Voices in Leadership | LeadingAge Virginia

In this episode of Voices in Leadership, Bethanie Constant, vice president of Mission Advancement at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, about her journey into gerontology, her current research, and her efforts to combat ageism and ableism. Bethanie discusses her background in fundraising and communications, her passion for supporting older adults, and the power of language in shaping perceptions about age and ability. She highlights her research using Virginia Commonwealth University's ageism toolkit to assess and combat biases within her organization, as well as initiatives to reduce isolation and promote inclusivity. Bethanie also reflects on the importance of leadership support in driving change and how her findings will shape future strategies.

Voices in Leadership is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Gigi Amateau, MS, PhD, and Morgan Alexander, LMSW, MSG, explore how fostering a culture of safety and belonging within organizations can enhance job satisfaction and employee retention. Gigi, an assistant professor and Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care Lab Director for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Gerontology and Virginia Center on Aging, explains the principles of trauma-informed care, emphasizing the need to understand individuals' life histories to create safe spaces and prevent re-traumatization. Morgan, with her expertise in social work and care management, sheds light on person-centered care and the impact of power dynamics in caregiving relationships. Together, they discuss the importance of listening deeply, honoring older adults’ experiences, and cultivating care environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

Voices in Leadership is produced by Association Briefings.

In our Season 3 premiere, Dr. Kristine Theurer, president of JAVA Group Programs, shares how her personal journey of grief inspired her to develop the first standardized peer support interventions for senior living communities. These programs, now implemented in over 2,000 communities, use structured themes and guidelines to create meaningful connections, significantly reducing loneliness and depression among participants. Dr. Theurer highlights research demonstrating increased happiness and decreased health risks for those involved and shares her vision for expanding peer support globally to combat loneliness—not just in senior living but also in schools and caregiver support networks.

In this episode, we hear how three leaders from The Chesapeake are impacting their staff retention efforts, focusing on professional development and why their individual Leadership Academy experiences were so special to each of them. You'll walk away from this episode either wanting to apply for a job, move in or, at the very least, visit their boutique!

In the latest episode, Melissa interviews two Master’s students, Nahshon Carr and Claire Ruble, about their perspectives on ageism, aging and aging services. This episode will not only help you be a better leader but will inspire others to look at this field as a career choice. The theme – “Aging is Beautiful” – enjoy 35 minutes of inspiration!

On this episode of Voices in Leadership, Melissa Andrews is joined by Sonali Shetty, Founder, Kova Digital and Susan Rucker, Managing Partner, LeadSpark Consulting, LLC. Susan and Sonali have had incredible careers spanning accounting, IT, start-up, consulting, teaching and facilitating. They share with Melissa how organizations should position themselves for success and what soft skills we should cultivate early in our careers. You’ll also learn why saying yes in the face of ambiguity can be important – just don’t burn the cookies!

Sometimes, especially in the field of aging services, professional and personal lines blur – and it’s all for the greater good. In this episode, Melissa spends time with Sharon Sullivan, Vice President and Head of Conferences and Brand Experience for LeadingAge national, and Mary Kemper, President & CEO of UMA, with whom she has been friends and colleagues for decades. They share the best career advice they’ve ever received, the types of work culture they thrive in, and the importance of finding your village to make life work.

Wanting to interview them from the start of Voices in Leadership, host Melissa Andrews is finally joined by two powerhouse workforce experts from our field! Brandy Day, Chief Talent Officer at Williamsburg Landing, and Winoka Clements, Senior Director of Human Resources at Vinson Hall Retirement Community, discuss recruitment, retention, DEIB, and the heart they have for what they do. Also, the importance of yoga, wine, and dogs for a fulfilled life.

You will walk away from this episode with strategies you can implement tomorrow to increase your employee retention and new target audiences for recruitment.

Heather Turbyne-Pollard is the CEO at Circle Center Adult Day in Richmond, VA. Melissa Andrews talks to Heather about her call to work in aging services, disrupting ageism, (here Heather’s recent Disrupt HR RVA Ted Style talk) the need for more community based services for older adults and their caregivers and why advocating for adult day at the upcoming General Assembly is so important. And you won’t want to miss Heather’s stories about growing up in a large family – and we mean large!

On the latest episode of Voices in Leadership, Melissa Andrews speaks to Heather Harmon from Platinum Sponsor Henderson, Inc. about her role as a death doula. Heather’s work with the Henderson team supports our members’ growing campuses and the family culture at Henderson supports Heather’s work in the community as she helps families navigate critical conversations about how their loved ones want to spend their last living days and hours.  There are lessons in this episode for all of us including, how to Live Like Chandler.