Q1: Tell us a bit about your career trajectory. What past positions have you held that led you to Aging & In-Home Services?
I am in that lucky cohort of individuals who have truly enjoyed their career journey and still do today. I have been drawn to positions where I believed I could innovate and have an impact. This has opened me up to a variety of experiences that have included leading local community nonprofits, state consortiums, national aging associations and foundations. I have lived and worked in multiple states and D.C., and can say with complete confidence there is nowhere I would rather be applying my skills than northeast Indiana at AIHS.
Q2: You’ve been with Aging & In-Home for 14 years — congratulations! What accomplishments are you most proud of during your time as President/CEO?
Fourteen years – seeing that on paper, wow. I feel like I’ve been with the agency for a lifetime, while it also feels like I just joined yesterday. First and foremost, I am most proud of the Board and staff of AIHS. When the Board hired me, they said they wanted change and they have stood by that statement for all of these years. I would stand the AIHS staff up against any other in the country and say, “They are the best.”
In terms of what we have accomplished as an organization that makes me proud, I would say that first we have put northeast Indiana on the national map as a leader in the community integrated health and aging environment. We have a brand that is recognized both statewide and nationally for innovation and excellence. We were the first Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in the country to achieve NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) accreditation in long-term services and supports. We were the first AAA to take the lead in launching a PACE program. We developed the first national contract with managed care that lifted the barriers for community organizations to contract and that model is now active in multiple states. Most recently, AIHS was designated by Health and Human Services and the U.S. Administration for Community Living as a statewide Community Care Hub and we, along with several partner agencies, are playing an important role as the State transitions to a managed long term care plan, Indiana PathWays for Aging, that will become active in July 2024.
Q3: What do you love most about your job and why? What is the most challenging part about your job?
This is a hard one – there are so many things I love about my role. Recently, I’ve grown a deeper appreciation for our equation of success = mission + strategy + innovation + partnerships. Having the freedom to develop new projects and models of care while keeping our mission at the forefront of our initiatives has been rewarding on many levels. When I joined AIHS in 2010, I believed that our agency could become a national model for the Aging & Disability Network. Actually seeing this vision of “being more” come to life has been a tremendous gift. The most challenging part of my role is making sure that we are constantly positioning for what is around the corner so that we are prepared to find the resources we need to serve the growing population of folks who need our assistance.
Q4: Tell us a bit about your life outside of work. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I like to spend time with my family and friends. I’m a host at heart, so if my driveway is full and I’m cooking something yummy in my kitchen, I’m happy. When the weather is nice, I enjoy venturing out to art shows or farmer’s markets. I use the left side of my brain daily at work, so exercising the right side with a little creativity keeps me balanced.
Q5: Are you a New Year’s resolutions type of gal?
I’m not. I love the holiday season and spending time with my family and friends, but I tend to overlook this particular tradition. I prefer to be present in the moment and not look too far ahead when it comes to my personal ambitions. I spend most of my work-life setting goals and looking into the future, so I’ve made it my mission to always be completely present when it comes to my personal life.
Q6: Do you enjoy traveling? What is the most memorable trip or vacation you’ve been on?
I have a love-hate relationship with traveling. I love the trips, but I hate the travel! My most memorable times include water, whether it be an ocean, a lake or a stream. My late husband was a boater and loved boating on Lake Michigan, which we did every summer. I have a special fondness for the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. I have had the good fortune to both live and travel in Europe and would spend summers in Cornwall, England by the shore if my life (and budget) supported that!
Q7: What is most rewarding about working in the field of aging? Would you say this is where your passion lies?
My passion lies in the field of aging, 100%. My entire career has been focused on the aging population and their family caregivers. I think the most rewarding part of this field is having the opportunity to make the system better for the next generation. My grandmother raised my brother and I – our mom was a single mom working a full-time job, and for us living in a multi-generational family home was not a sitcom plot – it was an economic necessity. When my grandmother crossed that invisible line from independent living to requiring nursing home care, I made it my mission to develop services that support older adults inside their own homes, outside of institutions, for as long as possible. She is who I have to thank for the important work I do today.
