Co-Founder & CPO, AlphaROC
Shanu Aggarwal is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at AlphaROC, leading product strategy and research functions. Shanu brings 20 years of investing experience, including 17 years as a Portfolio Manager, to the team. Throughout his investing career he relied on deep research with varied datasets to generate alpha. Before co-founding AlphaROC, Shanu was the Founder/Managing Partner of Bodhi Tree Advisors, a global long/short hedge fund. Prior to Bodhi Tree, he was a Portfolio Manager at Citadel and Diamondback, and Partner/Portfolio Manager at Meru Capital, alongside a team he worked with previously at Old Lane from its inception through to its sale to Citigroup. Shanu began his career as an Investment Banker at Goldman Sachs after graduating Cum Laude from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
EVP, Growth, Health Dimensions Group
With more than 25 years of leadership experience in the senior care sector, Mr. Branin develops and implements sales and business growth strategies to position Health Dimensions Group® (HDG®) for success as a leading consulting and management firm. Collaborating with other HDG leaders and leadership teams, he cultivates and strengthens key organizational partnerships and evaluates potential management, development, and acquisition opportunities.
Mr. Branin has held a wide variety of titles at the community, regional, and national level. He has worked extensively with communities across the country, serving as executive director for assisted living and memory care facilities; overseeing the construction and development of communities in multiple states; consulting with both REITs and providers on operations and asset management; and working in private equity overseeing a nationwide portfolio of senior living assets.
Some of Mr. Branin’s core areas of expertise include:
Past accomplishments include the successful transition of operational management for 23 assets in nine states, encompassing 2,600 long-term care beds, and oversight of the acquisition and transitional operations of senior housing properties for a large national provider.
President & CEO, Massachusetts Assisted Living Association
Brian Doherty has served as president and CEO of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA), since 2018. His successful leadership was recognized by Argentum, which named him a 2022 Champion of Seniors Awardee. As assisted living is a relatively new and fast-growing sector, and an innovative model of a social wellness environment, Doherty focuses on educating policymakers and the public on its beneficial role in healthy aging. This includes legislative and regulatory advocacy, and the production and promotion of consumer resources including the Assisted Living Resource Guide, which is published annually and provided free to members of the public.
Doherty has a proven record in association management, having successfully led associations in different sectors. He served as Executive Director at the Massachusetts Psychological Association and, prior to that, as CEO of the Northeast Association of REALTORS®. In a volunteer capacity, he currently serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the New England Society of Association Executives, where he has served on the Board since 2018.
Senior Vice President, Argentum
Maggie has nearly 30 years of experience in health care policy, leadership, and advocacy on federal and state levels. She joined Argentum in September of 2020 to construct a national policy platform for the Senator Living Industry to address the great care challenges of our nation’s aging population. At Argentum she oversees policy development, advocacy, and political communications. Prior to her service at Argentum, Maggie served as Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy at the National Rural Health Association. During this time, she transformed a small advocacy organization with limited resources into a nationally recognized leader in health policy, cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, and national cable and network news. Maggie has served on national task forces led by the White House, HHS, and both Republican and Democratic House and Senate Leadership. Prior to this, she served as an advocate for the American Medical Association and as Legislative Counsel to three U.S. Senators where she focused on intricate health care policy and Medicare and Medicaid legislation. Maggie has a B.S. in Journalism from Oregon State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Law. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her husband, three children and two dogs.
President, Merrill Gardens
Tana Gall is responsible for all aspects of operations and growth at the 66 Merrill senior living communities in 17 states – Merrill Gardens and Truewood by Merrill. Gall has over 30 years of experience in senior living leadership roles, and she is focused on creating a culture where the 4,000 team members and 7,000 residents who live and work at Merrill thrive. Under Gall’s leadership, the company is recognized as one of the most respected providers of senior living in the country. Gall recently led the launch of the Truewood by Merrill communities with a focus on seniors in the underserved middle market.
Prior to joining Merrill, Gall spent 19 years at Leisure Care, where she worked in all aspects of operations, and she was named President in 2010. After leaving Leisure Care, Gall was President at Merrill Gardens for three years before becoming a principal and founding partner at 2Ten Consulting. She was the Chief Executive Officer at Blue Harbor Senior Living for three years before returning to Merrill Gardens as President in 2019.
Gall is an industry leader, serving as Vice Chairperson of the Argentum Board of Directors and she was previously the leader of the Argentum Executive Director Leadership Institute. She is focused on bringing new leadership to the industry and was instrumental in the establishment of the Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living at Washington State University. Based on her career accomplishments, she was asked to join the Bellevue College Healthcare Management and Leadership Advisory. She was named a Woman of Distinction by McKnight’s Senior living, an award that honors women in senior living who inspire and impact the lives of residents and team members, and the Puget Sound Business Journal recently named Gall the Middle Market Executive of the Year. Away from work, Gall is on the Emeritus Board and volunteers with Treehouse, a Washington state organization supporting children in foster care, and works with the Husky Leadership Institute at the University of Washington, guiding students to become change agents in their communities.
Gall earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington.
