About Us

Meet the SeniorNavigator Staff

Katie Roeper, Executive Director

Katie joined the SeniorNavigator team in July 2003 with a background in marketing and public relations having previously owned and managed a full-service marketing firm which centered on non-profits and public-service agencies. Her creative direction produced award-winning campaigns and publications and she has been honored for her in-kind contributions to the non-profit sector. Additionally, she served as the Marketing Chair and Website Co-Chair on the Board of Directors of The Virginia Foundation for Women; a member of the Marketing Advisory Committee for the Richmond Hospital Hospitality House; and has facilitated local, regional, and national workshops on membership recruitment and retention and marketing non-profits. As Executive Director, Katie works in partnership with the public, non-profit, and private sectors and is responsible for marketing, development, and operational management of SeniorNavigator. Katie holds a B.A. in Communications from Syracuse University.

Gigi Amateau, Special Projects

Gigi brings fifteen years of non-profit, program management to SeniorNavigator. Now a consultant for SeniorNavigator, she previously served as Director of Product Development during the design, development, and start-up of SeniorNavigator. Before joining SeniorNavigator, she was Assistant Vice-President of Community Resources at United Way Services where she managed the information and referral center and volunteer center. In addition, while at United Way, Gigi managed the start-up phase of Homeward: Richmond’s Regional Response to Homelessness. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Urban Studies and Planning program.

Bonnie Ballance, Community Specialist

Bonnie has over 20 years of experience in sales, training, and relationship development. Before joining SeniorNavigator, Bonnie had a proven record of success in marketing communications. Previously, as an independent business owner, she designed and implemented comprehensive incentive programs and facilitated training programs focused on career development and team-building. She graduated from Longwood College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and received her Elementary Education Teaching Certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Katie Benghauser, Director of Community Outreach and Training

Katie began working for SeniorNavigator while the site was still in development. As the Director of Community Outreach and Training, she oversees a statewide outreach to seniors and caregivers and has developed an effective training program for professionals in the aging network. From big cities to small rural communities, Katie travels the roads of Virginia to develop relationships on the grass roots level. Prior to joining SeniorNavigator, Katie spent 23 years in the financial services industry before returning to school to earn her Masters in Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jan Cox, Office Manager

Jan joined the SeniorNavigator team in August of 2005 and brings 30 years of administrative and management experience with her. She is responsible for employee benefits, oversees accounting processes, and provides administrative support to the rest of the staff. To further enhance her professional skills, Jan completed numerous accounting and computer courses at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Thomas Nelson Community College.

Brenda Goodman, Program Manager

With over 16 years working in the area of developing affordable housing for seniors and others needing supportive services, Brenda brings a wealth of experience in program management, relationship-building and group facilitation. In addition to receiving her Masters in Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BS in Political Science from Mary Washington College, she is also a certified mediator. At Senior Navigator, Brenda oversees the Community-based Coordinated Services System which will allow service providers for seniors, their care partners and adults with disabilities to share client and resource information electronically. This pilot program will be led at the community level by the local Area Agency on Aging in nine communities throughout the state between 2005 and 2008.

Adrienne Johnson, Content Manager

Adrienne brings a strong gerontology and customer service skill-set to SeniorNavigator. She received her Masters of Gerontology with a concentration in Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2002 and holds a BS in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. Adrienne is a licensed nursing home administrator in Virginia and has worked in various aging related positions throughout her career. Adrienne is responsible for developing content based on consumer needs and current issues and trends in aging.

Maggie Menard, Data Specialist

Maggie joined SeniorNavigator five years ago prior to launch as one of SeniorNavigator’s first full-time employees. Maggie’s history with SeniorNavigator provides a valuable perspective in understanding the evolution of the database. Maggie is responsible for updating information both on-line and by phone and assists in educating providers how to input changes regularly. In addition, Maggie has served as bookkeeper and has overseen leave and benefits for the past two years. She attended the University of Mississippi and has completed several business and computer courses designed for non-profit agencies.

