Karin Kidd RN, BS, Co-leader for the greater northern bay area for the organization "Compassion & Choices.” Karin has been a registered nurse for 45 years with a focus Oncology, Reconstructive surgery, Medical Ethics and Palliative care.Dennis Pocekay, MD, MPH practiced at Kaiser Permanente in the Bay Area for 28 years, is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Preventive Medicine, and Occupational Medicine.For more information contact:Stefanie Elkin [email protected]

Dr. Benjamin A. Bensadon is a licensed clinical geropsychologist, Associate Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program’s Geriatrics & Palliative Care rotation, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Biomedical Science in the Department of Integrated Medical Sciences at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.

Stan Goldberg, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Communicative Disorders at San Francisco State University, and author of the new book, Loving, Supporting, and Caring for the Cancer Patient (Roman & Littlefield, October 2016). He is a prolific award-winning writer, editorial consultant and recognized expert in the area of cancer support, end-of-life issues, caregiving, chronic illnesses, aging and change.

Wendi Burkardt is the CEO and co-founder for Silvernest (www.silvernest.com), an online home sharing service for the 50+ crowd that is redefining the meaning of “roommates.” Silvernest uses the power of technology to tap into the sharing economy and offer an “aging in place” alternative – so older homeowners can stay in the home they love longer and renters can more easily find a home to love as they age. Wendy is going to be talking to us about a term called Gerontechnology.Sponsor: Senior Care Authority (www.SeniorCareAuthority.com)

Nicole Rennie is regarded as an expert in the realm of older adult fitness and has over 20 years of experience as a Physical Therapist and is a Geriatric Certified Specialist in physical therapy.Sponsor: Senior Care Authority (www.SeniorCareAuthority.com)

Board-certified general surgeon Bardia Anvar, M.D. is founder and president of Skilled Wound Care in West Los Angeles. Through his leadership, Skilled Wound Care has grown from a small practice to the nation’s leading wound care group servicing nursing homes throughout the U.S. His expertise includes Medicare compliance, wound dressing selection, chronic wound care, remote electronic medical recording, and delivery of mobile health care services.Sponsor: Senior Care Authority (www.SeniorCareAuthority.com)

Denette Mann is a licensed professional counselor based in Dallas who integrates mindfulness into her counseling practice. This is reflected in the name of her website: LivingBetterWithMindfulness.com. Her belief is that mindfulness can help baby boomers with stage of life issues which Denette will tell us more about.

Bruce Graf is going to expand our knowledge on the growth and popularity of Aging-in-Place. Bruce is a third generation contractor and is certified by NARI, the National Association of the Remodeling industry and is a National Association of Homebuilders Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist. He and his team work on a variety of home remodeling projects.

Robert Hall is a noted author, consultant and speaker on relationships. His book is This Land of Strangers: The Relationship Crisis that Imperils Home, Work, Politics and Faith. As co-founder and CEO of an international relationship management firm, he consulted for over 20 years with major corporations on customer and employee relationships. Ernst and Young named him a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year. He has authored more than 100 published columns, articles, and research studies on the topic of relationships. Robert helps us connect-the-dots on the larger narrative around our society-wide relationship crisis. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.

Dr. Sonia Mosch is a Board Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist (by the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology) working in the Twin Cities for the past 15 years doing diagnosis and treatment of dementia. In addition to dementia, her specialties include MS, Parkinson’s disease, Concussion, and Sports/Performance Psychology. 

Dr. Huntington Potter is Professor of Neurology, member of the Linda Crnic Center for Down Syndrome and Director of the Rocky Mountain Alzheimer's Disease Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He is devoted to studying the mechanistic relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease and Downs syndrome.

Dr. Josh Luke is a best-selling author, healthcare futurist, thought-leader and international motivational speaker. He is an experienced hospital CEO, health system Vice President and nursing home administrator. He is regarded as a "futurist" on the Affordable Care Act and how it will shape the continuum of care.

Deborah Richman is the Vice President, Education and Outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota. She is certified as an Activity Consultant/Educator with the National Certification Council of Activity Professionals (NCCAP) and is certified by the Alzheimer’s Association to offer Foundations of Dementia Care.

Michael Molland is a highly rated trial attorney and elder advocate committed to ensuring that elders and their families are treated fairly by those they trust with their health and money. He uses his trial skills as a corporate lawyer to help the most vulnerable in our communities: seniors and the families who care for the them.