Owner & CEO, Patriot Angels
In 2012, former Mrs. Alaska, Suzette Graham, founded patriot angels to help U.S. wartime veterans and their families access the VA’s aid and attendance pension. Frustrated by the complex application process, she created a streamlined solution to ensure veterans receive the benefits they earned.
Suzette’s passion for advocacy began early, earning the heroism award in 2000 for lobbying child welfare reforms. Recognizing another underserved group, she shifted her focus to aging veterans struggling to afford senior care despite their VA benefits.
Under Suzette’s leadership, Patriot Angels has become a trusted national resource, helping thousands secure VA benefits efficiently. Committed to leaving no veteran behind, she continues working with senior communities, caregivers, and policymakers to expand access, providing dignity, security, and peace of mind.
Chief Executive Officer and Principal
Erin Hennessey is a certified gerontologist with 20 years of experience in senior health care. As chief executive officer, she provides leadership and direction setting for HDG.
As both a strategic thought leader and tactical realist, Ms. Hennessey understands the complexities of moving from volume- to value-driven health care systems. She has considerable experience advising post-acute care providers in the areas of operational performance and financial improvement and development of health care strategies. Her experience also includes serving as administrator and senior leader of skilled nursing and senior living facilities in several states.
Ms. Hennessey’s areas of expertise include the following:
Ms. Hennessey is active in acute, post-acute, and senior services organizations, working to provide them with education resources, industry information, and support for members in the area of senior services. She is a sought-after speaker at state and national meetings on a variety of topics, including senior health care, health care reform, value-based transformation, and planning for aging populations. Ms. Hennessey was named a 2019 Senior Living Leader Under 40 by Argentum, a national senior living association. She has been named to the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors and was chosen as a 2021 Women in Business honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Most recently, she was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Top Women Leaders in Healthcare for 2023 and joined the Wallick Communities Board of Directors in 2024.
CEO-CEI, New Perspective
Chris has served residents, patients, family members, associates, shareholders, and suppliers for 30 years. Chris is currently in his seventh year as the co-CEO for New Perspective. Over the years, Chris served at Brookdale Senior Living, as Executive Vice President, Operations Support. Prior to joining Brookdale, via merger in 2014, Chris was Chief Operating Officer at Emeritus Senior Living. Chris embarked on his journey into seniors housing with Emeritus the latter part of 1998. Throughout his 16 years with Emeritus, he held a variety of servant leadership roles including: operations, health & wellness, administration, procurement, sales, marketing, information technology, innovation and optimization, resident engagement, culinary services, owner relations, and new development. Prior to Emeritus, Chris thoroughly enjoyed direct patient care at Mary Black Memorial Hospital, where he held various positions within the clinical realm.
Chris graduated from Spartanburg College and the University of South Carolina Upstate. Over the years, he successfully attained licenses in: Residential Care Home Administration, State & Federal Nursing Home Administration and from the Board of Nursing. Chris currently serves on the Executive Committee, Board of Directors and as the Public Policy Chairman for Argentum. He is also a member of American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) and the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing (NIC).
Senior Advisor, Husch Blackwell Strategies
Lynn Jacquez’s professional background spans private law practice, government relations, and service in the Federal government. Upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame School of Law, she came to Capitol Hill to serve as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee. In her work for its Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and International Law, she had primary responsibility for the drafting and processing of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) and refugee reauthorization legislation. After her tenure on the Committee, Ms. Jacquez entered private practice with Heron, Burchette, Ruckert & Rothwell, and later with McAuliffe, Kelly & Raffaelli. In 1992, she helped form the government relations firm which became CJ Strategies in 2006 and CJ Lake in 2011. In 2021 she established the law firm of JPH Law, LLC. She serves as Managing Partner and Principal at CJ Lake and as Of Counsel to JPH Law firm. Ms. Jacquez recently began an affiliation with national advocacy firm Husch Blackwell Strategies, with a federal presence and 11 offices located throughout the country.
In her legal practice, Ms. Jacquez represents employers in individual and class action litigation involving MSPA, wage and labor and immigration law. She counsels employer clients on statutory and regulatory compliance with employment laws including I-9 compliance and temporary foreign worker visa program compliance. She represents organizations seeking regulatory and legislative reform to address workforce issues and is actively engaged on behalf of employers in developing immigration program reform legislation. Ms. Jacquez also represents organizations working to develop policy on sustainable agriculture, resiliency and sustainable goods movement.
Ms. Jacquez is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. Ms. Jacquez received her undergraduate degree from L’Université d’Aix-Marseilles and holds a law degree from the University of Notre Dame School of Law.
CEO/Co-founder, AHMG/Elevate Senior Living
Joseph Jasmon serves as CEO of American Healthcare Management Group (AHMG), a nationally recognized consulting firm focused on operational and financial improvement in the following areas: multi-hospital health systems, stand-alone hospitals, rural hospitals, large physician groups, senior living communities, mental health facilities, and family-owned enterprises. AHMG also provides leadership training, corporate retreats, individualized staff training, human resources and insurance audit services along with cost reduction strategies. Jasmon has served as the CEO / Managing Partner of AHMG since its inception in 2004.
