Board Chair Chris Babcock was born in Vermont and moved to Greensboro NC to attend Guilford College where he received his Bachelor of Science.  He began his career at a local Bank in 2000 as a teller working his way to managing his own office.  Today Chris is the Branch Manager for Carter Bank & Trust a Community Bank located in Greensboro.  Chris volunteers as an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce and avid member of the GMA where he works to promote and support local businesses.  Chris is also passionate about Animal Rescue volunteering for the SPCA and other local rescue groups.  In his free time Chris love to Fly Fish, travel, and spend time with his two dogs, Miles and Kai.

Network Chair Michael Hill – With over 30 years of dedicated military service, Michael has demonstrated unparalleled leadership and commitment to excellence. After retiring from a distinguished career in the armed forces, Michael leveraged his experiences  earning an MBA, a Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM), and a Master of Science in Human Resource Development (MSHRD), further honing his skills in management, strategy, and organizational development. Currently,Michael serves as the Director of Marketing and Development at The Servant Center, where he is deeply committed to supporting his fellow veterans experiencing homelessness. In this role, he utilizes his extensive background in strategic planning and organizational growth to enhance the center’s outreach and effectiveness, ensuring that veterans receive the vital services and support they need. Balancing a demanding career with a fulfilling family life, Michael is a proud husband and devoted parent of two children and five grandchildren. His multifaceted life journey reflects a rich blend of professional expertise and personal dedication, embodying a commitment to both service and family.

Born in Connecticut, Secretary Karen Mangan Atkison moved to Burlington, NC from Seattle, WA in October of 1999. She went to Saint Bonaventure University in Olean, NY and Update Medical Center in Syracuse, NY before getting her first job in Rochester, NY in 1978. Karen worked as an allied health care professional and educator in the cancer diagnostics field for over 40 years and is recently retired. She obtained a Master’s in Public Administration with a Health Care Emphasis degree while working as a chief technologist and associate professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center CytoPathology Laboratory in Rochester NY.  After 20 years, she went to work for a medical diagnostic company as the Director of Education and Training in the Women’s Health and Cancer division. Inspired by her passion for lifelong learning, she spent the second half of her career honing skills in adult learning theories, instruction design, course development and eLearning. She still strives to inspire and motivate others through education which is one of the reasons CAN-NC is such a wonderful fit.  “I look forward to working with and meeting many of you as CAN-NC continues to grow and bring its mission to life in our community,” she says

Born in Los Angeles, CA, Treasurer Myron D. White, PhD is a 30-year Corporate Executive who moved to Greensboro, NC in 2011 and after completing his PhD at North Carolina A&T State University, has resided in High Point, NC for the past 11 years and works as a 7th and 8th Grade Math Teacher at The Point College Preparatory and Leadership Academy (CPLA). Prior to this, he worked as an Insurance Agent for Woodmen Life as well as in the pharmaceutical industry,  technology and social media, and in oncology research.  He has worked in the financial services industry for 13 years and also teaches Executive MBA students at Queens University every Fall. He received his BS in Industrial Management from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management with a minor in Computer Science and Finance, an MBA from Harvard Business School in General Management with a concentration in Operations and Finance, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from North Carolina A&T State University. He is married with 2 adult daughters in Ohio, one with a Masters’ Degree from the University of Cincinnati and one in Medical School at the University of Toledo Medical School.

Margaret Brown – Margaret Brown brings a wealth of experience and compassion to Aging Care Matters. With a Master’s degree in Gerontology and over 20 years of professional experience in senior care, clinical research, and community support, Margaret is dedicated to improving the lives of older adults and their families. Her career spans roles in care management, clinical research coordination, and senior care advisory services, where she has demonstrated expertise in client assessments, cognitive and physical evaluations, and developing customized care solutions. Margaret is skilled at building strong community relationships, empowering families, and navigating the complexities of aging care with integrity and compassion.

