California Community of Constituents Conference
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Sacramento Convention Center, 3rd
1400 J Street, Sacramento, CA
Speaker Biographies
In order of appearance
Christine Chow
Orange County Aging Services Collaborative
Christine Chow is currently the general manager of the Orange County Aging Services
Collaborative where she coordinates multiple community initiatives, including advocacy efforts
addressing the needs of older adults and caregivers in Orange County. She also works as the
advocacy coordinator at the Alzheimer's Association Orange County Chapter, where she trains
volunteer advocates to have a voice in federal, state and local legislation. She has a master's
degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California.
[email protected]
René Siedel
Vice President, Programs & Operations, The SCAN Foundation
René Seidel is Vice President of Programs and Operations at The SCAN Foundation. Prior to his
current position, Mr. Seidel worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
in a number of positions, including state grants manager for the Office of AIDS Programs and
Policy, the mental health liaison for the health services administration in the Office of Clinical
Affairs and Affiliations, and as director of board relations during his last three years with the
county. Mr. Seidel directed health and social services programs for many years in communitybased organizations. He founded and directed the Family AIDS Institute in Salvador, Brazil,
and directed HIV services at Tarzana Treatment Centers. Mr. Seidel graduated from the
Polytechnic College for Social Sciences in Munich, Germany, as a social pedagogue (FH).
[email protected]
Kevin Prindiville
Executive Director, National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC)
Kevin Prindiville, became NSCLC’s executive director in July 2013. He is a nationally recognized
expert on Medicare and Medicaid policy and has served as counsel in several class action
lawsuits protecting low-income senior’s access to public benefits. The author of numerous
articles, reports and briefs, he frequently testifies before legislators, presents at national
conferences and works closely with both federal and state regulatory agencies, often quoted
in national and California media. He has worked as a staff attorney at the Pennsylvania Health
Law Project where he represented low-income individuals having trouble obtaining health
care. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the University of
California, San Diego. Prindiville is admitted to the California Bar.
[email protected]
Erin Westphal
Program Officer, The SCAN Foundation
Erin Westphal serves as a program officer for The SCAN Foundation. She focuses on building
the business case for person-centered care models and integrating the care and financing for
medical and social services. She has been a special project coordinator for the City of Los
Angeles Department of Aging, developing community-based programs for seniors and
caregivers. Ms. Westphal has also directed research for the Beverly Foundation and been a
project coordinator for the Orange County Elder Abuse Forensic Center. She holds a master’s
in gerontology from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in psychology from San
Diego State University.
[email protected]
Beau Henneman
Manager, Home & Community Based Services, L.A. Care Health Plan
Beau Hennemann manages home and community-based services for L.A. Care Health Plan, the
nation’s largest public health plan. He oversees the transition of IHSS and MSSP into managed
care and develops services offered as care plan options. He also supervises L.A. Care’s
partnerships with community-based organizations that assist seniors and persons with
disabilities to live independently at home. Beau is a graduate of the University of Missouri,
where he earned a B.S. in business and public administration.
[email protected]
Eileen Koons
President & Director, MSSP Site Association & Huntington Hospital Senior Care Network
Eileen Koons directs Huntington Hospital’s Senior Care Network, a community-based
department of the Pasadena hospital providing home and community-based care
coordination, health education, information, and resources to frail and functionally-impaired
individuals and family caregivers. She serves in leadership and advocacy roles statewide and
locally: as president of the MSSP Site Association (the association of providers for California’s
frail elderly Medicaid HCBS waiver) and as a member of the California LTSS advisory
committee. She has worked for LA County’s Area Agency on Aging as a planning supervisor,
and she began her career in health and aging services twenty-five years ago as a medical social
worker. Her MSW is from Cal State Long Beach with a concentration in older adults and
families.
[email protected]
Lydia Missaelides
Executive Director, California Association of Adult Day Services (CAADS)
Lydia Missaelides is an expert in adult day services, aging, and community based long term
supports and services, with 35 years’ experience in mental health, developmental disabilities,
and aging. For 25 years, she has directed the California Association for Adult Day Services.
She serves on the board of directors of the National Adult Day Services Association and
received the Association’s Ruth Von Behren Award honoring her contributions to the field.
She is a charter member of California’s Olmstead Advisory Committee and the California
Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports. Her B.A in psychology is from the
University of California, Davis, and her master’s in health administration is from USC.
[email protected]
David Nolan
Director, Long Term Services & Support (LTSS) California, Antham Blue Cross
David Nolan directs for LTSS for Anthem Blue Cross in California, responsible for developing
and overseeing LTSS program operations. Prior to Anthem, Mr. Nolan was the executive
director for LTSS and the duals demonstration program for Alameda Alliance for Health,
working IHSS, CBAS, MSSP, skilled nursing, and other community providers. David was the
principal and founder of Chi Partners, where he wrote the strategic plan for long-term care
integration in San Francisco, provided long term care planning and analysis to the Colorado’s
Department of Health, and led the team that wrote and implemented the Assisted Living
Waiver for DHCS. David also spent ten years as national program director for the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation.