Dr. Michael Weisberg has been a practicing gastroenterologist for over 23 years in Plano, Texas. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Weisberg also serves as a board member of Digestive Health Associates of Texas.

Nina Angela Downie has been a practicing Physical Therapist since 2003.Prior to that work in cardiac rehabilitation, neurologic rehabilitation with specialties in spinal cord injuries, stroke and brain injury.

Carolyn Hobbs is an Author, Licensed Therapist, Lecturer, Workshop Leader and College Professor who is passionately committed to giving people quick, practical ways to bring freedom and inner peace into their busy lives.

Sherri Snelling founded and currently serves as CEO of Caregiving Club, a consulting service and digital content company focused on the nation’s 65 million family caregivers. She is the author of A Cast of Caregivers – Celebrity Stories to Help You Prepare to Care and is a contributing columnist on caregiving for PBS Next Avenue, Forbes.com, Huffington Post and USA Today.

Odell Glenn is an author and a public health advocate for asthma, Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury related diseases. Odell is also a minister and currently the community outreach coordinator for the “South Carolina Diversity Program.”

Peggy Martin has been in the financial services industry since 1977. She is with Family Wealth Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisory Firm as a Wealth Manager and with Legacy Planning Across Generations. She currently holds the role of CFO for the Morgan Hill Branch of the American Association of University Women.

Ryan McEniff is the owner of Minute Women Home Care, a private home care company located in Lexington, MA. Started in 1969, by his Aunt, Ryan purchased Minute Women in 2011 after caring for his mother in her battle with cancer. During that time Ryan experienced how home care and hospice help families and decided to help others the way his family was helped.

After working within the healthcare industry for over 15 years as a senior-level executive for Amgen and Merrill Lynch, Sherwin Sheik found himself the go-to person to solve many of the problems his family was encountering in caring for two family members. Out of this challenging time, Sherwin decided there had to be a better way and he founded CareLinx in 2011. CareLinx's mission is to improve the accessibility and affordability of quality home care.

Elece Hempel, is Executive Director of Petaluma People Services Center. PPSC is dedicated to improving the social and economic health of our community by providing programs that strengthen the dignity and self-sufficiency of the individual.In 2012 she was honored by the North Bay Leadership Council with the “We’re All in this Together, Community Building Award”; and was named California Woman of the Year for 2014, Assemblyman Marc Levin, representing Assembly 10th District. Senator Wolk, 3rd District representative also named her California Woman of the Year 2015.

Jude Bijou, MA, MFT, is a respected psychotherapist, professional educator, and workshop leader. She discusses how to best deal with the fact that families can’t help but experience emotions when through the aging process together including emotions of sadness, anger, and fear.

Michael D’Agostino is the Founder/ Owner of MDCaregiving, a caregiver training and medical equipment resource. Michael is also a licensed Occupational Therapist and has been a practicing therapist for over 16yrs in various settings including: Skilled Nursing, Acute Rehab, Assisted Living, and Home Health Therapy for nearly five of those years.

Valerie Richards is a certified Advance Care Planning Facilitator and provides education for the community to improve understanding and interactions with the person with dementia, and coaching for families to help them maintain their relationships in a positive way.

John Grayson Heide is the author of new book called "The Flight of the Pickerings." It’s a soulful love story about aging and dying.  John has dedicated the book to people all over the world who are dealing with end of life issues. John discusses his vision of a future society where individuals are naturally granted the right of self-determination and always guided by a deep love of life.

Ronnie Genser founded Bereavement Navigators to help widows, widowers, adult children, and other relatives who have lost a loved one, in hopes that her knowledge will make this process and the journey ahead easier for them.

Susan Miedzianowski, PhD, CPC, CSA, has more than 45 years of experience in the healthcare industry, and in her educator role focuses on the philosophy that education should always be a fun, experiential, empowering and meaningful process. Susan received her PhD in Human Services at the age of 63.

Vickie Dellaquila is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Organization Rules®, a company specializing in residential organizing, working with the chronically disorganized, senior downsizing, move management services and clients who have issues with hoarding.

Debbie Rosas is the creator and co-founder of the global fitness and lifestyle practice, Nia, which is based upon The Body’s Way: a system used to live, move and feel great at any age. She is the author of The Nia Technique and Non-Impact Aerobics. Her work is featured in over 800 publications and used by over 65,000 people weekly in over 51 countries, taught by 2600 teachers.