Joseph is also a Founding Partner in Elevate Senior Living a new mid-market assisted living and memory care community solution designed to serve the retired teacher, firefighter, policeman, factory worker, public service worker among other middle class retirees that are the backbone of our society.
Joseph is a Founding Partner in Crossroads, LLC , a new company built around the creation and development of a rural community healthcare replacement solution. Crossroads has created a Neighborhood Health Community concept that will provide and answer to the failing rural hospital dilemma.
Jasmon has also served as CEO of Shepherd Senior Living, where he was responsible for providing overall leadership to the organization and its Board of Directors, overseeing growth, development and strategy, and ensuring strong financial performance and outstanding resident care.
Prior to his role with Shepherd, Jasmon served as COO of The LaSalle Group, Inc., where he provided top-level leadership to The LaSalle Group’s overall operations and its four divisions. Jasmon also directed and oversaw the expansion efforts of the business, growing the Memory Care portfolio from 12 to 40 communities, with an average occupancy well over 94%. He researched and developed new business opportunities and furthered the strategic vision and goals of the company. Jasmon has served as visionary leader and Chief Operating Officer for multiple Health Systems – Renown Health, Memorial Health, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Caritas Christi Healthcare System, Good Shepherd Health System and Memorial Health University Physicians. With over 30 years of experience in operational improvement and optimization of resources, Jasmon has additionally served a multitude of healthcare, senior living and general business clients.
He holds a BA and MBA from the University of Illinois – Springfield, and is a member of Argentum, ASHA and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Medical Group Management Association and the Knights of Columbus.
Senior Advisor, Husch Blackwell Strategies
Bio coming soon.
CEO, NIC MAP
Arick Morton is the CEO of NIC MAP, the trusted intelligence partner exclusively built for the senior housing industry. Under his leadership, NIC MAP has transformed how the industry leverages data, becoming the first official data partner of Argentum and ASHA and introducing AI technology to enhance market insights. With 19+ years of market data on 35K+ properties, the platform serves over 8,000 customers nationwide. Arick serves on the Argentum Board of Directors, ASHA Advisory Board and was named a GlobeSt. Senior Housing Influencer.
Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Development, WellTower Inc.
John Olympitis is Executive Vice President – Head of Corporate Development and has responsibility for originating transactions and managing growth relationships across all asset classes, as well as leading the Business Development and Strategy teams. Previously, Mr. Olympitis served as a Senior Vice President and Vice President in both the Business Development and Investment groups and has been actively involved in acquisition and development, having served at the forefront of several Welltower joint ventures with world class institutions.
Mr. Olympitis started his career in real estate finance in Capital Markets and Investor Relations roles at The Rouse Company in Columbia, Maryland, and subsequently spent more than 10 years on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and private investment vehicles in advisory and portfolio management roles before joining Welltower in early 2015. He completed 8 years of study in England and graduated with honors from University College London (UK), and sits on the board of directors of the University’s US non–profit.
Vice President of Government Affairs, Direct Supply
Brian is the Vice President of Government Affairs at Direct Supply, a leading provider of innovative solutions for the senior living industry. With over two decades of experience in government affairs, he is a healthcare policy expert who specializes in developing strategies to manage political relationships while navigating public policy opportunities and risks across the healthcare spectrum.
In his current role, he focuses on strategic business development through government relations and looks to advance the ways in which applied technologies and AI can be leveraged to enhance policy and market outcomes.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Direct Supply Senior Living Advocacy and has been instrumental in the Tell Our Stories platform and initiative, which showcases the stories of seniors and their caregivers, and advocates for innovation and excellence in the senior care industry.
Brian is passionate about improving the quality of life and care for seniors and their caregivers, and has a proven track record of policy development, legislative and regulatory strategy, political engagement, industry coalition-building, grassroots advocacy, and PAC management.
President & CEO, Georgia Senior Living Association
Catie is an accomplished association and nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in team leadership development, strategic planning, evaluation, fundraising, community & member engagement, board development, and volunteer management. An activator and achiever with a high capacity for work and engaging the teams around her, Catie manages complex, concurrent projects with ease, using analytical problem-solving skills to reframe challenges and develop effective and implementable solutions.
Catie is an exceptional communicator and collaborator who foundationally builds relationships with key stakeholders, colleagues, vendors, and the community.
As a manager, Catie leads staff teams and volunteer groups in furthering organizational strategies and improving processes. She has a deep commitment to the community and corporate social responsibility. She is an aspirational leader, not afraid to do what needs to be done, no matter the level of work. She encourages teams to challenge her, and one another, with the desire to help develop teams that are diverse and flexible. She loves the “how” and the “wow” of output development.
Her vast experience all connects to offer a strong and growing leader that can resource any need laid in front of her.
SENIOR Act Sponsor & Member of the House Long-Term Care Caucus
Congresswoman Lori Trahan proudly represents Massachusetts’ Third Congressional District, made up of 35 cities and towns including her hometown of Lowell. The granddaughter of immigrants, Lori grew up in a working-class family with her dad working long, hard hours as a union ironworker and her mom juggling part-time jobs while caring for her and her three sisters.
