OVERVIEW

Dedicated to building strong communities that are responsive to the needs and contributions of older adults and people with disabilities.

Proven leadership in the areas of grant writing and coordination, project development, and administration within human service organizations in North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Oregon and Minnesota. 

Excels in group facilitation, written and verbal communication and development of effective strategies for reaching project goals.

EDUCATION

Master of Education (M.Ed.), University of Minnesota, College of Education (1987)

     Adult Education with Concentration in Gerontology

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Luther College, Decorah, Iowa (1981)

     Majors in Psychology and Music

WORK EXPERIENCE

Owner, Independent Contractor                                                      2001 - present

     LH Kendall Consulting Services, Asheville, North Carolina

Summary of Roles as Independent Contractor

      Aging Services Consultant, Land-of-Sky Regional Council, Area Agency on Aging 2/08 – present

Project Coordinator, Community Resource Connections (CRC), Great Smokies CRC and Land-of-Sky CRC, 11/08 – present

Project Specialist, Lifespan Respite Care Project, North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services, 1/10 - present

Curriculum Developer and Facilitator for Peer Support Training Program, Georgia Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities, 7/04 – 1/08

      Consultant to the North Carolina Direct Care Workers Association, re:  Analysis and Recommendations for Affordable Insurance and Health Benefits, 9/05-10/05

Project Director, CMS Direct Service Workforce Grant, Pathways Center for Independent Living, 9/03 – 10/07

Consultant to Western Alliance Center for Independent Living, re:  Development of Three Year Strategic Plan, 7/06 – 10/06

Program Director, North Carolina Nursing Facility Transitions Grant, North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance, 9/02 – 6/06

Project Director, Georgia State Program Nursing Facility Transitions Grant, Georgia Division of Medical Assistance, 9/01 – 3/04

Program Director, New Initiatives and Nursing Homes                      2000 - 2001

     Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Medical Assistance, Atlanta, 

     Georgia

Summary of Primary Accomplishments

Established nursing home policy to enforce the provision of home and community-based service information

Developed the booklet “Home and Community Services:  A Guide to Medicaid Waivers in Georgia”

Refined and replicated the SOURCE chronic care demonstration project throughout the state.

Completed a program evaluation of the SOURCE HCBS project based on outcomes from paid claims data and compared with nursing facility data.

Developed and supported the Department’s Long Term Care Advisory Committee.

Coordinated study and recommendations for statewide single point of entry system.

Facilitated and organized planning sessions for the Independent Care Waiver Program.

Facilitated inter-agency, consumer, provider work group on completion of four CMS Systems Change grant proposals

Secured CMS Nursing Facility Transitions grant award in the amount of $627,211.

Administrative Director, Senior Health and Project Director          1996 - 2000

     MCG SOURCE Medical College of Georgia (MCG), Augusta, Georgia

Summary of Primary Accomplishments

Established vision, goals and strategies for Senior Health Services; authored comprehensive proposal.

Developed report comparing patient data from PACE sites across the country to MCG geriatric database.  Included community assessment of MCG program.

Served as strategic and operational project director for the SOURCE enhanced case management demonstration project at MCG.

Served as MCG liaison to the Department of Medical Assistance and participated in ongoing development of the SOURCE program

Administrative Director, Senior Health Services                                  1989 – 1995

     Riverside Methodist Hospitals, Columbus, Ohio

Summary of Primary Accomplishments

Assumed increasing levels of responsibility over a six-year period, beginning with the management of a senior health association, adult day health services, geriatric clinic and concluding with the development and management of a full continuum of care.

Served as project manager for the $1.3 million Gerlach Center for Senior Health from the design through the construction phase.  The project was funded through donations and grants and was completed under budget.

Collaborated with clinic physicians, managed 14 FTEs, worked with over 50 volunteers and oversaw an operating budget of approximately $600,000 as well as designated Foundation funds totaling over $800,000.

Program Director                                                                                           1986 - 1988

     Caregivers Respite Program, Good Samaritan Hospital, Portland, Oregon

Summary of Primary Accomplishments

Managed all aspects of the program including the development of goals, writing and monitoring of grants, hiring and training of personnel and making home visits to match family caregivers with respite providers.

Developed the program from complete dependence on grant seed money to a break-even point.

Increased utilization of the program from an average caseload of 14 to 70.

Acquired over $25,000 in additional grants for contiuation and enhancement of the program.  Established the Caregiver Listing Service, an in-home registry for families and social service agencies.

Therapeutic Activity Leader/Education Coordinator                           1981 – 1986

      Augustana Home and Apartments, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Summary of Responsibilities

Planned, developed and implemented therapeutic activities for over 500 apartment and nursing home residents (i.e. fitness programs, life-long learning and reminiscence classes, choir and music, individual care planning and one-to-one visiting).  Also developed and presented staff in-services to over 400 employees.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Panelist, North Carolina Governor’s Round Table Discussion, May, 2010

Co-Chair, Buncombe County Aging Coordinating Consortium (ACC) Planning 

Committee, July, 2009 – Present

Member, Buncombe County Aging Coordinating Consortium (ACC) Community Awareness and Advocacy Committee and Allocations Committee, Spring 2009 - Present

Member, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, Health Focus Work Group, Spring 2009 – Present

Conference Speaker, North Carolina Association for Home and Hospice Care, 

May, 2006 and The Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities, October, 2007:  “Improving the Community Direct Care Workforce.”

Conference Speaker, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Systems Change:  “Lessons Learned in Nursing Home Transitions” and “State Agency Collaboration” breakout sessions, 3/1/05.

Conference Speaker, National Association for State Health Policy (NASHP):  “Gaining access and working with providers,” Philadelphia, PA, 8/4/02

Received “Exceeds Expectations” rating on performance evaluation from

direct supervisor and Georgia Medicaid Director, 8/01

Medstat Conference Speaker:  “Tracking Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service

Programs in the Olmstead Era,” Orlando, FL, 5/8/01

Georgia Gerontology Society Conference Presenter:  “New Initiatives and Future Long

Term Care Directions at DCH,” St. Simons Island, Georgia, 9/00

Georgia Long Term Care Work Group, “Single Point of Entry” committee; appointed by

Georgia Dept. of Medical Assistance, Atlanta, GA 12/98-4/99

President, Ohio Association for Adult Daycare, 1/95-8/95

President-elect and Program Chair, Ohio Association for Adult Daycare, 1/92- 12/94

Treasurer, Central Ohio Adult Daycare Association 1/93 – 8/95

White House Conference on Aging, selected by Ohio Governor Voinovich as Alternate

Delegate, 1995

American Society on Aging, Presenter:  “How to Develop a Hospital-based Community

Senior Health Center,” Atlanta, Georgia. 3/95

Board Retreat Facilitator, Upper Arlington Commission on Aging, Upper Arlington,

Ohio, 10/94