Martin Pazzani is the Founder of Act!vate Brain & Body, a revolutionary approach to fitness for the baby boomer generation that is focused on radically improving the trajectory of aging to enable people to live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Check out Martin's run up the Empire State Building to raise funds for the Challenged Athletes Foundation at http://goo.gl/ME92eh

Gloria Bernard has been designing residential and commercial interiors for over 35 years. She brings her expertise, style and passion to support aging with dignity. Gloria is also a college instructor for Interior Design. This keeps her current with today’s trends, technology, and social issues that affect seniors.

Valerie Richards is a certified Advance Care Planning Facilitator, family coach and educator to improve understanding and interactions with the person with dementia.

Rachelle Lavalier has worked in various roles in Senior Care throughout the years, including some therapeutic approaches there were to treating Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia. She took that knowledge into sales and marketing and currently works in that role at Brookdale Senior Living, a Specialized Alzheimer’s and Dementia care community.

Trisha Torrey is an author, speaker, and patient advocacy consultant. With a background prior to her advocacy work in teaching and marketing, in 2009 Trisha founded AdvoConnection.com, a directory that helps patients and caregivers find private patient advocates who can help them get the good healthcare they deserve. She discusses patient advocacy and the future of our health care system.

Olivia Mastry is the founding partner of The Collective Action Lab, a unique collaborative forum that fosters cross-sector, systems and social change in the health, older adult service and disability arenas. As part of her work, Olivia is guiding Dementia national collaboration involving public and private Friendly America (DFA), a national collaboration organizations seeking to foster dementia friendly involving over 50 public and private organizations communities across the U.S.

Ken Rader is Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Pacific Modern Homes, a company having a series of Pre-Engineered home plans that are designed for Aging in Place, helping transition people throughout all of life's stages. Ken discusses about new developments in this growing market.

Susan Macaulay lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for 18 years. She had a successful business as a public speaking coach and trainer. Like many people who care for loved ones with dementia, Susan Macaulay was drafted into a role she never imagined she would be doing. She left what she loved behind to care for her mom who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Four years later, Susan is still getting on with it…

Phil P. Lindsley is a widely recognized elder and special needs law attorney. His practice is limited to Medi-Cal and public benefits planning, special needs planning, "Life Care" planning, asset protection, probate and trust administration, and conservatorships and their alternatives.

Victoria Collier founded The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, P.C. to serve the legal needs of senior citizens when their health care needs increase. Victoria is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through The National Elder Law Foundation and has been named as “Fellow” of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). She is the author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors and Paying for Long Term Care – Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit.

Mike Good is the founder of Together in This, an online resource helping family members caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Through short, informative articles and easy-to-use tools, such as his Introductory Guide to Alzheimer’s, he helps caregivers take control and have peace-of-mind that they are doing the right things.

Lisa Dougherty is the founder of the Medical Fitness Network, a volunteer driven organization providing a free national fitness and health care referral service for those with (chronic) medical conditions, including but not limited to: Alzheimer's, Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Mental Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Pre & Postnatal Care, Respiratory Disease and Stroke.

David Stitt is Chairman and CEO of EnterAct Software, LLC, a firm dedicated to providing comprehensive financial planning tools and services to professional financial planning firms. His writings are published by Prentice Hall in “The Expert’s Guide to Managing and Marketing a Successful Financial Planning Practice," and most recently authored “Federal Income Tax for Age 65 and Older” used in the Certified Senior Advisor certification study materials. David has also hosted a radio talk show, “Money Talks.”

After a 30-year career as a writer, photographer and video maker, Bonnie Durrance has spent hundreds of hours interviewing people about their lives and work and what’s important to them.Now, Bonnie is a Certified Life Coach, writer, photographer and director of The Story Comes First® a company dedicated to helping people to tell and share the stories that have changed their lives.

Holly Eide, Area Manager for HealthStar Home Health and Lori La Bey, founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks, are dedicated to providing education and support for those dealing with Alzheimers disease and other dementias. They also discuss on new movie on the subject matter, titled "His Neighbor Phil."

Mike Miles is the Executive Director with Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society where he works with very dedicated professionals, a strong and caring Board of Directors, and to lead a phenomenal group of volunteers to make a significance difference in the lives of others. Mike discusses both the challenges and advancements with Parkinson's Disease.

Steve Wagner is the founder of Rightcare Foundation and has a mission of enhancing senior care with respect to resuscitation. Steve has a passion for senior care and the need for education of immediate resuscitation through training at Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing locations.