Agenda

Jacob is a Public Health PhD student at San Diego State University who has worked in research and public service sectors for the last 6 years. He is passionate about community capacity building and understanding how the built environment can be leveraged to improve the quality of our lives.

Melissa is a Community Health Program Specialist with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services. Melissa oversees the County’s Age Friendly initiative and progress of the Aging Roadmap, the County’s regional vision and framework for supporting healthy aging for people of all ages.

Jana is a Transportation Equity and Livable Community Specialist with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services. Jana assists with managing the Age Well San Diego initiative and oversees goals and strategies that relate to transportation and community connections for older adults.

Francisca Franco is the Program Manager for the Rides for Wellness Program. Fran has been with Salt Lake County’s Aging & Adult Services Division for the past 10 years and has worked as the office coordinator and supervisor prior to her new role.

Lance has worked for Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services for just over 2 years. Lance has worked as a full time driver for all Independent Aging Programs and has been recently promoted to our Nutrition / Transportation Supervisor managing all of Independent Ageing's Fleet

Melinda Cudney is the Program Manager for Home Delivered Meals with Salt Lake County, Aging & Adult Services. Melinda has worked for Aging Services over 16 years. Her experience includes senior center management, programming, and senior transportation. Melinda strives to establish efficiency and collaboration with commitment to continuous growth.

Russ Stoddard is the Section Manager for Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services Independent Aging Section. In this role, he oversees the personnel and operations of the Meals on Wheels, Rides for Wellness, and Senior Congregate Meal programs.

Virginia Dize is the Director of Transportation at USAging and Co-Director of the FTA-funded National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). Ms. Dize also directs USAging’s work on the National Transportation Accessibility Center and Inclusive Coordinated Transportation Partnership Project, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

Lori Gerhard is the Director of the Office of Interagency Innovation (OII) for the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL). The Office of Interagency Innovation partners with federal departments and agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Office of the Surgeon General, and the Federal Communications Commission; and national, state and local organizations to foster and develop partnerships that enable older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers to live at home and participate as they choose in their community. Her portfolio of work includes advancing partnerships, implementing and supporting self-direction programs, increasing access to assistive technology, accessible and affordable housing, transportation, other long-term services and supports programs, care transitions out of institutions, and programs that address social isolation and loneliness. Ms. Gerhard has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Planning and Administration from The Pennsylvania State University, she has served in policy and leadership positions in Pennsylvania State Human services agencies and worked in various capacities in senior living programs. She has more than 40 years of experience partnering with individuals and organizations to develop programs, solution, and serve people in need of long-term services and supports and caregivers.

Charles Rutkowski is the Director of Technical Assistance Programs at the Community Transportation Association of America, where he has worked since 1991. He is involved in various programs aimed at enhancing mobility in rural and tribal communities across the United States, with a focus on involving local residents and stakeholders in developing and implementing transit projects. Before joining CTAA, Mr. Rutkowski worked in transportation management and planning roles in New York. He holds a B.A. degree in geography from Syracuse University and is married with a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons.

William Massey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc. in Newport News, Virginia has served in this position since 1984 and has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years. Mr. Massey is responsible for day-to-day operation of a multi-jurisdictional, multi-funded, non-profit Area Agency on

As USAging's Assistant Director of Transportation, Melissa serves as a resource on accessible community transportation addressing the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. She provides program management, communications, and programmatic support to the NADTC leadership team and to internal/external partners.

Kiana Parker is a community member who serves as a consultant for the City of Seattle on a variety of transportation projects. Kiana's areas of focus include transportation equity, accessibility, multimodal integration and preventing the displacement of Black and brown communities.