 Julie Burke – Born in 1956 and raised in New Jersey, Julie began dancing at age 6 and joined a children’s dance troupe featured on a local CBS show. By age 10, she was choreographing performances based on children’s stories. At 17, she toured the U.S. and danced briefly with the Rocky Mountain Dance Co. in Colorado. After marrying and having children, Julie attended Pittsfield Community College and Smith College, earning a degree in Education and a Massachusetts teaching license. She taught in Alabama before moving to Eastern North Carolina in 1985, working in schools across Raleigh, Morehead City, and Smyrna. A family move to Kyoto, Japan allowed her to study Traditional Dance and Ikebana. On returning, she founded the Tiller School, a K–5 arts-based nonprofit. After leaving the school in 1995, Julie earned her MA and PhD from NCSU and taught at Guilford College, where she specialized in education, philosophy, and history, and supervised teaching interns. She retired in 2022, still seeing art and dance as her best modes of communication.

As a Senior Project Manager and Senior Living Sector Leader, Principal Brian Carroll, AIA is involved in all aspects of design and management on each of his projects. From master planning, programming, and pre-design/feasibility studies through construction documents and construction administration, his experience on a broad range of project types enables him to lend a fresh perspective to each new project. His strong desire to positively impact the community and built environment is evidenced by involvement in project types including senior living, primary, secondary and higher education, medical, municipal, and religious facilities. He also has extensive experience in complex phased renovations and additions to occupied buildings, and has managed some of the firm’s largest senior living projects. Brian joined AIA in 1997, and has served the Greensboro area for over 25 years.

Molly Ciaccio is an associate attorney with Wyatt Early Harris Wheeler, LLP in High Point. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Social Work from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and received a Juris Doctor degree from Elon University School of Law. Molly was admitted to the Bar in 2023 and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association (Estates and Elder Law Sections).

Elise Eifert – Elise Eifert, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Graduate Gerontology Program Coordinator, has a MS in Health Promotion with a minor in Human Sexuality from Indiana University at Bloomington and a BS in Health Education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Dr. Eifert served as an Alzheimer’s disease and dementia educator in Fort Myers, Florida for five years before returning to school to pursue her doctorate. She graduated in 2014 from UNCG with a Ph.D. in Public Health Education and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontology. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist. While in school, she was given life-changing advice – take any health education position to earn some experience. This proved pivotal as her original dream to work in the sexual health field and “become the next Dr. Ruth” transformed once she began working as an Alzheimer’s disease and dementia educator in Florida. “I had the responsibility of educating and informing the general public, professionals, family caregivers, and numerous others about Alzheimer’s disease. I loved the job and considered it an honor to be given the opportunity to educate and support the many people who sacrifice their own lives to care for others. Despite the many joys, I often saw people struggle as well. Their heartbreak was very familiar to me. I knew their pain and feelings of helplessness because of my own family’s experiences with Alzheimer’s disease- my great grandfather and both of my grandmothers had dementia. I not only saw the effect of the disease on the person but the impact it had on the family as they struggled to support their loved one.” Ultimately, Dr. Eifert wants to pursue a career in academia where she can perform and disseminate research that improves the family caregiving experience and inspires students to pursue careers in Gerontology.

Monique Johnson is a unique and powerful motivational speaker and artist. Her uplifting story has given her the platform and opportunity to reach thousands of individuals nationally and internationally. Monique’s story has been covered by all forms of media. She has even been featured nationally on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. Why? Monique only stands 24″ tall due to a genetic anomaly. She was born with Diastrophic Dysplasia Dwarfism – one of the rarest forms. With a life full of obstacles, challenges, and uncertainty, Monique could have undoubtedly been jaded by her disability. Instead, she chose from a young age to live an amazing life. Now 36, with a business degree and a law degree, Johnson is a successful entrepreneur and artist who touches lives around the world with her incredible tale of perseverance and her gifts of humor, painting and motivational speaking.

