Workgroups

Kylie Meyer, PhD (Workgroup Lead)

Dr. Kylie Meyer is an Assistant Professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University. Her research focuses on enhancing family caregiver well-being through studying caregiving dynamics, developing online interventions, and exploring supportive policies. Dr. Meyer’s expertise includes psychoeducational interventions, caregiver financial well-being, and family caregiving relationships, aimed at advancing knowledge and creating practical solutions to improve caregivers’ lives. Dr. Meyer is the Family Caregiver workgroup leader.

Liz Morris, JD

Liz Morris is the Co-Director of the Center for WorkLifeLaw, where she leads the legal team to advance gender and racial justice in the workplace. Her advocacy focuses on building legal rights for pregnant and lactating individuals, parents, and family caregivers. Liz is a nationally recognized expert on employment laws intersecting gender, reproductive health, and family care. 

Antoinette James

Antoinette James began her caregiving journey 18 years ago when her daughter, Christina, was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. Since then, she has supported Christina through numerous hospital stays and helped raise her 10-year-old granddaughter. Antoinette and her husband have also adopted two of her eldest daughter’s children, now aged 16 and 12. In addition, she oversees the care of her elderly mother in senior living, making multigenerational caregiving a central part of her life.

Sharon Kaʻaihili Sing

Sharon is a dedicated family caregiver and community leader with extensive professional and personal experience. She cared for her elderly mother and father-in-law and completed the SAVVY Caregiver Program and its culturally tailored Hawaiʻi version, ‘Auamo Ke Kuleana o Nā Maʻi Poina. Sharon also co-leads a Caregivers Support Group, established in 2022. Professionally, Sharon serves as Finance Administrator at C4 Christ Centered Community Church and has held diverse roles in human resources, healthcare technology, education, and travel industries. A Native Hawaiian born and raised on Oʻahu, she is a wife of 45 years, mother of two, and grandmother of six. Sharon is passionate about supporting caregivers and advocating for women with PTSD, combining compassion with strategic leadership.

Karen Kavanaugh

Karen is the Chief Officer of Strategic Initiatives at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, with expertise in strategic planning, program analysis, leadership, and change management. Previously at Pew, she addressed economic, social, and health issues in rural America, including policy solutions, program gaps, and stakeholder mapping. Karen also has experience in the workplace, human services, and transportation policy. 

Karen Renee

Karen Renee Karen is providing full-time (24/7) care for her mother, who is disabled and living with dementia. After having tried to assist long distance, she relocated to her home in Philadelphia in order to give the level of care needed. Karen’s caregiving journey has included navigating various levels of healthcare and assistance during COVID-19 and transitioning in and out of hospice care. Karen contributed a vignette to Dr. Meyer’s Learning Skills Together Program and has served on her council since January 2022. With personal expertise in dementia caregiving, Karen offers valuable insights as an African American caregiver.

Karina Soto

Karina is an employed caregiver and one of the two CLEW members. In January 2021, after her father suffered a stroke affecting his speech and mobility, Karina stepped in as his primary caregiver. Balancing two part-time jobs, she managed his doctor appointments, medications, meals, and language translation. Since starting a full-time job in April 2023, caregiving has become more challenging, but she continues to handle his appointments and medication needs. Working as a teacher at a preschool near her home in South Los Angeles, Karina remains readily available to assist her father as needed.

Lisa D’Ambrosio, PhD

Dr. D’Ambrosio is a Research Scientist at the MIT AgeLab, where her work focuses on the attitudes and preferences of older adults and their caregivers. She leads the CareHive research consortium and conducts research on the built environment, transportation, technology use, and longevity planning. Dr. D’Ambrosio holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. 

LaTimberly Johnson (Timmy)

Timmy is a Product and User Research Lead at RubyWell, passionate about creating solutions that improve lives. She applies her expertise in user research, product strategy, and human-centered design to empower family caregivers through innovative tools and resources. With experience spanning UX/UI design, product development, and brand strategy, Timmy has successfully launched and revitalized projects across industries, including beauty and fashion e-commerce as well as mental health apps. She is committed to building impactful, user-focused products that bring joy and make a difference.

Sonia Rodriguez

Sonia is a co-dementia caregiver and a Theatre Arts educator. Based in San Antonio, she graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a BFA degree in acting and theatre education. Sonia graduated from Walden University with a Masters in Integrating Technology in the Classroom. You can see her perform in Las Nuevas Tamaleras during the Christmas season. She has been performing in the show since 1993. Sonia, a Spanish speaker, cares for her mother with dementia alongside her father. She previously assisted Dr. Meyer in creating videos for the CONFIDENCE program. Sonia would like to thank everyone involved in this project for allowing her to participate. She is thrilled to be a part of it.

Crystal Kirby

Crystal is a certified Direct Care-Worker and has been a caregiver for over 11 years. She is a tribal member of the Yvapai-Apache and Navajo tribes.