Lori is a proud graduate of the Lowell Public School system, and during her time at Lowell High School, she became a standout volleyball player. She earned a volleyball scholarship to Georgetown University where she became the first person in her family to graduate from college. Like many, Lori was introduced to public service as a college student in Washington, D.C. After college, she joined former Congressman Marty Meehan’s staff, working her way up to Chief of Staff. She deeply enjoyed working to serve her hometown and people across Massachusetts, but she also witnessed firsthand the increasing partisanship that served wealthy special interests instead of families like the one she grew up in.
After a decade in public service, Lori took on a new challenge in the private sector as the only female executive at a tech company. Her passion for bringing women into leadership positions led her to co-found a women-owned and -operated consulting firm. In that role, she advised various companies on business strategy and how to create the ideal conditions for employees – especially women – to thrive.
Lori decided to run for Congress in 2018 – the first time she had ever sought public office – because she wanted to expand economic opportunities for working families in Massachusetts. Sworn in alongside a historically diverse class of new members, Lori immediately got to work for the people of the Third District. Now, as a member of the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Lori is an advocate for Third District residents – working to expand access to affordable, quality health care, end the addiction crisis, rebuild our infrastructure, tackle climate change, protect kids online, and more. She also serves in House Democratic Leadership as Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy & Communications Committee, Senior Whip and member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
During her time in Congress, Lori has responded swiftly to crises from the Merrimack Valley gas explosions, when she secured passage of the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act, to the COVID-19 pandemic, when she co-founded the Pandemic Preparedness Caucus, to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, when she immediately got to work on behalf of women and health care providers. With every issue, Lori continues to prioritize the district she was born in, raised in, and that she and her husband are now raising their two young daughters in. To that end, Lori has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for local infrastructure projects, small businesses, health centers, community organizations, and more.
Chief Executive Officer, Wallick Communities
Amy Albery serves as Chief Executive Officer of Wallick Communities, where she leads with a servant heart and a people-first philosophy. Under her leadership, Wallick remains deeply committed to its mission of “Opening Doors to Homes, Opportunity, and Hope,” cultivating a values-driven culture that empowers associates to deliver exceptional service to residents.
Since joining Wallick in 2011 as Director of Development, Amy has held several senior leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of Asset Management, Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing Operations, and Interim Chief Operating Officer—overseeing support services and operations for three of Wallick’s five business units. Prior to Wallick, she owned and operated a title insurance company for 14 years, specializing in residential, commercial, tax credit, and affordable housing transactions.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ashland University and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School. She actively supports affordable housing policy and advocacy, serving on boards and leadership committees with organizations such as Midwest Affordable Housing Management Association, National Affordable Housing Management Association and the Ohio Housing Council, where she serves as President. In 2020, she received NAHMA’s Industry Achievement Award for her outstanding advocacy.
Deeply committed to community service, Amy serves as an Executive Mentor for women students through Denison University’s Women In Business Association and Co-Leads the Licking County Comprehensive Plan, guiding long-term growth strategy for one of Central Ohio’s fastest-growing regions. She previously served as Board President of The Woodlands, a nonprofit operating a women’s shelter and other community services in Newark, Ohio.
Amy’s leadership has earned her repeated recognition by Columbus Business First, including cover features, the Power 125 list, a Women of Influence Award, and C-Suite Most Admired Executive honors.
Managing Director, Senior Living, RSF Partners
Sebastian Brown leads senior living investments at RSF Partners, covering the full range of senior housing — development, value-add, and core stabilized assets. Since joining the firm, he has directed investments across four opportunity funds as well as RSF SHIP, its core senior living investment platform.
Before RSF, Mr. Brown was a Director of Asset Management with Hudson Americas, the asset management division of Lone Star Funds. He oversaw a portfolio of more than $2 billion, spanning real estate equity investments and distressed loans. He began his career as a real estate appraiser at James Brown Associates, completing more than 250 senior housing appraisals and market studies. During his tenure at Canyon Creek Development, he led more than 100 acquisition and development projects.
Mr. Brown holds the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and earned a Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University.
SVP of Business Admin at Phoenix Senior Living
Summer Blizzard serves as Senior Vice President of Administration for Phoenix Senior Living, where she helps lead operational strategy, growth, and cross-functional initiatives that support the company’s expanding portfolio and commitment to exceptional resident experiences.
With more than 16 years of experience in the senior housing industry, Summer brings a unique blend of operational insight, sales leadership, and process optimization. Prior to joining Phoenix Senior Living, she held executive roles with CHI Living Communities and Morning Pointe Senior Living, and spent over seven years with Elmcroft Senior Living in positions focused on analytics, training, and business optimization. Her work has
consistently centered on aligning people, processes, and technology to drive
performance and elevate care delivery.
Summer is an active industry leader and contributor. She previously served on the
National Investment Center for Seniors Housing (NIC) Future Leaders Council, including one year as Co-Chair, and was recognized as an Argentum 40 Under 40 honoree in 2019.
