Raymond Benegas

Vice President of IT
Presbyterian LIving
Skokie, IL, US
  • 2-B. Ask ChatGPT: Can AI Address Senior Living Challenges?

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    2-B. Ask ChatGPT: Can AI Address Senior Living Challenges?

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take center stage as an active panelist in this unique session. Join an IT consultant and two senior-level IT specialists from LeadingAge member organizations as they invite ChatGPT, an interactive AI model, to tackle senior living challenges in real time. Human panelists will begin the session by sharing their insights into how AI impacts operational efficiencies, resident engagement, strategic decision-making, and resident care in aging services. Then, attendees and panelists will engage in a lively question-and-answer session with ChatGPT. You’ll discover how AI can respond to your organization’s unique challenges and how to critically evaluate AI tools before implementing them in your organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to see AI in action.

Zane Bennett

Vice President of Business Development
LCS
Des Moines, IA, US
  • 29-C. A Collaborative Approach to Strategic Planning

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    29-C. A Collaborative Approach to Strategic Planning

    Strategic planning is a team sport requiring clear communication, mutual accountability, and a shared vision among all participants. This session will draw on the experiences of Porters Neck Village, a life plan community in Wilmington, NC, to explore essential steps in the strategic planning process. Presenters will outline the roles that the single-site community’s board members, management organization, executive director, staff, and residents played in developing its 10-year growth and campus expansion plan. They will describe how planning decisions were discussed and communicated, how participants held each other accountable, and how retreats, committee meetings, board meetings, and resident gatherings advanced the process. You’ll gain practical strategies that can be applied to your community’s strategic planning process.

Sloan Bentley

President & CEO
Pacific Retirement Services
Medford, OR, US
  • 35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    During this must-attend session, women executives in aging services will discuss their professional journeys, challenges, and career-defining moments. Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, and vice presidents will share their stories of perseverance and innovation, offering lessons to help other women leaders navigate career transitions, overcome obstacles, and build resilience. Discover the leadership qualities that fueled their success and gain practical strategies for finding mentors, building professional networks, and cultivating confidence. Whether you’re an emerging leader, a mid-career professional, or a seasoned executive, you’ll leave this session with actionable insights to guide your career journey and create work environments that empower and support the advancement of women leaders.

Evon Bergey

Vice President of Operations/ COO
Landis Communities
Lititz, PA, USA
  • 2-B. Build a Strategic Roadmap for AI Adoption

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    2-B. Build a Strategic Roadmap for AI Adoption

    You’ve undoubtedly heard about the “transformative power” of Artificial Intelligence (AI). But what would an AI-fueled transformation look like for your organization, and what tools would you need to make it a reality? This session will guide you through a comprehensive, multi-week AI assessment to help your organization evaluate its technology maturity, identify quick wins, and build a realistic three-year AI roadmap. Three senior living providers will share strategies to help mid-size and smaller organizations use AI to manage change, expand internal capacity, and focus on outcomes for residents and staff. You’ll gain tools to adopt AI solutions gradually and in ways that fit your organization’s unique circumstances.

Adam Berman

President & CEO
Legacy Lifecare
Peabody, MA, US
  • 56-L. Stronger Together: Securing Your Future through Affiliation

    • Wednesday, November 05, 2025

    11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

    56-L. Stronger Together: Securing Your Future through Affiliation

    Affiliation has become an indispensable tool for nonprofit senior living organizations facing complex challenges. This session will include case studies where organizations enhanced operational efficiency, stabilized finances, improved care quality, and strengthened recruitment and staff development after affiliating with a network of charitable, nonprofit senior care organizations. Presenters will provide practical strategies for examining various collaborative models. You’ll take home a framework for evaluating when affiliation might be beneficial, criteria for identifying and selecting suitable partners, and tips for ensuring that an affiliation aligns with your organization’s mission and goals. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore a strategy that could help secure your organization and its mission.

Barry Berman

CEO
Chelsea Jewish Lifecare
Chelsea, MA, USA
  • 146-F. Easy-to-Implement Strategies for Boosting Staff Retention

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    146-F. Easy-to-Implement Strategies for Boosting Staff Retention

    Are you looking for proven strategies to boost staff retention? Look no further than this session featuring leaders from Chelsea Jewish Lifecare in Chelsea, MA. Chief Executive Officer Barry Berman and Chief Operating Officer Betsy Mullen will discuss their organization’s impressive retention record: 25% of the employees have been with the organization for at least 10 years, nursing staff turnover is among the lowest in the state, and they haven’t relied on staffing agencies for 30 years. Presenters will share their keys to success, including an innovative onboarding process, ongoing communication, and staff appreciation initiatives. Join this session to learn easy-to-implement strategies for reducing vacancies, lowering turnover, and fostering a high-performing culture.

Bridget Bernhardt

Corporate Director of Learning and Development
Acts Retirement-Life Communities, Inc.
Fort Washington, PA, USA
  • 32-F. Building a Pathway to Success: Succession Planning for Mid-Level Managers

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    32-F. Building a Pathway to Success: Succession Planning for Mid-Level Managers

    Succession planning has long been recognized as an essential tool for maintaining talent continuity in an organization’s C-suite. However, as this session will demonstrate, it also plays a critical role in developing the skills of mid-level managers. Representatives from Acts Retirement-Life Communities will describe their mid-level succession planning program, which features internal leadership initiatives, undergraduate and graduate-level programs offered in partnership with local colleges, and a structured mentorship program. You’ll discover how to identify and assess high-potential managers, create personalized development plans, and align talent development with business objectives. Join this session to acquire the tools you need to identify, develop, and retain high-potential middle managers to help ensure organizational growth and stability.