Susan Enguidanos, PhD (Workgroup Lead)

Dr. Enguídanos is an Associate Professor of Gerontology at USC. Her research focuses on palliative care and bridging racial/ethnic differences in access to end-of-life care. Her work has focused on developing and testing a home-based palliative care model, and she is currently working to expand access to this program in the state of Hawaii. Dr. Enguídanos has published more than 100 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Dr. Enguidanos teaches courses on death and dying, end-of-life care, and a travel abroad course to Italy examining death and dying practices among ancient civilizations.

Erica Clemmons Dean

Erica Clemmons Dean is the Deputy Director at Family Values @ Work. Her caregiving journey began in 2013 with her father and now includes her husband, who is in Stage 5 kidney failure and has lost his vision, and her 74-year-old mother. Erica often works from the hospital due to her caregiving responsibilities and is currently transitioning her mother into her home for round-the-clock care. She is also the mother of a 16-year-old high schooler who is dealing with her own mental health struggles.

Debra Suzette Brown, BA, CPS-P, CAMS-II

Debra Suzette is a dedicated grandparent raising her granddaughter, bringing firsthand experience and insight into the challenges faced by kinship caregivers. She and her husband have adopted ten children and have one biological daughter. In addition to her caregiving roles, Debra Suzette openly shares her journey through trauma and mental health challenges, offering a valuable perspective on resilience and family caregiving.

Mary Crowe, LICSW, ACHP-SW, C.D.S., CDP

Mary is the Director of Professional and Community Education for Care Dimensions (formerly Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston). She leads educational outreach, coordinating and delivering hundreds of programs annually on advanced illness and end-of-life topics for healthcare professionals, families, and community groups. Mary is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner, specializing in caregiver education and support.

Kathleen A. Kelly, MPA

Kathleen Kelly is the Executive Director of the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA), overseeing the San Francisco Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center. She leads strategic initiatives for the National Center on Caregiving and spearheaded the development of CareNav™, a web-based platform providing personalized support and secure communications for family caregivers. Kathleen drives FCA’s focus on digital engagement, policy collaborations, and advancing research. She co-leads the Best Practice Caregiving database and serves on several advisory boards, including the BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving, Home Alone Alliance, and AARP State LTSS Scorecard.

Korijna Valenti, PhD

Dr. Valenti holds joint appointments at the Heersink School of Medicine and the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She is also a fellow at the O’Neal Cancer Center at UAB. With a Ph.D. in Gerontology and certificates in Palliative Care, Applied Statistics, and Women’s and Gender Studies, Dr. Valenti’s research spans both quantitative and qualitative methods. Her interests include cancer health disparities, end-of-life care, palliative care, and health equity research, particularly with LGBTQIA+ older adults.

Peter Gee, RN

Peter is the Director of Service Programs at Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) and a Registered Nurse licensed in NY and CA. He joined LTSC in 2024, bringing extensive experience from senior leadership roles at organizations like The Door, the University Settlement Society of New York, IMPACCT Brooklyn, and Asian Americans for Equality. Peter oversees diverse programs at LTSC, like their previous partnership with Alzheimer’s Los Angeles to enhance access to translated caregiver resources through an ACL grant. His work is deeply informed by his personal experience as a caregiver for his husband, Jeff, who passed away from brain cancer in 2020. Peter holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Harvard Kennedy School, and NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. He is committed to improving resources and services for caregivers and underserved communities.

Trish Hughes Kreis

Trish Hughes Kreis is a caregiver, author, and advocate who also works full-time as a Legal Administrator. She is a freelance writer and videographer when time allows and advocates for her disabled youngest brother, Robert. Robert lives with intractable epilepsy but has an unwavering faith and a delightful way of declaring everything excellent. Trish is an advocate for more research on the long-term effects of uncontrolled epilepsy as well as an advocate for expanding the definition of family to include sibling care under the  Family and Medical Leave Act. Robert lived with Trish and her husband, Richard, for several years, and they did their best to keep him happy, healthy, and, of course, excellent (and with a never-ending supply of chocolate ice cream). Robert now lives in a Skilled Nursing Facility where Trish and Richard continue to advocate to keep his life excellent. Trish is also navigating the aftermath of her husband surviving a “widow maker” heart attack. She is co-author of the 365 Caregiving Tips: Practical Tips from Everyday Caregivers book series (found on Amazon & Lulu.com), as well as the author of Forever a Caregiver. Trish welcomes connections through social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Threads).

Janice Anderson, MA

Janice has been a family caregiver for over 8 years and has a Masters in Gerontology. As a gerontology student, she studied end-of-life issues in American Indian communities. Janice is a tribal member from Arizona.

Orion Bell, MBA (Workgroup Lead)

Orion is the President and CEO of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, a non-profit focused on direct services, research, and advocacy for older adults. With over 30 years of leadership experience, he has specialized in aging services, disability support, and family caregiving. Orion’s work focuses on collaboration between healthcare providers and community service organizations to address social determinants of health, quality of care, and health outcomes. He serves on the Economic Security Advisory Council and the Generations Editorial Advisory Board for the American Society on Aging and is on USAging’s Caregiver Services and Supports Advisory Committee. Orion is also on the Board of Trustees for the Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council (AGEC) and the Ohio Long-Term Care Advisory Council of the Scripps Gerontology Center at the Miami of Ohio. Previously, Orion was CEO of CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions and held leadership roles at the American Red Cross.

