National Council on Aging

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Can you tell us about your role at the National Council on Aging?

As the Chief Customer Officer at NCOA, I lead our programmatic team as we work to impact the lives of millions of older adults across this country. Our work is focused on the idea that everyone has the human right to Age Well and we will work to help close the gap for those who face barriers to achieving that goal.

I have been with NCOA for more than five years and previously spent nearly a decade working on aging and disability issues at the Administration for Community Living.

NCOA is one of the oldest organizations advocating for the Older Americans Act (OAA). What role can funders play in supporting the reauthorization of OAA?

Funders have a vital role to play in advocating for these issues.

Philanthropies have unique insights and knowledge of work happening across this country. By leveraging our community-based knowledge, we can discuss the depth and breadth of solutions for older adults.

Recently, GIA members had the opportunity to participate in the NCOA Hill Day, where hundreds of advocates met with their members of Congress to discuss what we are seeing on

the ground. By simply telling the stories of older adults and communities, you are able to influence the national conversation on aging in America. I would encourage everyone to review GIA’s priorities of the Older Americans Act. These priorities, developed in collaboration with Grantmakers in Health provide a great roadmap for individual funders to engage with their policymakers.

What are NCOA’s current funding priorities?

We focus our work on the health and economic security of older adults. Our programs run the gamut from supporting current struggling older adults and caregivers to preventing issues from arising in the first place.

Our core programs relate to helping low-income older adults find employment and enroll in benefits. We also work with the 10,000+ Senior Centers across the country to support them and their work within their communities.

Are you working on any new initiatives within your focus areas?

We are constantly adjusting our communications and programs to the needs of older adults. We recently launched a significant amount of content on financial scams that older adults are facing to address a growing problem. Another new edge for our work is related to the direct care workforce shortage. That project works with states to help address policy issues related to ensuring that there is a robust workforce to address home and community-based services.

What about GIA’s mission really motivates you?

GIA brings together thought leaders across aging to address some of the biggest challenges we face in our field. With the growing numbers and diverse needs of older adults, having space to discuss and align funding is vital. Funders help drive the conversation on aging and with the core values of diversity, inclusion, equity, action, collaboration, age-integration, integrity, and learning. GIA is leading those conversations.

We’re all aging personally, but how did you get involved in aging professionally?

I landed in aging by accident.

I had the opportunity to join the Administration for Community Living (then the Administration on Aging) in 2010 as we were beginning to implement the Affordable Care Act. This introduction to aging changed the course of my career.

Through the work at both ACL and now at NCOA, I have found a career that focuses on service which I am very proud of.

For some fun insight, can you share with us what you enjoy doing most when you’re not working?

I am a father of four so you will often find me on the sidelines of sporting events (where I am a long-time flag football coach) or carting kids to and from their many activities!

What are you currently reading or binge-watching?

We are rewatching Ted Lasso with one of my older sons. It’s definitely worth a rewatch!