AARP

Allen R. Larson, an attorney, MBA and political strategist, brings considerable Federal credentials to Corry Associates. His service on the U.S. Senate staff and later as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission provides clients of Corry Associates with a broad spectrum of regulatory and legislative contacts in Washington. Larson continues to effectively represent AARP and the Edison Electric Institute on several major regulatory matters in Washington, D.C.

Chad Young, President, joined CDI in 1992 where he worked in virtually every phase of construction. In 1995, he was promoted to Superintendent and became a Vice President in 1998. He joined the Board of Director's in 2001. Chad is responsible for all aspects of the company. Chad holds the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelors Council in collaboration with the AARP, NAHB Research Center and NAHB Seniors Housing Council. This program provides comprehensive, practical, market-specific information about working with older and maturing adults to build or remodel their homes for aging-in-place. As a third generation builder, Chad grew up listening to his father's and grandfather's shared vision for senior housing. By creating quiet, convenient, comfortable and secure communities, they envisioned residents who would own their own homes and land, and would not be required to commit life savings or sacrifice financial security for an accessible and safe physical environment. As a result of this vision, CDI was founded in 1990. Chad is a lifelong resident of Franklin Township in Marion County.

As Chief People Officer, Ms. Hollander oversees AARP's People Strategy, a focused and integrated journey to drive organizational performance through a highly engaged workforce. Under Ms. Hollander's direction, AARP is integrating and initiating a wide range of people-related efforts to positively impact the factors that affect employee engagement at AARP, including the employee's relationship with his or her boss, how staff work together and hold each other accountable, how the work environment supports everyone's best performance, and how well employees understand and are committed to the Association's strategic direction. She provides the vision, direction, and coordination that keep all these activities aligned to each other and to AARP's strategic goals. She also has responsibility for AARP's Human Resources and Organizational Learning & Performance groups and is a member of AARP's Executive Team, which provides leadership and strategic direction to AARP and its affiliates.

Kevin Donnellan is the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) for AARP. He leads the development of AARP's overall communications priorities and strategies, and the efforts to effectively position AARP, the AARP Foundation and AARP Services with the media and opinion leaders, and to shape and enhance the Association's reputation among key constituencies. Prior to being named CCO in 2006, he served as Managing Director for the Integrated Communications Group. Since joining AARP, he has served in numerous advocacy, legislative and public policy roles that have been instrumental in the growth and success of AARP. Mr. Donnellan served as AARP's Director of the Office of Grassroots and Elections. In that capacity, he led the 35-million member Association's extensive state and national grassroots advocacy operations, e-advocacy efforts, and renowned voter education initiative. Mr. Donnellan also served as Director of Advocacy and Management of the Legislation and Public Policy Group. There he was responsible for the implementation and day-to-day management of AARP's legislative and public policy activities. Before that, Mr. Donnellan served as the Acting Director of Legislation and Public Policy and as Legislative Counsel for the Association. As Legislative Counsel, he was responsible for facilitating the formulation, development and implementation of the Association's legislative and public policy agenda, a volunteer member process. He coordinated the activities of AARP's all-volunteer National Legislative Council. Before coming to AARP, Mr. Donnellan worked on Capitol Hill where he was Executive Assistant to U.S. Representative, Geraldine Ferraro. Mr. Donnellan is a member of the Board of Directors of the Long Term Care Campaign, and currently serves as its chairman. He also represents AARP on the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations and is a liaison to other aging organizations and coalitions. From 1994 through 2000, he was a member of the ABA Commission on Legal Problems for the Elderly. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Government and Politics from St. John's University in New York.

Robert R. Hagans, Jr. is Chief Financial Officer for AARP. He provides strategic guidance and expertise in all areas of the Association's financial management, strategy implementation and policy formulation. This includes oversight of approximately $4.5 billion in annual cash flow for AARP and related entities and the nearly $800 million operating budget.