Adelena Sam-Peal, Data Specialist

Adelena originally joined the SeniorNavigator team in 2001 as a part-time employee to support the data team. As a data entry specialist, she moved to full-time in January 2004. Adelena provides support for the team through research and verification of licensing as well as keeping the database current. She attended Monrovia College and has since completed several business and computer courses to enchance her professional skills.

Kim Tarantino, Director of Communications and Local Government Partnerships

Kim joined the SeniorNavigator team in September of 2003 following an internship with the American Lung Association of Virginia in which she assisted in developing marketing campaigns, media pieces, and publications. As Director of Communications, she serves as the liason for the Local Government Partnership Program, produces E-QUICKTIPS and other written communication pieces, coordinates special events and assists in developing and executing new marketing materials to promote SeniorNavigator across the state of Virginia. Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts at Mary Baldwin College where she was a member of both the National Communication Honor Society and the National Academic Honor Society.

Erika Yssel, Director of Product Development

Erika worked on the initial site development as a contractor and joined the team full-time in June 2001, four months after launch, with sixteen years experience as an Information Systems professional. In her original position of Web Administrator for SeniorNavigator, she provided the back-end systems support for changes on the website, oversaw the technology contracts for server support, and was responsible for managing all web development. Currently, in her role as Director of Product Development, Erika oversees projects related to the development of new features and interactive tools on SeniorNavigator, and manages- the operation and functionality of the website. Erika’s background includes: web development and website administration, system development and support on various platforms, network administration, and end-user support including application training.

Meet the Regional Community Specialists

Charlottesville Area, Susan Seidler (susan@seniornavigator.org)

Hampton Roads Area, Barbara Rodriguez (barbara@seniornavigator.org)

Northern Virginia Area, Judy Crooks (judy@seniornavigator.org)

Roanoke Valley-New River Valley, Katie Zawacki (kzawacki@seniornavigator.org)

Shenandoah Area, Keith Gnagey (keith@seniornavigator.org)

Southside Virginia, Faye Horton (faye@seniornavigator.org)

Southwest Virginia, R. Allen Slagle (allen@seniornavigator.org)

Meet the SeniorNavigator Board

Robert B. Blancato

Mr. Blancato has been the President of Matz, Blancato & Associates, Inc, a firm integrating public relations, government affairs and advocacy services, since 1996. He served as the Executive Director of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, appointed by President Clinton and is the former Staff Director of the House Select Committee on Aging’s Subcommittee on Human Services and Senior Advisor. Mr. Blancato serves as the Chairman of the National Silver Haired Congress Advisory Council, is the Special Advisor to the Board of Generations United and is the President of the National Committee to Prevent Elder Abuse. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Society on Aging and the Greater Washington Urban League. Mr. Blancato is a previous member of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. World Assembly on Aging in 1982 in Vienna.

In December 2000, he launched CaregiversCount.com, an online resource for up-to-date, non-partisan information on legislation and activities impacting caregivers and their families. Additionally, in 1998, Mr. Blancato founded the Boomer Agenda, the first bi-partisan political action committee for baby boomers.

The American Society on Aging (ASA), the nation’s largest association of professionals in the field of aging with 8,500 members, awarded Blancato with the ASA Award in February, 1999 for outstanding contributions to the field of aging.

Sandra D. Bowen

Sandra Bowen most recently served as Secretary of Administration in the Cabinet of Mark R. Warner, former Governor of Virginia where she oversaw general government operations to ensure efficient and effective management of the people's resources. In this position, she was responsible for ten state agencies within the Secretariat that include human resources, procurement, capital outlay, property management, and elections, among others.

Before joining the Warner administration, Ms. Bowen served for 12 years as senior vice president of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. During the 1980's, she served as Special Assistant to Governor Charles S. Robb and as Secretary of the Commonwealth during the administration of Governor Gerald L. Baliles. She was the Director of Gubernatorial Transition between the Robb and Baliles administrations. She also has been a public school teacher and guidance counselor.

Ms. Bowen is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and received a master's degree in political science from the University of Richmond. Over the years, she has served and held leadership positions with a variety of civic, educational, and religious organizations at the state and local levels.