She currently participates in the Argentum Executive Roundtable and serves as a board member for the Virginia Assisted Living Association.
She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband, Chris, and their children, River and Hudson. Outside of work, Summer enjoys family time, traveling, cycling, and gardening.
Co-Founder/Partner, SAVANT-AI
Christian is Co-Founder and Chief AI Officer of SAVANT-AI. He formulates and advises on the company’s AI strategy — tools, vendors, products, guardrails, research direction — and represents the company’s AI posture in client engagements and industry forums.
He has been building with technology for 26 years, from gaming systems to AI-powered automation. He architects the systems behind SAVANT-AI’s training platform, runs community operations in The Room, and co-delivers every live session alongside Matt.
Technical by nature, teacher by instinct — equally comfortable configuring an agentic workflow or walking a first-time user through their first conversation with AI.
Founder & CEO, SAVANT-AI
Matt has led 18 corporate AI engagements, training 500+ leaders — from CEOs and board members to front-line managers — with more slated for 2026. More than 2,000 professionals have come through SAVANT-AI’s courses and workshops.
Before founding SAVANT-AI in 2022, he spent 18 years in private banking and investment management, advising wealthy families at firms including J.P. Morgan Private Bank and Barclays. He is a Columbia University graduate and began his career as a production artist at Morgan Stanley. He also served in the infantry of the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1983 to 1989, qualifying as an expert rifleman.
He created the SAVANT 5 framework, the ThinkPrint methodology, and the SLI and SMI assessment systems that measure individual and organizational AI readiness. He builds and manages his own agentic AI systems daily — and remains tool-agnostic by principle, because the landscape changes weekly and the sherpa’s job is the mountain, not the gear.
His value is in reading a room, meeting each person where they are, and guiding them through five levels of mastery at their pace, in their language.
Regional Vice President of Operations, Paragon Senior Living
Rebecca Catalanotto is a senior living executive with more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience and a lifelong commitment to serving older adults. As Regional Vice President of Operations and a member of the founding leadership team at Paragon Senior Living, she helps drive operational excellence, strong financial performance, and exceptional resident experiences across the organization’s portfolio.
Previously, Rebecca served as Executive Director of The Village at Gainesville, one of the nation’s largest rental senior living communities, overseeing operations for more than 600 residents and 350 associates. Throughout her career, she has led high-performing teams, strengthened operating margins, improved fiscal performance, and advanced quality outcomes while fostering cultures where associates and residents thrive.
Rebecca holds both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Health Science degree from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the LeadingAge Larry Minix Leadership Academy and the Argentum LEAD program. She is passionate about developing leaders and creating environments where people are empowered to achieve exceptional results.
Chief Operating Officer, Merrill Gardens
Jason Childers brings over 20 years of experience in senior living to his role as Chief Operating Officer at Merrill Gardens. He is responsible for the company’s resident services programs including dining, health services and engagement. In addition, he leads the company’s acquisition efforts and spearheaded the emergence of Truewood by Merrill, the middle market brand that has been widely recognized as an industry leader.
Childers was previously with the Merrill companies as Senior Vice President with responsibility for branding, information technology initiatives, budgeting, and business analytics from 2013-2015 before leaving to form senior housing consulting company 2Ten Consulting. Childers also spent three years as Executive Vice President of Strategy at Blue Harbor Senior Living and 11 years at Leisure Care Senior Living, rising from Market Research Analyst to Partner and Executive Vice President.
Childers was named a 2026 WTWH Healthcare Executive to Watch in Senior Living. He was an inaugural member of the NIC Future Leaders Council and is currently a member of the Argentum COO Roundtable. He also serves as Chair of the Education Innovations, Marketing and Enrollment, and Curriculum subcommittees for the Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living at Washington State University. Childers has been a board member of the nonprofit Art With Heart, and a member of the marketing committee for foster care support program Treehouse. Childers earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC San Diego.
Managing Director, Marsh
Tara Clayton is a managing director and the practice leader — Industry & Risk for Marsh’s Senior Living and LTC Industry Practice. In this role, she advises clients with strategic and tactical advice concerning effective general and professional claim resolution, risk management, and strategies to obtain maximum insurance coverage across lines of coverage. Tara’s expertise with complex litigation and creative risk management initiatives helps reduce costs, enhance value, and increase client control of their risk management programs. Tara is also actively involved in national and state trade associations, demonstrating her commitment to the industry and her active participation in shaping public policy.
Tara has more than 22 years of experience in general and professional liability in the senior care industry through her roles as defense counsel, corporate counsel, and as a claim consultant. Tara joined Marsh in 2021 after serving senior care clients as a national senior claim consultant for a global insurance broker. Prior to joining the brokerage industry, Tara was vice president of operations legal counsel for a multi-state senior care provider. In that role, she managed general, professional, and employment litigation for the skilled nursing and senior living campuses, as well as pharmacy and therapy litigation. She also assisted with corporate legal matters, including corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, privacy and security compliance, and risk management.
Before moving into the role of operations counsel in 2013, Tara was a health care and commercial litigation attorney, representing senior care providers and other health care in general and professional liability claims. Tara also advised on regulatory matters, including federal and state health care privacy, licensure, and long-term care discharge proceedings.
