2025 Conference Speaker Bios

David Ball
President & Founder, Ball Consulting Group
David A. Ball is President and Founder of Ball Consulting Group, LLC, an award-winning, full-service strategic communications and public relations firm he established in 2004 that specializes in health care, nonprofits, aging services, and housing. Ball Consulting Group assists clients in developing and articulating their message; building awareness and public support through media and external relations; preparing for and managing crises; and launching new products, services, causes, and ideas. Mr. Ball is an advisor and counselor on sensitive and complex matters to Chief Executive Officers across New England and the nation. He is considered a leading crisis communicator and has been quoted on the subject in Forbes, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and many other publications. Before launching Ball Consulting Group, Mr. Ball was Vice President for Communications at the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association. Prior to joining the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Mr. Ball was Group Manager for a Boston-based public relations firm. He oversaw the Public Affairs and Crisis Communications Group and created a health care practice for the firm. Mr. Ball previously had served for four years as Director of Communications for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Prior to that, Mr. Ball was Director of External Affairs for MassHealth, the state Medicaid agency. Earlier, he was Director of the MassHealth Prior Approval Unit, a health care utilization review program. Mr. Ball holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a Master of Science in Public Affairs from the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and has completed the Senior Executive Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a frequent contributor to varied publications including Drug Topics, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, and O’Dwyer’s Public Relations magazine. From 2021 to 2022, he served a term as the President of Public Relations Boutiques International, a global association of 40 independently owned and founder-led boutique public relations firms. He now serves on the organization’s board of directors.

Katie Beaver
Vice President, Business Development, Creating Results
Katie is no stranger to helping clients across various industries meet their goals. As Vice President of Business Solutions, she provides our senior living and 55-plus prospects and clients with strategic marketing insights to help them meet their goals and keeps a keen eye on all projects to ensure all tactics are optimized for maximum impact. She impresses her team members with her ability to understand audiences’ business needs and challenges and to stay ahead of, and leverage, traditional and digital media trends for lead generation and prospect nurturing, expertise she honed over a decade delighting some of the most prominent Fortune 500 players before joining Creating Results.

Steven Brustein
Director of Growth and Retention, Glendale Dining Services
Steven Brustein recently transitioned into Growth and Retention after successful years of operations management. Innovative and with in-depth experience revitalizing programs to improve guest relations, operational efficiency, and profitability, Steve is known as employee centric. “I believe that hospitality providers, in front AND back of the house, are the foundation of great experiences. When we take time to develop them fully, they deliver exceptional results that meet the needs of our residents and guests as well as our partners.” Steve has worked in restaurants and catering, colleges and universities, and long-term care residential settings. Enthused by meaningful work, Steve is excited to be a part of the team bringing the value and experience of Glendale Dining Services to the Whitson’s family and a growing market.

Marguerite D’Angelo
Regional Manager, CSI Support and Development
Marguerite D’Angelo has worked in the affordable housing industry since 1988. All of those years are with CSI Support and Development Services, currently as a regional manager. CSI’s unique management approach, which heavily involves resident members in managing the property and steering the entire organization, appealed to Marguerite. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Suffolk University and is currently on the Board of Trustees of LeadingAge Massachusetts.

Kim Gaskell
Vice President, Operations, The RiverWoods Group
Kim Gaskell, Vice President of Operations for The RiverWoods Group, has been working in the senior living industry since 2018. Kim initially joined RiverWoods as the Executive Director for their newest community in Durham, New Hampshire. Under her leadership, the community achieved record-breaking occupancy success, achieving ninety-five percent stabilized occupancy in just under four months. In her current role as Vice President of Operations, Kim oversees the operations for all three RiverWoods communities in Exeter, Manchester, and Durham, which encompasses one thousand one hundred residents and just under one thousand employees. Kim holds her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. During her time there, Kim served on their inaugural Student Advisory Board and was selected as the student commencement speaker. In her current role, she plays a pivotal role in creating standards and consistency across the system, leading expansion projects at each community, and ensuring operational excellence for the system. Kim is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and a certified Working Genius facilitator. She has served on the Board of Directors for LeadingAge Maine and New Hampshire and is an international speaker at many industry conferences, most notably focusing on the future of the multi-generational workforce. She most recently spoke at the Global Aging Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Kim was selected to receive the LeadingAge National Leadership Award for 2025.

Avery Lamphere
Director of Marketing Strategy, Creating Results
Leading the marketing planning process and overall strategy, Avery works hand-in-hand with team members to achieve client objectives. In this role, Avery also offers strategic insights and recommendations, accompanied by comprehensive reporting, to ensure all plans yield optimal outcomes. His technology expertise and fresh ideas keep the team and clients current with marketing trends. He joined the team in mid-2021 and has been creating results for clients ever since. Avery resides in Boston, Massachusetts where he enjoys cooking food for friends, being in the great outdoors and listening to his record player. A travel enthusiast, one of his life goals is to travel to all seven continents.