Richard L. Grier

Mr. Grier is currently a director in the law firm Thompson & McMullan, P.C., and was formerly a partner with the law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP. He serves on the board and as Secretary of the Richmond Memorial Foundation and he serves on the Board of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. He is past Chairman of the Health Law section of the Virginia Bar Association and his professional affiliations include the Richmond and American Bar Associations. Mr. Grier is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina Law School.

David H. Hallock, Jr.

David Hallock is Vice President and Counsel in the Richmond office of Kemper Consulting. He specializes in representing clients before state and local governments, including legislative lobbying work with the Virginia General Assembly and Executive Branch in the areas of health care, transportation, finance, natural resources, economic development, technology and public safety.

Previously, Mr. Hallock served in the office of Governor Mark R. Warner as Deputy Director of Policy and Deputy Counselor. Additionally, he served as an attorney in the Government Group of Williams Mullen where his legal practice included all aspects of government law, from administrative/regulatory to legislative practice before state and local government. He also worked for the Virginia General Assembly and for the Albemarle County Attorney's Office.

As an active member of the community, Mr. Hallock serves on the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, Board of Directors of the Richmond Forum, and the Board of Directors of the National Kidney Foundation of the Virginias.

Mr. Hallock received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia.

Bradford S. Hammer

Recently retired with twenty years of local government experience in Chesterfield County, Brad Hammer served as Deputy County Administrator for Human Services. In this position, he oversaw 13 departments which included social services, health, and community mental health. Within this capacity, he served on many non-profit community boards, including the Area Agency on Aging, the Health Planning Agency, and the Chesterfield County Health Center Commission. Prior to serving in this position, Mr. Hammer was Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Management Services and directly supervised the departments of budget and accounting, general services, purchasing, and internal audit, in addition to others.

Prior to working with Chesterfield County, he served local governments in Alexandria, Newport News, Williamsburg, and Fairfax in various capacities as Deputy City Manager, Administrator/Chief Budget Officer, Executive Director, and Budget Analyst-Federal State Coordinator. Additionally, he served in the Governor’s Office in Charleston, West Virginia.

A graduate of West Virginia University, Mr. Hammer received an undergraduate degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration. Throughout the years, he has served in leadership roles on various community boards within the Commonwealth

Clarion E. Johnson, M.D.

Dr. Johnson is currently the Global Medical Director of the Medicine and Occupational Health-Department for Exxon Mobil Corporation. The department delivers services to over 110,000 Exxon Mobil and affiliate employees worldwide. In addition to traditional work-related health services, this department delivers travel medicine to the many Exxon Mobil employees who are engaged in exploration and production in a number of challenging environments in Africa, the CIS, China, and S.E. Asia. The department includes industrial hygiene, drug testing and health promotion services and publishes a nationally recognized newsletter on topical issues of wellness.

Dr. Johnson is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology and occupational medicine. He completed his undergraduate work at Sarah Lawrence College where he was student body president. He studied medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to a cardiology fellowship, Dr. Johnson did a military/basic science fellowship at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research followed by two years as a postdoctoral student in the field of microwave research. He has published a variety of articles in various fields.

He is a member of the Urban League's advisory board BEEP (Black Executive Exchange Program). He is past chairman of the Virginia Health Care Foundation and he is a member of the Millbank Memorial Fund.

Richard W. Lindsay, M.D.

Dr. Richard W. Lindsay is Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine and Family Practice at the University of Virginia and former Head of Geriatric Medicine at the University. Dr. Lindsay’s first faculty responsibility was to develop the Department of Family Medicine. As Acting Chairman, he was selected as one of the first seven Geriatric Medicine Academic Awardees by the National Institute of Aging and developed the geriatric curriculum, fellowship training program and continuing education program in geriatrics.

He served as the President of the American Geriatrics Society, and then Chairman of its Board of Directors. He served as a member of the former Governor’s Advisory Board on Aging for the Commonwealth Virginia under 5 Governors and as its Chairman, under Governor Allen.

