Board

Current Officers and Executive Committee

Audrey Wathen, Chair

Individual Member
Former Senior Vice President Human Resources, The New Jewish Home
ARH Consulting, LLC.

Victoria Walker, Vice Chair

Individual Member

Lisa Thomson, Treasurer

Supporting Member
Chief Operating Officer
Pathway Health

Dana Ritchie, Secretary

Organization Member
American Health Care Association

Board Members

Jodi Eyigor

Organization Member
LeadingAge

Debbie Hommel

Organization Member
National Certification Council for Activity Professionals

Patrick Luib

Organization Member
Gerontological Advance Practice Nurses Association

Tracey Moorhead

Organization Member
American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing

Cynthia Morton

Organization Member
Advion

Erin O’Brien

AMDA: The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine

Doug Olson

Individual Member

Alison Rainey

MatrixCare

Dana Ritchie

Organization Member
American Health Care Association

Kezia Scales

PHI

Alex Spanko

The Center for Innovation: The Green House Project and Pioneer Network

Lisa Thomson

Supporting Member
Pathway Health

Victoria Walker

Individual Member

Audrey Wathen

Individual Member
ARH Consulting, LLC.

Shennoy Wellington-Robers

Individual Member

Faith Wiggins

Organization Member
1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds

Chad Worz

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

EX-OFFICO MEMBERS

Barbara Bowers

Ex-officio
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Penny Cook

Ex-officio
Center for Innovation

Christopher Laxton

Ex-officio
AMDA The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine

Jay Sackman

Ex-officio
Jay M Sackman Consulting Services LLC

LEGACY OF LEADERS

 

In addition to its diverse membership, Advancing Excellence has a legacy of active and engaged leadership. Board chairs have included:

2006 – 2009
Larry Minnix, former President & CEO, LeadingAge

2009 – 2012
Mary Jane Koren, MD, MPH, former Vice President of Delivery System Reform, The Commonwealth Fund

2012 – 2014
David Gifford, Senior Vice President, Quality & Regulatory Affairs, American Health Care Association
Cheryl Phillips, Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Advocacy, LeadingAge

2014 – 2016
Beverley Laubert, Ohio State LTC Ombudsman; past-president, National Association of State LTC Ombudsman Programs

2016 – 2018
Jay Sackman, Representative, The New Jewish Home

2018 – 2021
Chris Laxton, Former Executive Director, AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine

2021 – 2022
Barbara Bowers, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing

2023 – 2022
Penny Cook, Chief Culture Officer, Center for Innovation

2024 - Present
Audrey Walker

  • Larry Minnix 2006 – 2009
    former President & CEO, LeadingAge
  • Mary Jane Koren 2009 – 2012
    MD, MPH, former Vice President of Delivery System Reform, The Commonwealth Fund
  • David Gifford 2012 – 2014
    Senior Vice President, Quality & Regulatory Affairs, American Health Care Association
  • Cheryl Phillips 2012 – 2014
    Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Advocacy, LeadingAge
  • Beverley Laubert 2009 – 2012
    Ohio State LTC Ombudsman; past-president, National Association of State LTC Ombudsman Programs
  • Jay Sackman 2016 – 2018
    Representative, The New Jewish Home
  • Chris Laxton 2018 – 2021
    Former Executive Director, AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
  • Barbara Bowers 2021 – 2022
    Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing
  • Penny Cook 2022 – 2023
    Chief Culture Officer, Center for Innovation
  • Audrey Walker 2024 – Present