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© 2025 Voices in Leadership | LeadingAge Virginia
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This video series' goal is to tell the stories of our members – stories of triumph, challenge, growth, and relationships that have supported us along the way.
36 Episodes
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In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, President and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, speaks with Tracey van Marcke, Founder of TvM Impact Consulting, and Betsy Archer, Executive Director of PositiveAge, the foundation of LeadingAge Virginia. Together, they reflect on their career paths, the evolution of PositiveAge, and the complexities of building nonprofit infrastructure while meeting grant obligations. Tracey and Betsy share lessons learned from mentorship, why work-lif...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, President and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, sits down with Winoka Clements, Senior Director of Human Resources at Vinson Hall Retirement Community and LeadingAge Virginia board member. Winoka shares her journey into HR and aging services, reflecting on how she’s built a people-first culture rooted in support, connection, and community. She discusses innovative HR strategies, and how those practices strengthen engagement and belongin...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, president and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, welcomes Larry Minnix, retired president and CEO of LeadingAge National and a widely respected voice in aging services. Larry reflects on his decades of leadership, highlighting why culture is the cornerstone of any successful organization and why leaders must be proactive in addressing challenges. Through powerful stories—from navigating regulatory hurdles to shaping healthier workplace e...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, President & CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, speaks with Ben Unkle, President & CEO of Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay. Ben shares his unlikely path from trial lawyer to nearly three decades in senior living leadership, including 15 years in his current role. He reflects on the leadership traits that matter most, the power of communication, and lessons learned from guiding the organization through the 2009 economic dow...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, President and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, sits down with Carrie Davis, administrator at Covenant Woods in Mechanicsville, VA, to explore her decades-long journey in long-term care. Carrie reflects on her deep commitment to serving older adults and the leadership roles that have shaped her impact within LeadingAge Virginia. Together, they dive into the evolution of Covenant Woods, the complexities of supporting diverse populations,...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, President and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, speaks with Jennifer Martin, RN, CHPN, and Carlos Galliamore, BS, RN, of Blue Ridge Care in Winchester, VA. Together, they explore the importance of expanding access to hospice and palliative care and breaking down common misconceptions. The conversation highlights the organization’s compassionate, community-centered approach, the leadership philosophies that guide their work, and how they...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, President and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, sits down with Christy Zeitz, CEO of Fellowship Square, and Marta Hill Gray, President of Culpepper Garden, to explore the urgent need for affordable housing for older adults. Together, they dive into the growing housing crisis, the critical importance of preserving existing communities, and the role of both government and private funding in supporting sustainable solutions. Christy and Ma...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, President and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, talks with Amy Strite, President and CEO of The Span Center. Amy shares insights into the Span Center’s mission to support older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers across several Virginia communities. With a reach of over 111,000 lives each year, the organization offers a vital network of services that improve quality of life. Amy reflects on her professional journ...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews, president and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, sits down with professional photographer Heidi Wagner to explore the power of storytelling through photography. Wagner shares how her Passions Project showcases older adults engaged in what they love, challenging ageism and fostering connections. She reflects on photographing diverse communities, from LGBTQ+ elders to public school students, and her ongoing mission to highlight purpose and...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Jenny Inker, MBA, MS, PhD, LALFA, and Jennifer Yanez Pryor, MA, MS, LALFA, from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Gerontology, explore the evolving landscape of assisted living. They discuss pressing challenges such as workforce burnout, recruitment struggles, and the need for a person-centered approach to care. The conversation also highlights innovative care models and key projects, including their upcoming book on assisted living admi...
In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Bethanie Constant, vice president of Mission Advancement at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, about her journey into gerontology, her current research, and her efforts to combat ageism and ableism. Bethanie discusses her background in fundraising and communications, her passion for supporting older adults, and the power of language in shaping perceptions about age and ability. She highlights her research using Virginia Commonwealth University's...
In this episode, Gigi Amateau, MS, PhD, and Morgan Alexander, LMSW, MSG, explore how fostering a culture of safety and belonging within organizations can enhance job satisfaction and employee retention. Gigi, an assistant professor and Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care Lab Director for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Gerontology and Virginia Center on Aging, explains the principles of trauma-informed care, emphasizing the need to understand individuals' life histo...
In our Season 3 premiere, Dr. Kristine Theurer, president of JAVA Group Programs, shares how her personal journey of grief inspired her to develop the first standardized peer support interventions for senior living communities. These programs, now implemented in over 2,000 communities, use structured themes and guidelines to create meaningful connections, significantly reducing loneliness and depression among participants. Dr. Theurer highlights research demonstrating increased happiness and ...
In this episode, we hear how three leaders from The Chesapeake are impacting their staff retention efforts, focusing on professional development and why their individual Leadership Academy experiences were so special to each of them. You'll walk away from this episode either wanting to apply for a job, move in or, at the very least, visit their boutique!
In the latest episode, Melissa interviews two Master’s students, Nahshon Carr and Claire Ruble, about their perspectives on ageism, aging and aging services. This episode will not only help you be a better leader but will inspire others to look at this field as a career choice. The theme – “Aging is Beautiful” – enjoy 35 minutes of inspiration!
On this episode of Voices in Leadership, Melissa Andrews is joined by Sonali Shetty, Founder, Kova Digital and Susan Rucker, Managing Partner, LeadSpark Consulting, LLC. Susan and Sonali have had incredible careers spanning accounting, IT, start-up, consulting, teaching and facilitating. They share with Melissa how organizations should position themselves for success and what soft skills we should cultivate early in our careers. You’ll also learn why saying yes in the face of ambiguity can be...
Sometimes, especially in the field of aging services, professional and personal lines blur – and it’s all for the greater good. In this episode, Melissa spends time with Sharon Sullivan, Vice President and Head of Conferences and Brand Experience for LeadingAge national, and Mary Kemper, President & CEO of UMA, with whom she has been friends and colleagues for decades. They share the best career advice they’ve ever received, the types of work culture they thrive in, and the importanc...
Wanting to interview them from the start of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews is finally joined by two powerhouse workforce experts from our field! Brandy Day, Chief Talent Officer at Williamsburg Landing, and Winoka Clements, Senior Director of Human Resources at Vinson Hall Retirement Community, discuss recruitment, retention, DEIB, and the heart they have for what they do. Also, the importance of yoga, wine, and dogs for a fulfilled life. You will walk away from this episode...
Heather Turbyne-Pollard is the CEO at Circle Center Adult Day in Richmond, VA. Melissa Andrews talks to Heather about her call to work in aging services, disrupting ageism, (here Heather’s recent Disrupt HR RVA Ted Style talk) the need for more community based services for older adults and their caregivers and why advocating for adult day at the upcoming General Assembly is so important. And you won’t want to miss Heather’s stories about growing up in a large family – and we mean large!
On the latest episode of Voices in Leadership, Melissa Andrews speaks to Heather Harmon from Platinum Sponsor Henderson, Inc. about her role as a death doula. Heather’s work with the Henderson team supports our members’ growing campuses and the family culture at Henderson supports Heather’s work in the community as she helps families navigate critical conversations about how their loved ones want to spend their last living days and hours. There are lessons in this episode for all of us ...
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