Colorado Center for Aging

President

Claire B. Cruse, MPH

Director, Complex Care Program, Policy, and Research, ATI Advisory

Claire Cruse has been a health services researcher for more than a decade. Her research has focused on issues pertaining to aging and older adults, Medicare and Medicare Advantage, health care, and health policy. She has a master’s in public health and a graduate certificate in gerontology and currently serves as Director of Complex Care Policy, Programs, and Research at ATI Advisory, a research and consulting firm based out of Washington, DC. ​

Website: https://atiadvisory.com/ 

Vice President

Erin Maruzzella

Founder & Managing Partner, Healthspan Business Partners, LLC

Erin holds an Executive MBA in Health Administration and is a subject matter expert on the business of longevity and healthy communities. She regularly consults on the design of products, systems, and spaces that promote inclusion as we grow up and grow older. Erin serves as an advisor for the Innovation and Social Impact Advisory Council at the American Society on Aging, a board member for the Colorado Center for Aging, and commissioner on both the Pikes Peak Commission on Aging and the Colorado Commission on Aging.

Website: www.healthspanbp.com

Treasurer

Allyn Dorris

Accounting Manager, Seniors Resource Center

Allyn joined CCA’s board in July of 2023 bringing 15+ years of accounting experience. She holds a CPB license, and has worked in the accounting department for a Fortune 500 company as well as the non-profit sector. She previously served on the Saints Peter and Paul Church finance board, and she is currently the accounting manager at Seniors Resource Center. She is committed to serve as an honest, ethical, and committed member to the CCA board.

Website: https://www.srcaging.org/

Secretary

Blair Bacon, LMSW 

Research and Policy Analyst, Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO)

Blair is passionate about working toward equity and justice for marginalized communities and currently works as a Research and Policy Analyst at Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO). She has worked in healthcare-related non-profits, in research and evaluation, policy analysis, and advocacy. She believes everyone should be supported to age with dignity, their culture, and community.

Website: https://www.cllaro.org/

Earl Anema

Communications and Marketing Professional

Earl is a dedicated advocate for older adults in Colorado, combining his strong communication skills with a commitment to community service. With an extensive background working for health provider and health tech solutions built to assist older adults, he collaborates with community leaders, legislators, and other advocates to advance policies that improve the lives of older adults. Earl excels at fostering connections and driving meaningful change through advocacy, storytelling, and strategic collaboration.

Kari Degerness

Kari holds a BA in Healthcare Management and Long-term Care Administration from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and a MBA from the University of Denver. Her roles have varied across the healthcare spectrum and have included Care Center Administrator at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center as well as Executive Director of Balfour Retirement Community in addition to extensive volunteer experience with 9Health Fair and Health Ministries at Augustana Lutheran Church. Most recently, Kari was with the Center to Improve Value in Health Care (CIVHC) as the Director of Health Care Programs. There, she led work in advanced care planning and palliative care. In addition, she championed projects utilizing the CO All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) data, which CIVHC administers for the state. Those projects included the High Value Care End of Life and data points supporting the broader CO Healthy Aging Aging Data Profile.  Kari looks forward to getting more involved and working to build a healthy and supportive CO for everyone to age well.

Jeanette Hensley

Co-Chair, CCA Advocacy Committee

Jeanette has been involved with CCA and formerly Colorado Senior Lobby for over 23 years. She is co-chair of CCA’s Advocacy Committee. She retired from The Colorado Department of Human Services as the Director of Aging and Adult Services, after working for 32 years for the state. When she is not at the Capitol lobbying our legislators, she is walking/hiking with her dogs, spending time with her granddaughters and refinishing furniture.

Chandra Matthews

Executive Director, Chanda Center for Health

Chandra Matthews has spent her career dedicated advocate for older adults and people with disabilities to ensure they live with dignity and respect while maintaining a good quality of life and a strong connection to their community. She has over twenty-five years of leadership experience within nonprofit and philanthropic organizations focused developing private and public programs that improve the lives of older adults and people with disabilities. Chandra also serves as a Board member for the Colorado Office of Public Guardianship.

Rich Mauro

Co-Chair, CCA Advocacy Committee
Director of Legislative Affairs, Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)

Rich Mauro is Director of Legislative Affairs for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). Rich directs DRCOG policy and legislative program, which includes advocacy for older adults through DRCOG’s Area Agency on Aging. Rich joined the Colorado Senior Lobby Board in 2006. Since 2010, he has co-chaired what is now the Colorado Center for Aging’s Advocacy Committee.

Website: https://drcog.org/

Sara Schueneman

State Director, AARP

Sara Schueneman is the State Director for AARP where she focuses on issues that are relevant to the 650,000 AARP members in Colorado, as well as all older Coloradans and their families. Prior to joining AARP, Schueneman spent 20 years at the American Heart Association where she most recently served as the senior vice president of Colorado and executive director of Denver. She has an extensive background as a nonprofit executive who specializes in moving business and mission objectives forward with wide experience driving the impact of a national organization. Her career has spanned multiple states and all size markets. She has experience in advocacy, communications and community and volunteer engagement – along with passion for mission-driven work and making our communities better places to live.​

Website: https://states.aarp.org/colorado/

Hilary Simmons, MPH

Executive Director, A Little Help

Hilary has over fifteen years of experience as a director for various organizations and businesses, including over twelve years of service with A Little Help, a Colorado nonprofit connecting neighbors to help older adults thrive. She currently serves as the Board Treasurer of the national Village to Village Network (formerly Vice President) and as the Older Adult Special Interest Seat on the Denver Regional Council of Governments Transportation Advisory Committee. Hilary earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke University in Psychology and English and earned her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Website: https://alittlehelp.org/

Dr. Stephen Stockhausen, PT, DPT

COO, Cocoon System

Dr. Stockhausen is the COO of Cocoon System – a start-up specializing in combining technology with home modifications to bring safe aging in place to more seniors nationwide.  He also continues to provide full time clinical care as a physical therapist serving the indigenous communities in the southwest corner of the state. 

Website: cocoonsystem.com

Jodi Waterhouse, MHA

Director, Outreach Programs, CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging

Jodi has been a CCA Board Member since 2019, and in addition to her CCA Board duties has lead two Legislative Bills, SB21-158 and SB23-31. In her role both at CCA and CU she is committed to ensuring Older Coloradans age well and have a voice at the State Capital. She also serves as Vice-Chair and Higher Education Representative on the Colorado Commission on Aging.​

Website: https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/center-on-aging