves on the Board for A Gift of Time in Georgetown and supports the Public Policy Committee with (TALA).

Rose is passionate about educating and supporting community leaders in how care is approached, ensuring independence, autonomy and dignity of senior adults is of highest regard through day-to-day operational practices, programming and community design.

Topic: Moderating “Confidently Delegate: Best Practices for Assisted Living RN’s” and “Emerging Technologies and the Staffing Evolution”

Scott Blaszczyk, PharmD MHA BCGP BCPS
Infinity Pharmacy Solutions

Scott brings 20+ years of pharmacist experience to Infinity Pharmacy Solutions in his role as the Director of Clinical Services. Board Certified in Geriatrics (BCGP) and Pharmacotherapy (BCPS), Scott is passionate about medication management and appropriate prescribing in older adults.

Scott’s career began in community pharmacy with responsibilities including single-unit and multiple-unit management. In 2014, he transitioned to skilled nursing consulting building and training his own team of consultant pharmacists to service a 40+ unit skilled nursing facility portfolio. Dedicated to educating the next generation of pharmacists about senior care pharmacy, Scott is active in precepting pharmacy students during their final year of schooling. Scott has served on the State of Texas Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board helping ensure medication access to the Texas Medicaid population. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.

Scott is married to his wife, Amie, and has a daughter and two sons. In his free time, Scott enjoys running, coaching grade school cross country and track & field, and spending time with his wife and kids.

Scott graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his Doctorate of Pharmacy and Texas Tech University with his Masters in Healthcare Administration.

Topic: “Pills! Pills! Pills! The Perils of Polypharmacy”

Stephanie Berman, MSN, RN, CALM
Engagement Through Education, LLC

Stephanie is solution oriented, combined with her innovative nature she saw the need to offer leadership delves-mentor and continuing education for those who dedicate themselves to caring for others. Stephanie’s engaging, down-to-earth, practical, high-energy presentations leaves audiences wanting more. She engages them from the moment they start and leaves them empowered to handle their new responsibilities. Her ability to connect with audiences creates a desire for more. From leadership development and training, nursing director oversight, clinical care, medications, disease processes, ADL care, emergency/triage skills and so much more.

She started her career in nursing as an emergency room nurse and has spent over 17 years in leadership positions from Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director to Director of Nursing for various post-acute care models and is the leading expert in RN Delegation in the state of Texas, currently sitting on the advisory panel for University of Texas Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long Term Care. Stephanie is currently an adjunct professor at Galen College of Nursing teaching the future BSN students.  She earned her Associates Degree in Nursing from Austin Community College, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Masters in Nurse Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a current Doctoral of Nursing Practice student with Galen College of Nursing. A deep passion formed for the geriatric population, and she has spent her career working in various long-term, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health. She consistently developed programs that reduced re-admission rates, created an understanding for utilizing RN delegation, developed a leadership program, and fast became the go-to-person for better standards of care and regulations expert. She is passionate about education; both receiving it and teaching.

Stephanie currently services all of Texas and is in several other states. nationwide communities.

Topic: “How to Implement an Effective Medication Management Program”

Terese Corbin, MJur, MSN, RN
12 Oaks Senior Living

Terese Corbin is the VP of Care and Compliance at 12 Oaks Senior Living. Terese has an extensive 25-year career in healthcare and seniors housing clinical leadership roles. Most recently, she worked as executive director for a large assisted living and memory care community in Dallas. Previously, she worked for a post-acute healthcare company, Oasis Healthcare, where she served as regional reimbursement specialist and director of risk management. Her background also includes regional work as a consultant and compliance officer. Terese Corbin holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana State University and a master’s in jurisprudence with a certification in healthcare law, policy and management from Texas A&M University School of Law. She is also an Army combat veteran, having served 16 years as an accounting specialist and nurse.

Topic: “An Operator's Journey to Value-Based Care: Improving Outcomes & Operational Metrics”