Thomas C. Nelson is AARP's Chief Operating Officer. In addition to overall association leadership responsibilities, Mr. Nelson oversees State and National Initiatives, Operations, and Membership. He is responsible for AARP's key operations including publications, research, advocacy, community service and field delivery capabilities, and membership development, all of which further AARP's goal of being the leading organization for social responsibility. Mr. Nelson joined AARP in 1980 as Manager of Consumer Affairs, and in that position established AARP's consumer program. In 1982, he assumed the additional responsibility for AARP's health activities. From 1984 to1990, he was Director of AARP's Program Department that was responsible for the Association's educational and community service programs. In 1990 he became Director of the Field Services Division and was named Associate Executive Director of State and National Initiatives in 1999. His many contributions include the expansion of AARP's state capacity, strengthening of the advocacy team, development of the volunteer ranks, and growth of AARP's community service efforts. Prior to joining AARP, Mr. Nelson was at the University of Southern California Andrus Gerontology Center. From 1973 to 1977, he was a staff member of the Federal Trade Commission, where he worked on the investigation and subsequent regulation of the funeral industry, as well as inquiries related to nursing homes and other consumer issues facing the elderly. Mr. Nelson has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Union College, a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University, and Doctoral degree from the University of Southern California.

Lisa Yang is the current president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance/San Gabriel Lodge where she encourages citizens to become more politically active. Ms. Yang has more than 26 years experience in real estate and brokering in such areas as apartment buildings and strip malls. She has also been a consultant in land development and design management. She is president of Monterey Park Dynasty Lions Club, founder and president of the AARP, Chinatown Chapter and honorary president of the Chinese Writer's Association of Southern California.

John Rother is the Executive Vice President of Policy and Strategy for AARP. He is responsible for the federal and state public policies of the Association, and for formulating AARP's overall strategic direction. He is an authority on Medicare, managed care, long-term care, Social Security, pensions and the challenges facing the boomer generation. Prior to coming to AARP in 1984, Mr. Rother served eight years with the U.S. Senate as Special Counsel for Labor and Health to former Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY), then as Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the Special Committee on Aging under its Chairman, Senator John Heinz (R-PA). He serves on several Boards and Commissions, including as the Chair of Generations United, and Vice-Chair of the National Quality Forum. He also serves on the boards of Pension Rights Center, the Alliance for Healthcare Reform and advisory Boards to Kaiser Permanente, Google, and several Congressional fellowships. He is a frequently quoted in the news, and regularly presents at conferences and congressional briefings. John Rother is an honors graduate of Oberlin College and the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Law.

Rick Moody, PhD is the Director of Academic Affairs at AARP in Washington D.C. and an author on ethical issues in agingHe is known nationally for his work in older adult education and was former Chairman of the Board of Elderhostel, the nation's first and world's largest travel organization for older adults.

Michelle Walker (Shelly) is a marketing manager at AARP, charged with launching relationship marketing programs for segments across the Association. Prior to AARP, she ran product marketing programs at AOL for AOL Video, AIM, and MapQuest. Before returning to the DC area, Michelle worked in New York at American Express and JP Morgan Chase, in direct to consumer marketing functions. Michelle received her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a major in Political Science and a minor in Economics. As a Haas student, Michelle volunteered for the Young Entrepreneurs at HaasProgram, was a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management fellow and was a GSI for Haas marketing classes and undergraduate economic courses.

Arthur Laupus joined AARP because he thought the nonprofit senior-citizen-advocacy group would make his retirement years easier. He signed up for an auto-insurance policy endorsed by AARP, believing the advertising that said he would save money.

Brenda Lewis Cleary received a BSN and MSN from Indiana University and a PhD in Nursing from The University of Texas at Austin. Formerly, Dr. Cleary was Regional Dean and Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. While at TTUHSC, she received the Excellence in Teaching Award and the President's Academic Achievement Award. Since 1994, she has held the position of Executive Director of the North Carolina Center for Nursing, a state funded agency committed to assuring nursing resources to meet the health care needs of the citizens of North Carolina. Dr. Cleary also served as project director for a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Colleagues in Caring) funded initiative, the NC Nurse Workforce Planning Model, as a delegate to the American Nurses Association, and is currently on the ANA Nominating Committee as well as a Magnet appraiser for the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She serves on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine, a gubernatorial appointment. She recently created a state level Health Policy Fellowship for nursing leaders and is also the Chair of the National Steering Committee of the Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. Dr. Cleary was a co-investigator on a project entitled, "Management of Problems Associated with Dementia", funded through the National Institute for Nursing Research and the National Institute on Aging. She is a past president of the Alzheimer's Association of Texas and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer's Association, Eastern NC Chapter. She is a Sigma Theta Tau Virginia Henderson fellow as well as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, where she serves on the AAN Workforce Commission.

