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

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.

Secretary

Blair Bacon, MSW 

Blair is passionate about working toward equity and justice for marginalized communities. 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.

Treasurer

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/

Earl Anema

Director of Growth, Siftwell Analytics

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 providers 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. He currently directs growth efforts at Siftwell, an AI-driven analytics company that helps health plans better identify and support older adults and individuals with complex needs. 

Website: https://siftwell.ai/ 

Gina comes with over 20 years of experience in programming and fund development, capacity building, and organization evaluation. Her work across the U.S. includes building program designs and strategic planning. With 15 years focused on supporting older adults in diverse communities, her commitment to capacity building is rooted in a belief that empowered organizations create empowered communities. She brings deep community engagement experience rooted in lived expertise, cultural humility, and a commitment to social justice and advocacy. A graduate of Regis University, served on numerous boards and balances her time with creative crafts, thrifting, friends and family.

Shelly Griffith
Chief Executive Officer, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center

Shelly M. Griffith has served as Chief Executive Officer of Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center since 2012, following seven years as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer beginning in 2005. Prior to joining Eben Ezer, she was the Audit Manager with Anderson, Lee and Company, CPAs, where she worked from 1996 to 2005.

She has a distinguished record of leadership and service within both her profession and her community. Shelly has been a member of the LeadingAge Colorado Board of Directors since 2017, currently serving as Chair-Elect. In addition, she serves as Chair of the Charitable Services Providers Group Captive, a collaborative of senior living organizations focused on strengthening liability insurance coverage and advancing risk management strategies. Her local leadership includes service as Ex-Officio Board Member of the Brush Chamber of Commerce, Audit Committee Member for the East Morgan County Library, Morgan Community College Foundation Board, and Financial Secretary, Elder, and Finance Committee Chair at First Christian Church. She also served as the. Past – Chair of the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation

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.

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/

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/

Barbara Walkosz

Barbara brings experience in advocacy for older adults, including service on the Denver Commission on Aging. She is a Professor Emerita at the University of Colorado Denver and worked as a Research Scientist developing behavioral health communication programs, including peer education training in prisons focused on end-of-life and hospice care. She is committed to advancing a vision of aging well in Colorado in which all older adults, across urban and rural communities, have access to quality healthcare, affordable housing, physical and digital safety, reliable transportation, and meaningful social connections. She believes that thoughtful public policy is essential to achieving this vision.