Jill Brenner Meixel
Partner, Krokidas & Bluestein LLP
In her employment law practice, she represents employers and employees in actions involving discrimination and retaliation, wage and hour disputes and contract matters. She also advises employers on compliance and transactional matters and guides clients on the complex array of state and federal employment laws. In addition, she counsels employers on matters that routinely arise during the life cycle of employment, such as offer letters, employment contracts, implementation and compliance with internal policies and procedures, employee disabilities and accommodations, leaves of absence, employee discipline and performance improvement, protection against sexual harassment in the workplace and negotiations of separations and terminations. Jill also has a comprehensive litigation practice. She litigates cases in state and federal court and regularly appears before administrative agencies, local boards, and in mediation and arbitration. Her practice includes experience in employment, contract, zoning, and general litigation matters.

Mark Oswanski
Vice President, Hampden Park Capital & Consulting
Mark Oswanski has worked in the affordable housing industry since 2010. Prior to his time with Hampden Park Capital & Consulting, Mark worked as a Senior Development Advisor with National Affordable Housing Trust, a non-profit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit syndicator and affordable housing development consultant. He also worked as an Associate at Lancaster Pollard, an investment and mortgage banking company based in Columbus, Ohio, and at various full-service architecture firms around Central Ohio. Mark is a Multifamily Accelerated Processing and LEAN approved Underwriter. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Master’s degrees in Architecture and Business Administration from The Ohio State University, and he is a licensed architect in the State of Ohio and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Rachael Percoco
Director of Outpatient Services, Preferred Therapy Solutions
Rachael has extensive experience and a deep passion for healthcare, which has established her as a prominent figure in healthcare conferences. She has contributed to the development of curriculum models at Northeastern University and the American Physical Therapy Association. Her expertise in addressing complex topics has garnered a strong following among peers throughout the Northeast, including various state associations, physician groups, medical teams, and community forums. Since joining Preferred Therapy Solutions in 2015, Rachael has served as the Director of Outpatient Services. She is a Physical Therapist with a Master of Physical Therapy from Northeastern University and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Simmons College. Rachael is also among a select group of physical therapists clinically certified in pelvic floor therapy. In addition to her clinical work, she owns a holistic physical therapy practice and holds certifications in yoga and Tai Chi. Rachael is dedicated to providing everyone with the educational resources and tools they need to achieve their optimal health goals.

Matt Reiners
Chief Growth Officer, Parasol Alliance
Matt Reiners is a serial entrepreneur who has helped start two companies since 2012, both of which have led to successful acquisitions. Matt currently serves as Chief Growth Officer for Parasol Alliance, helping to change the technology culture within senior living. Matt is a Forbes 30 Under 30 winner, Argentum Senior Living Leader Under 40, Small Business Administration’s Co-Young Entrepreneur of the Year for New England, Future Leader by Senior Housing News, Business Affiliate of the National Association of Activity Professionals, Podcast Host, Husband, and Girl Dad.

Michaela Scott
Strategic Benefits Consultant, Borislow Insurance
As a Strategic Benefits Consultant with Borislow Insurance, Michaela Scott helps organizations optimize their employee benefits programs. Her area of expertise is the financial portion of the benefits program and her firm, Strategic Retirement Benefits Group, serves as the Retirement Plan advisor and financial benefits consultant to a diverse range of clients including a focus on non-profit groups and human service agencies. She serves on advisory boards for major recordkeepers and asset managers, has been a delegate with the American Retirement Association, and earned recognition as a Top Plan Advisor Under 40 and Top Defined Contribution Advisory Team by the National Association of Plan Advisors. Michaela holds a Master of Science in Financial Services with a concentration in Retirement Planning from the American College of Financial Services, where she was Advisory Committee President and received the NextGen of the Year award. She is a Certified Financial Planner, Accredited Investment Fiduciary, Retirement Income Certified Professional, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Certified Health Savings Advisor. She also holds the Certified 401(k) Professional designation and has served as an adjunct professor at The Plan Sponsor University. Michaela is a member of Osaic’s Employer Sponsored Advisory Council, a select group of thirty advisors shaping best practices in retirement plan services. She earned an honors Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Saint Anselm College, where she was Alumni Association President and Advisory Council Co-Chair for Business and Economics.