Education
Affiliations
President and CEO, The Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA)
Brian Doherty has served as president and CEO of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA), since 2018. His successful leadership was recognized by the national association for senior living, Argentum, which named him a 2022 Champion of Seniors Awardee. As assisted living is a relatively new and fast-growing sector, and an innovative model of a social wellness environment, Doherty focuses on educating policy makers and the public on its beneficial role in healthy aging. This includes legislative and regulatory advocacy, and production and promotion of consumer resources including the Assisted Living Resource Guide, which is published annually and provided free to members of the public.
Doherty has a proven record in association management, having successfully led associations in different sectors. He served as Executive Director at the Massachusetts Psychological Association and, prior to that, as CEO of the Northeast Association of REALTORS®. In a volunteer capacity, he served on the Board of the New England Society of Association Executives from 2018 to 2024, and served as Board Chair in 2023-2024.
CEO, LifeLoop
Rob Fisher serves as LifeLoop’s CEO with the ultimate responsibility of driving a culture of engagement, commitment, and growth for employees, customers, and residents. Rob has two decades of experience leading, growing, and transforming small and large healthcare technology organizations. For 13 years, he held leadership roles for a SaaS-based care transition business serving payers, health systems, and post-acute providers, ultimately acquired by WellSky in 2022, where he was business lead in the transaction. Before that, Rob spent 8 years with McKesson driving innovation and growth in revenue cycle management. Rob holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech.
Senior Director of Business Development, Imagine 360
Erin has been in the benefits space for 17+ years. She started her career at Arthur J. Gallagher focusing public sector employers and coaching clients to develop a thoughtful and intentional approach to health insurance. In January 2016, Erin channeled her entrepreneurial spirit and joined a start-up, Gravie. During her time at Gravie, she worked with small and mid-sized companies; and her goal was to make benefits more approachable and affordable. Following her path to growth and helping organizations navigate healthcare, Erin joined Imagine360 in October 2018. In her role at Imagine360, Erin works with employers, brokers, and consultants to implement a health plan with built-in price protection for long-term sustainability.
Outside of her professional life, Erin graduated with her MBA from DePaul University and undergraduate degree from Bradley University. Erin loves to travel, golf, read, exercise, and spend time with friends and family.
Expert on Health and Longevity
Bill Gifford is co-author of the runaway #1 New York Times bestseller Outlive, with Dr. Peter Attia. A recognized expert on health and longevity, he is skilled at deciphering complicated scientific concepts and breakthroughs and translating them into action items for a lay audience. His previous book, Spring Chicken: Stay Young Forever (or Die Trying) was also a New York Times bestseller. While health and longevity rank high on his list of obsessions, he has also written about big-wave surfing, professional cycling, performance-enhancing drugs, downhill ski racing and BASE jumping — among other dangerous, non-lifespan-extending pursuits. A veteran journalist, his work has appeared in magazines such as Bloomberg Businessweek, Wired, Scientific American, Inc., Men’s Health, and Outside, for which he is a longtime contributing editor. His stories have taken him around the world, from remote British Columbia to West Africa to Southeast Asia and Australia, and he has made numerous media appearances. A native of Washington, D.C., he now lives with his family in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Regional Director of Operations, Sunrise Senior Living
Amanda Gosnell is a senior living operations executive whose 20-plus-year career has spanned frontline caregiving, sales leadership, executive management, and regional operations. Dedicated to serving older adults throughout her career, she has developed a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the senior living industry. As Regional Director of Operations for Sunrise Senior Living, Amanda leads a high-performing portfolio of communities, where she has driven operational excellence through successful acquisitions, award-winning performance, significant occupancy and margin growth, and innovative pilot programs that have informed companywide strategy and business practices. A graduate of Wheaton College with dual degrees in Business/Economics and Sociology, she is an active industry leader who serves on professional and community boards and is passionate about developing future leaders, advancing operational excellence, and creating exceptional experiences for residents, families, and team members.
Partner, Hall Booth Smith
Drew Graham started his practice with Hall Booth Smith in 1992, developing expertise in traditional medical and professional negligence. In 1996, Drew created the firm’s Aging Services practice in response to industry demand for specialist attorneys in the evolving area of long term care litigation.
As chair of the group, Drew is committed to making it the go-to resource for health care providers facing the challenges of a complex and highly regulated specialty. The group has grown to include over 80 attorneys, each with an in-depth appreciation of the industry.
Drew is frequently called to assist with the management of batch claims, complex discovery, and trial. He works with counsel across the country on developing strategies to address damages in all types of medical cases. Drew is actively involved in numerous professional organizations and is a frequent speaker at industry and legal meetings. He is peer rated AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™ by Martindale-Hubbell. He lives in New York with his wife and daughters.
CGSO at FOX Rehabilitation
Dr. Jason Hazel joined FOX Rehabilitation in 2011 and has served in a variety of leadership roles spanning operations, market expansion, and strategic partnerships. Throughout his tenure, he has helped drive organizational growth, expand access to care, and strengthen FOX’s presence across multiple markets and healthcare settings.
As Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, Jason leads initiatives that advance FOX’s long-term vision for transforming healthcare through value-based care, functional health, wellness, and longitudinal care. He is responsible for identifying new opportunities for growth, fostering strategic partnerships, and aligning organizational strategy with FOX’s mission to redefine the role of clinicians in healthcare. Jason is passionate about building sustainable models that expand access to innovative care while creating meaningful value for patients, partners, and communities.
Jason believes clinicians are uniquely positioned to serve as the primary providers of functional health throughout an individual’s lifetime. Through strategic innovation and collaboration, he is helping create a future where care extends beyond traditional episodes of treatment and evolves into lifelong clinical partnerships focused on preserving independence, optimizing function, and improving quality of life.
Building upon the vision established by FOX founder Dr. Tim Fox, the foundation strengthened under CEO-Emeritus Dr. Robyn Kjar, and the transformative direction being led by CEO Dr. Anthony Buccafurni, Jason is helping shape the path forward for FOX’s next chapter. By aligning growth, innovation, and strategic partnerships, he is committed to helping scale the FOX4Life vision and position FOX as the national leader in functional health and longitudinal care.
Jason earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Charleston, a Master of Health Science in Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina, and a Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Temple University.
Jason lives with his wife, Jess, their children, Dottie Grace and Gage, and their dog, Finlay. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and enthusiastically cheering on Clemson athletics.
Chief Executive Officer, Generations, LLC
Dan Lamey serves as Chief Executive Officer of Generations, LLC, an Oregon based senior living company operating 15 communities in five states. In his role as CEO, Dan brings strategic vision and operational leadership to guide the family-owned company’s continued growth and innovation, while advancing its mission of bringing generations together in the joy of living and everything it means to be human.
Dan’s passion for senior living spans more than 30 years. His career began in development with Regent Assisted Living, where he gained a strong foundation in the industry. He later served as Vice President of Operations and then Chief Operating Officer for BPM Senior Living until a major sale to Fortress Investment Group in 2012. Following the transaction, Dan launched Blue Harbor Senior Living, serving as COO until 2016, when he returned to BPM Senior Living as President and COO. Dan emphasizes a collaborative approach to leadership that empowers the team members at the community level to lead proactively.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Santa Clara University and has received the Argentum (ALFA) Best of the Best award in 2009 for BPM’s Personal Preferences Program.
Generations’ family legacy in senior living dates back to 1943, when the grandparents of Chairman Emeritus Wendell White began caring for seniors in Grants Pass, Oregon. Since then, Generations has remained committed to innovation, exceptional service, and a relentless drive to be the best.
Vice President of Operations, Integral Senior Living
Courtney Lane is Regional Vice President of Operations with Integral Senior Living, supporting senior living communities throughout Northern California. She brings more than a decade of industry experience, with a career spanning frontline, community, and regional leadership roles.
Courtney began her senior living career while earning her bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration from Sacramento State University and has since held roles including Business Office Manager, Executive Director, and Regional Director of Operations.
Throughout her career, Courtney has remained focused on operational excellence, leadership development, resident experience, and building high-performing teams. She is passionate about developing leaders and creating cultures that balance engagement, accountability, and strong operational results.
Courtney is a 2026 graduate of the Argentum LEAD Program and is committed to continued leadership development and advancing the senior living profession.
President & CEO, Texas Assisted Living Association
Diana Martinez is an attorney with extensive experience in policy, public affairs, and public service. She is the President & CEO of the Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA), where she leads statewide efforts to advance assisted living through education, workforce development, and strong, resident‑focused policy. Her legislative experience includes serving as General Counsel to a Texas Senator, a Senior Policy Analyst focusing on health care in the Texas Senate, and a policy analyst for the Texas House Public Health Committee.
She earned her JD from The University of Texas School of Law and her BBA in Marketing and Management from The University of Texas.
CEO, NIC MAP
Arick Morton is the CEO of NIC MAP, the senior housing industry’s leading data, analytics and underwriting platform. Built exclusively for senior housing and care, NIC MAP serves more than 5,000 clients and tracks inventory across more than 35,000 properties — Active Adult, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Nursing Care and CCRCs — with more than 20 years of time-series market data across 200+ metropolitan markets.
As CEO, Arick sets the platform’s strategic direction, leads operational execution and expands the data available to the senior housing industry. During his tenure, NIC MAP has broadened its market coverage and product footprint, became the first official data partner of Argentum and introduced AI capabilities that accelerate data collection and analysis for the sector.
Arick was named a GlobeSt. Senior Housing Influencer and serves on the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) Advisory Committee and the Argentum Board of Directors.
Before NIC MAP, Arick co-founded VisionLTC, which merged with NIC MAP Data Service in 2021 to form NIC MAP. He grew up in the senior housing industry and co-founded a senior housing operating company that now includes more than 30 communities. Earlier in his career, he worked in health care analytics and technology product development at the Advisory Board Company, launching data and analytics products for health systems.