Carolyn J. Rodis, J.D., M.A. is a mediator, trainer and teacher. Certifed as a mediator byA the Maryland Council for Dispute Resolution, she is also qualified to mediate cases for the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court and District Court. Carolyn is a trainer and volunteer mediator for the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center and consultant to the Maryland Senior Mediation Project. She is a member of the National Elder Mediation Network. Carolyn is a consultant trainer with AARP in the areas of nursing home law, guardianship and pre-incapacity planning, elder abuse, and mental and physical effects of aging. She is also a trainer for the Center for Social Gerontology. With a Master of Arts in Adulthood and Aging, she teaches Legal Issues and Aging at the university level. Carolyn is a former public interest lawyer and was in private law practice with a concentration in family law and issues affecting the elderly. She served as an assistant attorney general, Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, and was a managing attorney and staff attorney with the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland.

Cora L. Christian, of Frederiksted, Virgin Islands (VI), is a member of the AARP Board of Directors, Class of 2010. During the 2006 - 2008 biennium, Dr. Christian serves as vice chair of the AARP Insurance Trust, and as a member of AARP's Governance Committee and National Nominating Committee. Dr. Christian has the distinction of being the first native female of the U.S. Virgin Islands to become a medical doctor and has been a prominent figure in the Virgin Islands for over 30 years. In 1977 she founded the Virgin Islands Medical Institute, Inc., the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO; formerly PRO) for the U.S. Virgin Islands and currently serves as the Health Care Quality Improvement Medical Director. She is chief medical consultant to Hovensa, L.L.C., and a practicing family physician. Dr. Christian is one of the primary spokespersons on health-related issues for the AARP VI Speakers Bureau. She served on the Board of the American Health Quality Association, and has been active in the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Commission on Government and Legislative Affairs. Dr. Christian was assistant commissioner of the VI Department of Heath and medical director of Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corporation, the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere. Other noted accomplishments include president of the AARP VI Chapter; chair of the University of the Virgin Islands Foundation, president of Caribbean Studies Association, assistant commissioner of Health of the U.S. Virgin Islands and board member of Interfaith Coalition of St. Croix. Among her numerous honors and recognitions, Dr. Christian was inducted into the Virgin Island Women Hall of Fame in 2005, received the 2003 Physician of the Year Award from the VI Medical Society, a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary, a Trail-Blazer Award by the Women's Business Center of St. Croix in 2000, and the Best Doctors in America Award in 1999.

President, AARP">Marie F. Smith of Maui, HI, was sworn in as the 21st president of AARP at AARP's National Leadership Conference in April, 2004. She brings to AARP a wealth of leadership experience in Social Security and a strong commitment to women's, multi-ethnic, and aging issues. During her presidency, she will focus on retirement security issues.

Mary Ellen Kelley was born in Perry County, Kentucky and graduated from Whitesburg High School and Cumberland College. She is a retired Social Services employee and is currently a very active volunteer with AARP of Virginia. She is married to Larry Wayne and has two sons, Jason and Jonah, and one grandson, Lucas.

Meredith Rucker Hunter joined AARP after nine years in the public relations agency world. She has led multi-faceted communications and outreach projects for large foundations, non-profits, associations and advocacy organizations reaching out to consumers, providers, funders, and policy makers. Throughout her career, Meredith has communicated about a variety of health care issues, including quality, long-term care, end-of-life care, chronic conditions, mental health, the nursing workforce and reproductive health. She is particularly proud of her contributions to Last Acts, a national public education campaign to improve the care Americans receive at the end of their lives. This work was the foundation for Meredith's understanding of the tough health care issues facing Americans, and helped her build partnerships with the consumer, quality and provider stakeholders critical to health care reform. Meredith received a master of science in Justice, Law and Society from American University and a bachelor of arts in government and politics from George Mason University.

Scott Rubin is an independent attorney and consultant whose practice has been devoted exclusively to issues affecting the public utility industry since 1983. He is a former Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate with the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate. Mr. Rubin has been an active participant in proceedings involving the restructuring of Pennsylvania's utility industries and is the author of studies on the impact of utility deregulation for AARP, the American Water Works Association Research Foundation, and the Keystone Research Center. He lives in Selinsgrove, PA, with his wife and two children.