Mike Jones, MA

Mike Jones is the Vice President of Communications at Wellthy, a care concierge company. He oversees external brand strategy, media relations, and storytelling efforts to shape national conversations about the profound impact of caregiving on families and the modern workforce. With a distinguished career in communications, social impact, and advocacy, Mike has built high-performing teams and driven significant outcomes across the technology, media, and philanthropic sectors. His storytelling is deeply informed by his personal experience as a caregiver for his mother, whom he supported for nearly 19 years after she suffered a stroke. Mike brings this unique perspective to his work, highlighting the challenges and critical role of caregiving in families, workplaces, and the healthcare system.

Cynthia Hutchins (Cyndi), MA

Cyndi Hutchins is the Director of Financial Gerontology at Bank of America, with over 40 years of experience in wealth management and retirement. She develops thought leadership, client education, and training on topics related to aging, longevity, and later-life planning. Cyndi has collaborated with leading academic institutions and has authored numerous whitepapers on aging, caregiving, and financial planning. A frequent speaker at national conferences, she has been widely quoted in publications like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Cyndi holds a BS in Business and Finance and an MA in Gerontology.

Suzanne Boutilier

Suzanne Boutilier is the Director of Brand & Content at RubyWell, an organization that’s paving a path to financial stability for all family caregivers. With over two decades of experience in writing, content strategy, and Human-Centered Design, she excels in creating engaging narratives and building strong brand connections. Suzanne helped her sisters care for their late mother and currently helps care for their 93-year-old father. She is passionate about audience engagement and solving real problems through innovative content.

Diane Ty, MBA

Diane Ty is the Managing Director of the Milken Institute Future of Aging, focusing on healthy longevity and financial security. She oversees the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care and multisector initiatives promoting policy and systems change across the life course of aging. Diane is a senior advisor at Georgetown University’s Business for Impact and previously founded and directed their AgingWell Hub and Portion Balance Coalition. At AARP, she developed retirement tools and led millennial-focused work, earning an IDEA award. Diane serves on the board of Capital Caring Health and the Maryland State Commission on Aging.

Jake Rosen, CFP

Jake Rosen is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, where he develops personalized strategies to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Inspired by his father, a longtime Edward Jones advisor, Jake values deep client relationships and education. He started his career at Edward Jones over a year ago, driven by a passion for making a positive impact in people’s lives.

Emily Dickens, JD

Emily is the Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs, and Corporate Secretary at SHRM, overseeing board relations, public affairs, legal, and the SHRM Foundation. Emily is a featured expert on workplace issues, with commentary in major publications like The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. She has testified before Congress and the EEOC on topics like AI, gender bias, and paid leave. Her expertise spans HR/EAP, public policy, DEI, and workplace innovation.

Terre Wade

Terre is a caregiver and co-owner of a trucking management company with her husband. She cared for her mother for five years until her passing in 2021 and currently supports her 86-year-old father. Terre’s caregiving experience spans multiple years, balancing her professional responsibilities with her family caregiving role. 

 Staci Bryant

Staci is the Voter Engagement Coordinator at Family Values @ Work and a dedicated advocate for social justice. She is a grassroots community organizer and one of the two CLEW members within the workgroups. A working mother of four in Michigan, Staci is the primary caregiver for her daughter with permanent disabilities following a childhood stroke. She champions inclusive paid time-to-care policies, driven by her personal experiences and commitment to marginalized communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and immigrant groups. Born in Detroit, Staci has a background in community organizing and electoral campaigns.

Nancy Barnes, JD

Nancy leads Thompson Hine’s Labor & Employment practice group with over 30 years of legal experience. A seasoned attorney, she specializes in labor and employment law, with an emphasis on counseling and litigation. Nancy’s expertise covers a broad range of issues, including Title VII, FMLA, and the ADA. She advises clients on an array of issues including compensation, leave, diversity, discrimination, and regulatory compliance, and works to prioritize dispute prevention through HR best practices and strategic communication to protect her clients’ business interests. She currently serves on the Board of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging.

Selena Caldera, MPP

Selena is a senior strategic policy advisor at the AARP Public Policy Institute. Her work focuses on family caregiving and long-term care, specifically in understanding the diversity of caregiving experiences to develop more equitable and effective policies and programs for caregivers. Before AARP, she worked on public policy issues, including healthcare and retirement income policy, at various organizations (i.e., the Department of Homeland Security and Census Bureau). Selena’s previous experience also includes local-level work as the senior strategy analyst for Central Health in Travis County, TX, where she analyzed the healthcare services provided and the unmet healthcare needs in the county.

Jennifer Whiteman

Jennifer is currently the Deputy Director of the Seneca Nation Area Office for the Aging. She has a background in Elder Law and extensive experience in aging services planning and advocacy. Jennifer, while not a tribal member, has worked closely with Native American elders.