Brenna Schneider
Chief Innovation and Business Development Officer, Ascentria
Brenna Schneider joined Ascentria in December of 2024 as the Chief Innovation and Business Development Officer, where she leads the charge in developing innovative solutions and pioneering new business and funding models to tackle systemic social challenges. A social entrepreneur, Brenna is passionate about creating lasting change through inclusive innovation. She brings more than a decade of experience in launching, scaling, and transforming mission-driven organizations.
Before joining Ascentria, Brenna founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of 99Degrees, a United States manufacturing social enterprise based in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Under her leadership, 99Degrees grew to employ a team of over 400, producing apparel and wearable technologies for some of the world’s leading brands. 99Degrees’ innovative approach to employer-led economic mobility was recognized with top prizes by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Inclusive Innovation Competition and business accelerators including MassChallenge. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and the Boston Globe, and she has appeared on National Public Radio and MSNBC. The Boston Globe named her a Game Changer in 2017 and a Tech Power Player in 2022.
Brenna holds a Master of Business Administration in Social Impact Management from Brandeis University’s Heller School and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Economics from Washington College. When not at work, she loves to spend time with her family hiking in the White Mountains, volunteering, working on creative projects, and digging in the dirt.

Derenda Schubert
Author, Executive Director, Bridge Meadows
Dr. Derenda Schubert is a psychologist with professional experience, including counseling children and families as well as creating, managing, and evaluating programs in the realms of foster care, mental health, and developmental disabilities. She has held several executive leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Associate Director of Training at two of Oregon’s largest child and family mental health agencies. She is also a former Board Member of Bridge Meadows. Dr. Schubert is an intergenerational champion, leading the team that created Bridge Meadows, advocating nationally for intergenerational solutions to complex social challenges, spearheading strategic planning, and shaping Bridge Meadows’ expansive vision for the future. Dr. Schubert speaks locally and nationally on the topics of children’s mental health, community building, and intergenerational living. She is an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow and an Encore Public Voices Fellow. Every day, she is inspired by the love of her grandmothers and her children.

Ahad Suleymanli
Resident Technology Instructor, Shillman House
Ahad Suleymanli is an experienced technology instructor dedicated to empowering individuals with digital skills. Currently serving as a Resident Technology Instructor at 2Life Communities, he specializes in teaching seniors how to navigate smartphones, computers, and the internet, enhancing their digital independence and security. Ahad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Systems Engineering and a Master of Business Administration. With a strong background in technology education, he has designed and delivered technology literacy curricula for diverse age groups, including children, high school students, and adults. His expertise spans online safety, artificial intelligence education, digital accessibility, data science, data analysis, and management information systems. Previously, he taught computer and information sciences at the university level, managing large classrooms and developing innovative instructional methods. Passionate about bridging the digital divide, Ahad combines patience, adaptability, and hands-on demonstrations to make technology accessible to all. He continues to advocate for inclusive digital education through workshops, training sessions, and community outreach programs.

Elizabeth (Bettina) Toner
Partner, Krokidas & Bluestein LLP
As a member of the firm’s Education and Employment practices, Elizabeth advises Massachusetts public charter schools and other educational entities on a wide range of organizational, policy, and student services matters. She provides guidance and representation to public and private employers on complex employment-related issues including executive compensation, wage and hour, pay equity, leave, and accommodation disputes. She frequently presents and trains on education and employment topics and conducts investigations in complex discrimination and harassment matters.

Anna Verbuk
Director of the Resident Technology Program, 2Life Communities
Anna Verbuk has more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of education, program and project management, and leadership. Currently, Anna is the Director of the Resident Technology Program at 2Life Communities, which is a nonprofit organization that provides housing with services for over 1,880 older adults in Greater Boston. Under Anna’s leadership, the Resident Technology Support Program at 2Life Communities has been transformed from the Computer Center model that focused solely on assisting older adults with Computer Center equipment to one that holistically addresses 2Life older adults’ technical needs; residents have greatly benefited from this transition, and the Program membership has more than doubled. Currently, the Technology Program serves over 900 residents across seven campuses. Anna creates scalable and replicable technology programs and disseminates the results of this work as well as participates in national efforts led by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance to create digital literacy resources that serve a variety of populations. Anna presented her work on bridging the digital divide at national and local conferences, including those organized by LeadingAge and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. The LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies published two white papers by Anna, which are representative of her work at 2Life: “Facilitating Connection: The Power of Equipping Seniors with Devices to Broker Social Engagement” and “Bridging the Digital Divide for Seniors at 2Life.” Anna holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Boston University.

Jack York
Chief Story Teller, TaleGate
Jack York is a pioneer in the field of technology and aging. He co-founded It’s Never 2 Late, a company dedicated to helping older adults realize the full benefits of engagement technology. With a 15-year background in the Silicon Valley, he saw a vast potential in utilizing technology to foster these connections. As a result, in 1999, he started It’s Never 2 Late, which has evolved into a national leader with over 4,000 communities in the United States and Canada utilizing the technology. In 2022, he launched TaleGate, a company that integrates on-site celebrations at senior living communities with the ability to capture life stories. TaleGate is traveling all over the country in a 42-foot trailer, magically changing the perception of senior living and aging. He has a passion for changing the paradigm and the stereotypes for aging, especially stereotypes tied to people living with dementia. His work has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and dozens of senior living publications.