Sandy Johnson is the executive editor for state news at AARP. Prior to that she was the chief of bureau in Washington , D.C. , the news service's largest bureau. She has also served as the chairman of NPF. At the AP Johnson was responsible for editorial and photo coverage of the federal government and national politics. Under her direction, AP refused to call the 2000 presidential election for George W. Bush despite enormous pressure after the TV networks made the erroneous call. Because of that action AP was a 2001 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for public service. The decision was subsequently awarded the presidential award by the Associated Press Managing Editors. Johnson joined AP in 1978 in North Dakota . She has directed AP's political coverage in every election since 1986. She held several management positions in Washington , including news editor, assistant bureau chief and deputy bureau chief, before being appointed chief of bureau in 1998.

Joanne Disch is the director of the Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota. She is the first to be appointed to the Katherine R. and C. Walton Lillehei Chair in Nursing Leadership, and holds the professor rank within the School of Nursing. Disch is also a regional coordinator for the Colleagues in Caring Project for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Disch is a nationally and internationally recognized nursing leader. She has served in clinical positions as a staff nurse, head nurse, clinical director and faculty member, and vice president for nursing in two major medical centers. In addition to serving on the Allina board, Disch is chairperson of the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) National Board of Directors. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves 36 million people ages 50 years and older. Disch received her doctorate degree in 1985 from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She received her nursing degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1976, and her master's degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmington.

Buck has been in the business for 29 years. He is a member of FMCA and AARP. He and his family have lived in Santa Clara since 1977 and have enjoyed RVing as a family, including their grandchildren. Buck has sold everything from Marathon coaches to travel trailers. He is willing to share his expertise with you to the best of his ability.

Jay I. Nix was born in Washington DC, June 21, 1941 to Emily Hazel and James Arthur Braxton, (both deceased). She attended grade school in DC but graduated from Barnstable High School, June 1959 in Hyannis, Ma. Jay attended Cape Cod Business School and was hired as assistant manager for Zayre's Department Store. Jay is married to Warren Nix of Pennsylvania, Pa., for over 36 years and has two sons, Warren Jr. and Jeffrey (Yameen) Nix. Jay and Warren have one granddaughter, Sabreen. Jay retired from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, and moved to St. Croix. She is an Alltemp employee, and active member of St. Croix Reformed Church, serves as Elder, member of Senior Choir, Vice President of Consistory and the representative from her church on the board of Interfaith Coalition. For Interfaith Coalition, Jay serves as secretary, on the membership/fundraiser committee and works as the administrative assistant staff-person. Jay's hobbies are reading, writing poetry, singing, acting, volunteer work, modeling and traveling. She is a member of the Urban League Guild of Philadelphia and AARP.

Mary C. Scott, M.A., of Bedford, TX, is a member of the AARP Board of Directors, Class of 2008. During the 2006-2008 biennium, she continues to serve on the Board Membership Committee, the AARP Insurance Trust, and AARP's 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee. Ms. Scott previously co-chaired the 2006 National Leadership Forum and served on AARP's Hispanic Council and Volunteer Engagement Project. She also was a member of the NRTA Pension Roundtable. Prior to election to the Board, Ms. Scott chaired AARP's National Legislative Council (NLC), a 25-member volunteer legislative advisory body to AARP's Board of Directors. In that role, her responsibilities included facilitating national issue forums, reviewing polling research, and examining policy trends and member needs. Ms. Scott was active in the AARP/VOTE program, serving in a number of volunteer leadership roles, including regional coordinator and training coordinator. She also served as a speaker on Social Security and other federal issues. Ms. Scott is a member of AARP Chapter 1251. In her community, Ms. Scott has been active in the Retired Teachers Association (RTA) and chaired the Senior Political Action Committee of Tarrant County. She also is a co-founder of the Tarrant Coalition for Environmental Awareness and serves on the coalition board. A speech pathologist, Ms. Scott practiced speech pathology in the public schools for 24 years and was an instructor of English as a Second Language at Tarrant County Community College. Ms. Scott earned a BA in Speech and a MA in Speech and Language Pathology. She also pursued post-graduate work leading to teacher certification for language and learning-disabled children.