President of Holistic Utility Solutions
Ira is the Founder of Holistic Utility Solutions and serves as the President. With 18+ years of experience in energy, solar, and water, he brings a wide range of industry expertise and experience. Prior to launching Holistic, Ira oversaw Energy & Sustainability for 1,400+ financial services facilities for a Fortune 100 client from 2013-2019 and developed several AMI meter conversions from 2019-2022. He holds a BS in Engineering & Management (Clarkson University), MBA (University of North Texas), and is a Certified Energy Manager (AEE)
Executive Communication Coach, Director of Training, The Communication Center
Steve Piacente has spent more than four decades honing his communications expertise as a Washington correspondent, government speechwriter, associate professor, and professional life coach.
Steve joined The Communication Center in 2013 after 10 years at the U.S. General Services Administration, where he served as deputy communications director, responsible for the web and social media team, and before that, as speechwriter for the GSA Administrator.
Steve is the author of three novels, Pretender, Bootlicker and Bella, and the non-fiction, Your New Fighting Stance, a self-help work aligned with his life coaching practice. He is certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF).
Steve has been a professional writer since graduating from American University in 1976. He started at the Naples Daily News and Lakeland Ledger in Florida, and later was D.C. correspondent for the Tampa Tribune, and Charleston (S.C.) Post & Courier.
Steve has taught communications at American, and classes on public relations, media and politics, and reporting in other university Washington Semester programs. He holds a B.A. in communications from American, and a Masters in Fiction from Johns Hopkins University.
Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Brookdale Senior Living
Jaclyn Cremisi Pritchett joined Brookdale in 2016 and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since March 2022. Ms. Pritchett is responsible for leading human resources, focusing on attracting, engaging, developing and retaining the best associates across the organization. During her tenure at Brookdale, Ms. Pritchett has had career progression through various human resources functions across talent acquisition, talent management and field operations.
Prior to joining Brookdale, Ms. Pritchett held a variety of human resources roles at Bridgestone Americas, Cracker Barrel, Voith and the Tennessee Center for Child Welfare. Ms. Pritchett earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University where she was awarded the Willard A. Kerr Outstanding Industrial Organizational Graduate Student of the Year award. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with minors in Business and Spanish from Auburn University, graduating Summa Cum Laude and was Captain of the lacrosse team. She holds certifications in Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and in Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). She was the recipient of the 2020 McKnight Women of Distinction Rising Star Award, 2020 Brookdale Servant Heart Award for her leadership on the COVID-19 Command Center, 2016 Nashville Emerging Leader HR award, 2015 Cracker Barrel “Best of the Barrel” award, and 2014 State of TN Society for Human Resource Management Excellence Award. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for New Frontiers, a nonprofit that provides youth camps as well as residential care in a therapeutic environment for boys, and serves as a Strategic Advisor to Expa Health, a generative AI-powered healthcare recruiting platform.
Strategic Events and Experiences Lead, Sage
Coming soon
Executive Vice President and General Manager of Health, U.S. News & World Report
Sumita Singh is a global business executive with P&L and commercial leadership experience in B2B and B2C organizations across media, information, data and technology sectors. Currently Sumita is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Health at U.S. News & World Report, responsible for advancing the company’s mission of delivering actionable and trusted decision support tools and information to help consumers make important healthcare decisions.
Previously, Sumita was Managing Director of Elsevier’s global Reference Solutions business where she led the growth of Elsevier’s digital products in research intensive markets such as Life Sciences and Academia. Sumita has held similar commercial leadership roles at Thomson Reuters, WebMD Health and New York Media.
Sumita has a Bachelor’s Degree in English literature from the University of Delhi, a Master’s in Mass Communications from The University of Florida and a Master’s of Business in Marketing from the Stern School of Business at New York University. She lives in New Jersey with her two daughters and spouse.
Managing Director, Marsh
Scott Wallace is a client executive and leader of Marsh’s Senior Care Practice. In this role, he
advises clients on risk management issues including program design, insurance placement
and claims. His responsibilities include leading client engagements and Senior Care Practice
operations, P&L management and talent management. He is accountable to clients for both
delivering results and the execution of risk management services. Scott has more than 20
years of experience guiding both private and publicly traded companies through complex
liability and corporate governance issues, ranging from class action, securities and ERISA
litigation to mergers and acquisitions and managed care litigation. He has also advised clients
on significant regulatory issues and insurance coverage matters through global events,
including 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to client executive roles in the healthcare and senior care industries, Scott has
served as a claims advocate specializing in professional liability claims resolution as well as in
various geographic and product leadership roles for Marsh and Willis Towers Watson. Prior to
joining the brokerage industry, Scott was an insurance coverage litigation attorney in Chicago
where he represented insurance and reinsurance carriers in the U.S., London and Bermuda
markets. As an attorney, Scott has litigated multiple regulatory and insurance coverage
matters in U.S. federal courts as well as in the UK and Bermuda. He has handled insurance
coverage litigation in the areas of securities class action, employment, ERISA, corporate and
health care law and counseled domestic and foreign insurers and reinsurers on policy drafting
and interpretation.
Education: J.D., University of Georgia School of Law / B.A., Michigan State University