A recipient of numerous honors and teaching awards, Dr. Lindsay continues to be involved in the teaching of geriatrics to medical students and residents. He is also a sought after speaker and expert on aging issues at the National level. He has testified before the United States Senate on aging issues and the problems of shortages of providers.

Dr. Lindsay recently participated in a national TV course on Caregiving and the responsibilities of the caregivers. This is currently available on Public TV. He is also co-hosting a TV series from Harrisonburg on the WVPT on Aging.

He serves as a member of the Steering Committee of the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging’s (JABA) 2020 campaign and also served as a member of the Health subcommittee and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of JABA.

James G. Nuckolls, M.D., FACP

Dr. James G. Nuckolls is Medical Director of the Carilion Medical Group in Roanoke, Virginia, and is a practicing internist in Galax, Virginia. Also, he is Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Dr. Nuckolls received his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center, where he subsequently served as chief resident. Dr. Nuckolls completed a fellowship in biomedical ethics at the University of Virginia and served as a USPHS Lieutenant Commander at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Nuckolls served as chairman of the National Advisory Committee to Expand Care for Under Served Americans (Reachout) at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Healthcare Foundation and SeniorNavigator.org. A fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM), he has served as national president of ASIM and was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the American Academy of Sciences.

Deborah D. Oswalt

Since graduation from Rutgers University School of Law in 1979, Debbie Oswalt has worked on issues related to health and human resources. Her Richmond work began at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, where she worked as a staff attorney for four years. She then served as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources in the Cabinets of Governors Baliles and Wilder. For seven years she worked closely with state agencies that regulate, deliver and monitor health services, including the Departments of Health, Health Professions, Medical Assistance Services (Medicaid), and Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; as well as the Health Services Cost Review Council.

In 1992, she became the founding Director of the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF). Created as a public-private partnership by the Virginia General Assembly and its Joint Commission on Health Care, VHCF’s mission is to increase access to primary and preventive health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. Under Ms. Oswalt’s leadership, VHCF has funded 172 projects providing health services to 476,000 medically underserved and uninsured Virginians.

Nicholas Perrins

Mr. Perrins is the President of MRW Enterprises, the investment company that manages the assets of Governor Mark R. Warner of Virginia. He has been with MRW Enterprises for over twelve years. In addition to his business activities, Mr. Perrins chairs the Board of Directors for TechRiders, a community-based technology training program, and is on the board of the Virginia High Tech Partnership, an internship program for students of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

James C. Roberts, Chair

Jim Roberts is one of Troutman Sanders’, LLP senior litigators, with more than 43 years experience in trial and appellate practice Mr. Roberts has developed and maintained a reputation as one of Virginia's most skilled trial attorneys, often called upon by other lawyers, within the state and elsewhere, to assist with major trials and appeals. His trial experience includes handling significant civil and criminal cases in every field of law. He possesses extensive experience in the state and federal courts in Virginia and has substantial appellate experience before the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

A Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Roberts is also active in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Bar Foundation, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. A former president of the Virginia State Bar, he is listed in the Best Lawyers in America under the categories of business litigation, corporate law, criminal defense, and personal injury litigation. In a recent Virginia survey of his peers, Mr. Roberts was voted Virginia's best litigation attorney. Mr. Roberts is active on the Boards of numerous community and professional organizations.

He received an LL.B. from the University of Richmond in 1957 and a B.A. from Hampden Sydney College.

Karla M. Sorensen

For the past 22 years, Karla Sorensen has served as Vice-President of both Alban Development Corporation and Sorensen Construction Corporation in Woodbridge, Virginia. The companies are residential land developers, homebuilders, and residential marketing specialists. Certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Ms. Sorensen has served on numerous community, medical, and educational boards including the Virginia Health Care Foundation, the Virginia Hospital Centers, the Board of Visitors of Marymount University; Visiting Nurse Home Care, Inc., the Arlington Health Ventures Group, Inc.; and the University of Virginia, School of Nursing Advisory Board.

Ms. Sorensen is a graduate of Marymount University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

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