Valerie Sakhet McConnell, MPH owner of NuAri Solutions, is a dedicated public health educator with expertise in fine-tuning financial operations and implementing operational improvements. She has a MPH and an Ethic Rural and Health Disparities Certificate from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC and a BS BM from University of Maryland Global Campus. For more than twenty years, Valerie has worked with spiritual and community-based organizations in the Washington, DC, Bermuda, and North Carolina areas. For several years, she has consulted with a natural foods co-op in Washington DC, helping them obtain sponsor funding and evolving their Annual Health and Wellness Workshops. Her focus is on connecting non-profits and community-based organizations to implement, evaluate, and disseminate evidence-based preventive health programs which develop solutions and management strategies to eliminate health disparities. Valerie is a member of the Society for Public Health Education and served on the North Carolina Public Health Association, BIPOC Committee and the Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Patient & Family Advisory Committee. She has provided numerous healthy eating/healthy living presentations throughout North Carolina, Virginia, DC, and Maryland. “My studies in healthy living are based on over twenty years of study, teaching, life experience, and application.”

As a philanthropy officer with Cone Health, Will Powell directly supports Heart & Vascular care. He is a proud Demon Deacon and graduate of Wake Forest in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and minor in psychology. He received his master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Georgia in 2010. Will is excited about his work in healthcare philanthropy after a 12-year career at Elon University. He believes in helping others and is drawn to heart and vascular care specifically after his own family experiences with the exceptional care his grandfather received at Cone Health after his heart attack.When not fundraising, Will loves doing all things Wake Forest sporting (Go Deacs!) and catching Carolina Panthers home games (Keep Pounding!) with his wife Erika and daughter Grace. And we can’t forget, he enjoys family time at home with their dog Kona too.

Burgin Ross is a former Peace Corps Volunteer, serving in Africa 1974-1976 following graduation from UNCG. A Registered Dietitian/Licensed Nutritionist since 1977, her early work was in a variety of hospital settings. She started a private practice in 1990 with a focus on Long Term Care settings. She consulted for 13 different facilities, including CCRC’s and nursing homes as well as 3 different Hospice organizations in Triad. She also volunteered with two AIDS service agencies during that time. In 2008, Burgin added adjunct teaching in Nutrition at UNCG to her private practice, taking a full-time position in 2010 and eventually discontinuing her private practice. She retired in 2021 as an Associate Professor. Her specialty was food science/food chemistry in addition to general nutrition classes. “I thoroughly loved teaching.”

Nancy Lenk has over 20 years of senior management experience with non-profit organizations. She possesses excellent interpersonal skills in successfully building relationships, interfacing with diverse groups, committees and boards of directors. Nancy graduated with a BSW from UNCG in 1978.  She lived in Atlanta, Georgia for 30 years before returning to Greensboro in 2010. In addition to her volunteer work with CAN-NC, she is on the Steering Committee for the Glenwood Time Exchange and is active in her neighborhood association.

Born in Wilmington, DE Douglas J. Gentry, MBA has 30 plus years of experience both with corporations and non-profit agencies. He started as a General Accounting Supervisor for ICI Americas.  He then went into non-profit as Accounting Director with Delaware Hospice, Finance Director for Partners for Kids and Families, and the United Way of Delaware.  Doug moved to Greensboro, NC in 2004 and was Finance Director for Senior Resources of Guilford, Assistant to Accounting Director at Snider Tire and then spent the last 4 years with the National Board of Certified Counselors as the Finance Director. Doug took a brief retirement period and is currently employed as Accounting Director at Alamance Partnership for Children.  He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, at Goldey Beacom College, Wilmington, DE and master’s in business administration at Wilmington University, Wilmington, DE.

Christina Peoples is a native of North Carolina. Her passion is working with older adults and her desire is to educate people about the world of Gerontology. She holds a Master of Science degree in Gerontology with a concentration in aging and business, which was obtained from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. However, Christina credits her foundation in the field of Gerontology to the Historically Black College/University, Winston-Salem State University. Christina is also a blogger for Gero-what?!, which is purposed to dispel/eliminate the many myths and stereotypes that are directed towards aging, to provide resources, and to exemplify that life doesn’t end just because we turn another year older. Christina currently works as an Ombudsman at the Piedmont Triad Regional Council Area Agency on Aging.

 Ray Silva is a well-known artist in the area who is an enrolled member of the Laguna-Pueblo Tribe from New Mexico. He is a traditional Pow Wow Dancer & Singer, a traditional flute player and a traditional visual artist (leather work such as concho belts, dream catchers, mandalas, and medicine wheels). Ray has lived in Greensboro for more than 20 years with his wife and fellow artist, Brenda.