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NORC StaffLori O. Smetanka, JD, Director, The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center Lori Smetanka became the Director of the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center in June 2004. In her role, she provides support, technical assistance and training for 53 state and more than 600 local long-term care ombudsmen programs. Lori first came to Consumer Voice in 1993 on a public policy internship sponsored by the Leadership in an Aging Society Program at Duke University’s Long-Term Care Resources Program. She joined the staff at Consumer Voice in 1994 as Law and Policy Specialist, focusing on the Nursing Home Reform Act and survey and enforcement issues. From 2002 until June 2004, Lori worked as Information Specialist for the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. Lori has a Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law.
Milissa Lake Spencer, Ombudsman Specialist, The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center Milissa Lake Spencer joined Consumer Voice in 2007 as Ombudsman Specialist for the Center. She is responsible for providing support and training for both state and local ombudsmen. Prior to coming to Consumer Voice, she worked as a local long-term care ombudsman in Indiana for nearly 14 years. During that time, Milissa played an important role in the development of the Indiana Volunteer Ombudsman Program; she also co-founded the Indiana Culture Change Coalition. Milissa has a bachelor's degree in individual and family studies with emphasis on aging from Purdue University.
Rebecca Livesay, Program Associate - Communications and Outreach, The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center Becka Livesay joined Consumer Voice in 2008 and currently serves as a Program Associate - Communications and Outreach at the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. In her role, she is responsible for providing technical assistance to state and local ombudsmen. Becka also maintains and updates both Consumer Voice's and the Center's websites and spearheads communication efforts for the organization. While she works on a wide variety of projects, Becka is particularly interested in issues related to direct care workers. Prior to Consumer Voice, she was at the American Society of Hematology, where she worked in the communications department. Becka has a bachelor's degree in magazine journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She also has a degree in Spanish language and culture and studied abroad in Cuenca, Ecuador. She is currently pursuing a professional certificate in graphic design and web development from Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts. Consumer Voice StaffSarah F. Wells, MA, Executive Director Sarah F. Wells, MA, was named Executive Director of Consumer Voice on January 15, 2009. In this role she oversees leads the operations of the organization, spearheads fundraising efforts, liaises with the Board of Directors and represents Consumer Voice in advocacy efforts for long-term care consumers. Sarah comes to Consumer Voice after nearly a decade at Women In Government (WIG), a national, nonprofit organization providing public policy education for women state legislators, where she most recently served as Vice President. While at WIG, Sarah was instrumental in significantly increasing the organization’s operating budget, establishing a public policy department from the ground up, and leading numerous policy initiatives that resulted in significant state action. Sarah received her master’s degree in public policy and women’s studies from The George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree in political science and women’s studies from American University. In addition, she holds a certificate in executive nonprofit management from the Center for Social Leadership and has completed additional health policy coursework at The Johns Hopkins University. Sarah serves as an appointed member from the Mason District on the Fairfax County, Virginia Advisory Social Services Board. She is a member of the American University Government Relations Alumni Career Committee and is a National Honorary Committee Member of the Collegiate Cancer Council.
Janet Wells, Director, Public Policy Janet Wells first joined Consumer Voice in 1986 as Director of Publications after a 15-year career in civil rights and women's rights advocacy. From 1992 until 2000, Janet was a long-term care specialist with AARP, where she was team leader of the Association’s Long-Term Care Team, conceived and coordinated national conferences on long-term care as a women's issue and improving the quality of paraprofessional jobs in long-term care and developed research projects and educational and communications programs on long-term care and health-care reform issues. In 2000, she returned to Consumer Voice as Director of Public Policy to oversee the organization's legislative and regulatory initiatives and special projects to improve the quality of care in nursing homes. In this capacity, she chairs the Campaign for Quality Care, a coalition of nursing home stakeholder groups that work together on nursing home policy issues. Prior to 1986, she had been Director of an advisory council on Social Security reform for the Older Women's League; Associate Director of the Federal Education Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law and a Project Director and Community Organizer with the American Friends Service Committee.
Jessica Brill, MPA, Program Manager Jessica Brill, MPA, joined Consumer Voice in 2006 and currently serves as Progam Manager. In this position, Jessica manages grant funded projects, assists with fund development and provides information, guidance, support and technical assistance related to the continuum of long-term care services on the state and national level to consumers and advocates, including Resident Councils, Family Councils and Citizen Advocacy Groups. Jessica holds a Master of Public Administration, a Master of Arts in political science and an advanced Certificate in health services management and policy from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University.
Christina Steier, Project Consultant Christina Steier joined Consumer Voice in 2009 and currently serves as a Project Consultant. In her role, she is responsible for leading Consumer Voice’s database conversion from the current system to a more up-to-date system, creating better ways to communicate with and manage members. She also maintains Consumer Voice’s membership, corresponding with individual and group members. Christina is a recent graduate from American University with bachelor’s degrees in musical theatre and sociology.
Rachael Crockett, Communications Intern Rachael Crockett joined the Consumer Voice in June 2010 as a Communications Intern. In her role, she is responsible for maintaining and updating the organization’s website, completing outreach and promotional tasks, conducting research and completing various administrative duties. Rachael graduated in May 2010 from James Madison University with a bachelor's degree in health studies and a minor in biology. Prior to interning at the Consumer Voice, Rachael worked on a research project at The University of Malta Institute of Health Care studying children with juvenile diabetes. She was also actively involved with Relay for Life at her university.
Peter Mannino, Communications Intern Peter Mannino joined the Consumer Voice in July 2010 as a Communications Intern. In his role, he is assists with updating the website, conducting research and a variety of other administrative tasks. Peter is going into his senior year at Hofstra University with majors in mathematical economics and political science. Before joining the Consumer Voice, Peter was a Resident Assistant at Hofstra University and a camp counselor in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Maggie Novack, Programs Intern Maggie Novack joined the Consumer Voice in June 2010 as a Programs Intern. In her role, she assists with a variety of program-related projects, including those related to consumers and advocacy education as well as updating the organization's website and completing other general administrative tasks. Maggie is a junior at Miami University double majoring in strategic communications and gerontology. Currently, she has been accepted into Georgetown University's Summer Law and Society program, where she will be taking classes. Prior to working for the Consumer Voice, she worked for three years at Brookdale Trillium Senior Living in Columbus, Ohio.
Samuel Sunmonu, Communications Intern Samuel Sunmonu joined the Consumer Voice in June 2010 as a Communications Intern. In his role, he assists with web development, event planning, program development and online publications as well as general administrative tasks. Samuel is currently a senior at Duke University majoring in history with a minor in political science. Prior to interning at the Consumer Voice, Samuel was a camp counselor at Mercy Daycare in Wyandanch, New York. NORC is also pleased to work with several outstanding consultants including:Sara Hunt, Consultant to NORC Robyn Grant, Consultant to Consumer Voice and NORC Sarah Burger, Consultant to Consumer Voice and NORC
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