[email protected]
Sue Tatangelo
Ventura County Evidence-Based Health Promotion Coalition
Sue Tatangelo is the chief resource officer of the Camarillo Health Care District, responsible for
strategic planning, grant development and leveraging funding, and building partnerships to
enhance people’s quality of life. Most recently, Sue led the development of the District’s care
transitions program to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions. Sue is an advocate for the frail
and vulnerable populations through work with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging and
the Brain Injury Center of Ventura County. In addition, Sue serves on the state-wide California
Department of Aging’s evidence-based program committee. Ms. Tatangelo holds a master’s in
organizational management from Antioch University.
[email protected]
Amber Cutler
Staff Attorney, National Senior Citizens Law Center
Amber Cutler is a staff attorney with the National Senior Citizens Law Center. She joined
NSCLC’s health care team in February 2013 and is based in its Los Angeles office. Amber
primarily focuses on California's Coordinated Care Initiative and other changes under the
Affordable Care Act impacting low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. She has
worked for Legal Aid of Western Missouri as director of the medical legal partnership at St.
Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Amber was admitted to the California, Missouri, and
Illinois bars and is a graduate of Washington University School of Law.
[email protected]
Darry Sragow
Partner, Dentons U.S. LLP
Darry Sragow is the managing partner of Dentons' Los Angeles office and a member of the
public policy and regulation practice. His expertise is in the education, health care, energy,
environment, financial services, crisis management, insurance, transportation, media and
communications industry sectors. Prior to Denton, he managed five statewide California
races, three for governor and two for the U.S. Senate. For ten years, he was chief campaign
strategist for the Democrats in the California State Assembly, and he managed six successful
bond campaigns for Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles Community
College District. He has held senior positions in state and federal government, including
Deputy California Insurance Commissioner, chief of staff to the chairman of the California
Board of Equalization, and a senior staff member for U S. Senator Birch Bayh and the U.S.
Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Darry directed the USC/Los Angeles Times poll and has
taught undergraduate political science, initially at UC Berkeley and currently at USC.
[email protected]
Anne Hinton
San Francisco Long Term Care Coordinating Council
Anne Hinton is executive director of the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult
Services. She is responsible for IHSS, protective services, long term care, and the Office on
Aging/Veterans Services. Ms. Hinton’s career spans more than 40 years including positions
as director of home care and care management for the Institute on Aging, director of aging
services for San Francisco Catholic Charities, and director of the South San Francisco Senior
Services. Ms. Hinton has experience as a lecturer and teacher in the field of gerontology, and
she is a member of the boards of the National Association of Area Agency on Aging and the
California Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
[email protected]
Megan Juring
Program Officer, The SCAN Foundation
Megan Juring is a program officer for the Foundation. Ms. Juring has extensive experience in
state service, including policy development and program administration for long-term services
and supports for older adults and individuals with disabilities of all ages. She was the deputy
director for independent living and community access at the Department of Rehabilitation,
was appointed twice by Governor Brown to the State Independent Living Council, served as an
assistant secretary in the California Health and Human Services Agency and worked in
partnership with the California Council of the Alzheimer’s Association to develop the California
State Alzheimer’s Disease Plan. Ms. Juring holds a bachelor’s degree in applied behavioral
science from the University of California, Davis.
[email protected]
Lora Connolly
Director, California Department of Aging
Lora Connolly directs the California Department of Aging (CDA). CDA administers programs
funded through the federal Older Americans Act and the state Older Californians Act. CDA
also has program oversight for Community Based Adult Service Centers (CBAS) and
administers the Multipurpose Senior Services Program, a Medi-Cal waiver serving 9,000
nursing-home-eligible older adults. Lora has served as the department’s chief deputy director
and acting director, as an assistant secretary at the Health and Human Services Agency, and in
several positions within the Department of Health Services (DHS), including chief of the Office
of Long Term Care. Lora has been a consultant on aging and long-term care policy issues at
the Assembly Office of Research. She holds a Master’s in gerontology with an emphasis in
public policy and administration from the USC.