Juliana Bilowich

Vice President, Housing Policy
LeadingAge
Washington, DC, US
  • 39-C. The Housing Challenge: Building Resilience in Complex Times

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    39-C. The Housing Challenge: Building Resilience in Complex Times

    Affordable housing developers often struggle to fulfill their missions as funding sources evolve, interest rates fluctuate, and compliance requirements grow more complex. This session will help providers navigate the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector today, including new federal initiatives, financing hurdles, and sustainability imperatives. Presenters will share insights into emerging financial trends reshaping project feasibility, long-term asset management, and organizational sustainability. They’ll offer practical strategies for responding to capital market shifts, restructuring deals, and leveraging new funding while maintaining transparency. You’ll be reminded that resilience in affordable housing requires both innovation and a firm purpose and you’ll gain the tools to achieve both.

  • 92-A. Updates on Federal Funding and Policy

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    92-A. Updates on Federal Funding and Policy

    Are you seeking up-to-date information on how federal funding and policy decisions are likely to affect your service lines? Or are you simply curious about the broader policy landscape shaping the aging services field? Either way, you’ll leave satisfied after attending this speed round of Washington updates. The LeadingAge Policy Team will be on hand to fill you in on the latest developments affecting Medicare and Medicaid, workforce policy, affordable housing, and the federal legal landscape. You’ll also receive advocacy tips to ensure your voice is heard in Washington, DC.

  • 93-B. Affordable Senior Housing: The Federal Outlook

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    93-B. Affordable Senior Housing: The Federal Outlook

    The affordable housing crisis is intensifying across America. This session will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing mission-driven housing providers seeking to support older adults with low incomes who want to age in the community. Presenters will offer insights into the ever-changing landscape of federal affordable housing programs for older adults. They’ll also review developments in subsidized multifamily housing, including significant new federal funding for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, potential threats to federal rental assistance programs, and reductions in funding for supportive services and benefits. Let LeadingAge housing experts guide you as you work to achieve your affordable housing mission.

Amanda Birch

SVP of Human Resources
Westminster Communities of Florida, Inc.
Orlando, FL, USA
  • 35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    During this must-attend session, women executives in aging services will discuss their professional journeys, challenges, and career-defining moments. Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, and vice presidents will share their stories of perseverance and innovation, offering lessons to help other women leaders navigate career transitions, overcome obstacles, and build resilience. Discover the leadership qualities that fueled their success and gain practical strategies for finding mentors, building professional networks, and cultivating confidence. Whether you’re an emerging leader, a mid-career professional, or a seasoned executive, you’ll leave this session with actionable insights to guide your career journey and create work environments that empower and support the advancement of women leaders.

Jennifer Boese, MS

Director of Health Care Policy & Innovation
CLA
Charlotte, NC, US
  • 108-B. Medicare Disruptions: Adopting Strategies for Resilience

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    108-B. Medicare Disruptions: Adopting Strategies for Resilience

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is pursuing a new strategic direction aimed at reducing healthcare costs, shifting more financial risk to providers, and modifying existing CMMI models. At the same time, Congress is discussing significant changes to Medicare Advantage that could dramatically impact provider revenue streams, contracting strategies, and payer mixes. During this session, you’ll gain insights into these federal policy shifts and how they could reshape revenue models and affect the financial stability of aging services organizations. Presenters will share strategic approaches to help you manage risk and adapt to a rapidly evolving payer landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and ensure your organization’s long-term viability in a changing healthcare environment.

Alice Bonner

Senior Advisor for Aging
Institute For Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Boston, MA, US
  • 142-H. A Collaborative Strategy for Developing the CNA Workforce

    • Tuesday, October 27, 2026

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    142-H. A Collaborative Strategy for Developing the CNA Workforce

    Educators, providers, policymakers, and workforce leaders nationwide are rethinking how aging services providers recruit, train, support, and retain frontline caregivers. This session will highlight this collaborative effort. Presenters will describe a recent national meeting that examined the potential for multi-state collaboration to standardize certified nursing assistant (CNA) career pathways through state-based Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Programs. They’ll share lessons learned from convening stakeholders across education, workforce development, aging services, finance, policy, and care delivery systems to discuss workforce solutions. You’ll discover how stakeholder collaboration can drive system-wide changes in policy, practice, and workforce development.

Colleen Bottens

Vice President, Anywhere Care
EverTrue
Saint Louis, MO, US
  • 36-A. Building In-Home Services through Acquisition and Innovation

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    36-A. Building In-Home Services through Acquisition and Innovation

    Many providers of aging services are interested in new ways to deliver high-quality support in the home, especially for middle-market consumers. This session will explore how one multisite sponsor of affordable housing and life plan communities expanded its at-home services through a strategic mix of acquisitions, program innovation, and affiliations with home and community-based service providers. Presenters will also highlight two new programs they designed to serve life plan community residents and the broader community: a concierge care navigation and coaching service, and an at-home support program for older adults with incomes just below traditional private-pay thresholds. Gain concrete ideas for building or expanding scalable in-home services to serve current residents and the price-sensitive middle market.