[email protected]
Ed Long
Deputy Director, Long-Term Care & Aging Services Division, California Department of Aging
Ed Long is deputy director of the California Department of Aging’s long-term care and aging
services division. He has thirty years of state and local experience in aging services including
direct service coordination, research, policy and program development, planning, and
administration. Ed holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and a master’s degree in
gerontology from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
[email protected]
Dawn Myers Purkey
Program Manager, Yolo Adult Day Health Center
Dawn Myers Purkey has been the program director of Dignity Health’s Yolo Adult Day Health
Center since 1996. After serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, Dawn completed an MSW
in gerontology and policy at UC Berkeley. She serves on the board of the California Association
of Adult Day Services and completed a term as president in 2011. She was an appointee to the
California Health and Human Services Agency’s Alzheimer disease and related disorders
committee and currently serves on its LTSS advisory committee. She is a longtime member of
the Yolo County Adult and Aging Commission and a founding board member for the Yolo
Healthy Aging Alliance.
[email protected]
Joy Sarraga
Director of Health Services, Health Plan of San Mateo
Joy Sarraga serves as the health services director for the Health Plan of San Mateo. She has
been with the San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services, with primary responsibilities as the
IHSS program manager. Prior to her work with the county, she held managerial positions with
the City of Oakland, Easter Seals of the Bay Area, and Regional Center of the East Bay. She has
20 years’ experience with non-profit community-based organizations in the Bay Area serving
diverse communities and clients: monitoring federal, state and local contracts, developing
program and service innovation, and creating community partnerships.
[email protected]
Janie Whiteford
Co-President, California In-Home Supportive Services Consumer Alliance
Janie Whiteford, MS, is the founder and current co-president of the California IHSS Consumer
Alliance (CICA). She is a long-time advocate for seniors and persons with disabilities. Janie is a
member of the IHSS advisory committee in Santa Clara County and is involved in the local
implementation of the CCI. She serves on state boards with a commitment to advocate for
services that allow persons to remain in their communities for as long as possible.
[email protected]
June Kailes
Associate Director & Adjunct Associate Professor, Harris Family Center on Disability & Health
Policy, Western University
June Isaacson Kailes is associate director and adjunct associate professor at Harris Family
Center for Disability and Health Policy at Western University of Health Sciences, in Pomona.
She works on disability, access, and functional needs issues as a writer, trainer, researcher,
policy analyst, subject matter expert, and advocate. Recent health-related work includes
developing a disability-competent care self-assessment tool to help health plans evaluate their
ability to meet the needs of people with disabilities. June also works with health plans and
systems to develop disability competencies, writing and co-producing the on-line training
program, “Quality Services for People with Disabilities and Activity Limitations.”
[email protected]
Silvia Yee
Senior Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
Silvia Yee is a senior staff attorney at Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF).
Her work has includes projects to increase physical and programmatic accessibility, disability
awareness in the delivery of health care services, and impact litigation to increase access for
people with disabilities in public and private life. Ms. Yee maintains interests in health care
reform, international disability rights, and models of equality. Ms. Yee has also worked with
the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. Ms. Yee received her B.M., M.A., and
L.L.B. degrees from the University of Alberta.
[email protected]
Debbie Toth
Contra Costa Advisory Council on Aging
Debbie Toth is CEO of Rehabilitation Services of Northern California, whose mission is to
"promote dignity and independence of people with disabilities and other special needs." RSNC
serves more than 600 people each year in its four programs in Contra Costa County: two adult
day health care sites, an MSSP program, and the California Community Transitions Project.
Debbie has been with RSNC since 2002. She has a degree in sociology from UC Irvine and
three school-aged children.
[email protected]
Karen Keeslar
Executive Director, California Association of Public Authorities (CAPA)
Karen Keeslar is a government relations consultant and lobbyist with extensive expertise in
health and human services and public sector financing. She is the executive director of CAPA,
and she has worked for more than 30 years with state and local government agencies, public
employee unions, and non-profit associations. Her areas of specialty are IHSS, state budget,
local government finance, state/county realignment funding, public employee labor relations,
and public employee pensions.
[email protected]
Gary Passmore
Vice President, Congress of California Seniors
Gary Passmore oversees the Sacramento office of CCS where he heads an advocacy program in
the State Legislature, Congress, and before state regulatory and administrative agencies. He
also coordinates advocacy work with other groups and serves on coalitions in health care, long
term care, affordable housing, and nursing home reform. Before joining CCS, Passmore served
as chief of staff to the Missouri’s governor. He was state budget director of Missouri and
served as a budget official in both Illinois and North Carolina.
[email protected]
Jeff Thom
President, California Council of the Blind
Jeff Thom grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from Willamette University
with a B.A. in political science, then received a J.D. degree from Stanford Law School. After
working for a year as a disability rights attorney, Mr. Thom began employment with the
California Office of Legislative Counsel where he worked until his retirement in 2010. In that
nonpartisan capacity, he supervised the drafting of bills and the legal opinions relating to
health and human services. He is president of the California Council of the Blind and first vice
president of the American Council of the Blind. He also serves on the board of trustees of the
American Foundation for the Blind. He is married and has three children.
[email protected]