Leadership Academy
LeadingAge DC, Maryland and Virginia
The LeadingAge DC, Maryland, and Virginia Leadership Academy is a year -long leadership program designed to enhance the leadership skills of nonprofit aging services leaders in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. During the year, Fellows are guided through graduate level curriculum which examines the traits of successful leaders, develops leadership competencies, and expands knowledge in the field of aging services, while establishing strong bonds with peers from other LeadingAge members. The DC, Maryland, and Virginia Academy is modeled after the highly successful LeadingAge National Leadership Academy.
Registration for the 2023-2024 Academy is Now Open.
2023 – 2024 Learning Schedule
- Participants will engage in four learning experiences (virtual and in-person) that include visits to member communities, intimate conversations with aging services leaders and self-exploration of leadership styles through exercises and readings.
- The selected dates for the 2023 – 2024 LeadingAge DC, Maryland, and Virginia Leadership Academy are as follows::
- June 7 – 8, 2023 | Norfolk, Virginia
- October 17 – 18, 2023 | TBD, Maryland
- February 20 -21, 2024 | Washington, DC
- June 4 – 5, 2024 | Roanoke, Virginia
Commitment
- Upon acceptance, a $1750 tuition payment (non‐refundable and non -transferable) is required from each LeadingAge DC, Maryland, or Virginia Fellow organization.
- Tuition includes meeting materials and meals provided during sessions. Lodging and travel expenses are to be incurred by the member community. Fellows are required to attend all in -person sessions, complete all required projects, assignments and readings.
- Limited tuition financial assistance is available based on financial hardship.
Who Should Apply?
- Anyone employed by a LeadingAge DC, Maryland, and Virginia member community irrespective of clinical or managerial experience.
- Leadership potential within one’s organization is far more important than specific job title. Focus will be placed on developing aging services leaders. Those looking to obtain managerial skills and knowledge should refer to the Emerging Leaders Series offered by Leading Age MD.
- Only one applicant per community will be considered
- All application submissions will be reviewed to ultimately assemble a diverse class of Fellows (in terms of life experiences, leadership roles, geography, type of organization, as well as other unique characteristics).
Class of 2022
- Denese Arnold, Westminster at Lake Ridge
- Stephanie Baker, Ginger Cove
- Kenya Bryant, Hermitage Northern Virginia
- Felita Creekmore, Lake Prince Woods
- Brenda Dixon, The Summit
- Chris Goldman, Ingleside at Rock Creek
- Samantha Goodman, Beth Sholom Lifecare Community
- Glendon Kemp, Westminster Canterbury Richmond
- Lisa Martin, Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg
- Rose Marie Plitnick, Ingleside
- Sidrah Shayiq, LeadingAge
- Bethany Starkie, The Culpeper
- Kristin Trask, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
- Tracy Lee Tyler, Warwick Forest Assisted Living
- Analisse Vasquez Soto, Vinson Hall Retirement Community
- Doretha Wimms, Hermitage Richmond
- Nathan Yowell, Williamsburg Landing
Class of 2021
- Alyssa Kaszmetskie, Asbury Communities, Inc.
- Natesha Williams, Asbury Methodist Village
- Tamika Kemp, Birmingham Green
- Andy Switzer, Broadmead
- Jessica Clarke, Cedarfield
- Donna McKernin, Falcons Landing
- Jennifer Norton, Hermitage Richmond
- Taci Merkley, Knollwood Military Retirement Community
- Thelma Shaffer, Mennowood Retirement Community
- Christine Bitzer, Seabury Resource for Aging CM
- Dena Le’Gaux, The Village at Orchard Ridge
- Meagan Saunders, UCHS Lake Prince Woods
- S. Terrell Grant, Vinson Hall Retirement Community
- Peter Hayes, Warm Hearth Village
Class of 2020
- Jessica Herpst, Army Distaff Foundation & Knollwood
- Miamah Pinkard, NCBA Housing Management Corporation
- Heather Jacobs, Asbury Solomons
- Jennifer Young, Hermitage Richmond
- Lauren Sims, Asbury Methodist Village
- Tammy Mackey, Lakewood at Home
- Joan Noe, Senior Options
- Danielle Flippin, JABA Adult Care Center
- Amy Lewis, Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury
- Becky Lipscomb, The Village at Orchard Ridge
- Lindy Sellew, Brandermill Woods
Class of 2019
- Andrea Staskiel, Warwick Forest
- Carla Brown, St. Joseph’s Place
- Cecelia Roe, Ingleside Senior Living
- Crystal Scott,Carroll Manor Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center
- Cynthia Perez, Asbury Methodist Village
- Damian Nita, Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury
- Dave Milliron, Cedarfield
- Dennis Poremski, Asbury Solomons
- Eileen Kwak, Lakewood Retirement Community
- Heather Mattingly, Asbury Solomons & Calvert Co. Nursing Center
- Marni Ewell, Army Distaff Foundation & Knollwood
- Matt Dameron, Hermitage Richmond
- Meredith Hodges, Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay
- Robin Von der Pool, Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home
- Trent Clugston, Mountain View Nursing Home
- ViatrisNugent, The Chesapeake
DMV Leadership Academy Class of 2020
DMV Leadership Academy Class of 2019
The leadership academy has opened me up to look and view things in different ways. Providing me with different perspectives and allowing me tackle issue and everyday life with a sense of understanding the possibilities. I have grown both personally & professionally both as a person and a leader. I would highly recommend the Leadership Academy to my peers. -Robert Wagner LNHA, CDM, CFPP, Birmingham Green The biggest gift of the leadership academy is all the wonderful connections I have made with the other fellows. I now have a pool of folks whom I can tap when I have questions, or want another viewpoint. I would encourage everyone to apply to the Leadership Academy. I believe it is vital to train leaders in our field. The senior population is growing, healthcare policy is becoming more complicated, so we need leaders who can help teams navigate what is ahead, successfully. -Stephanie Lawrence, Vinson Hall
Facilitator – DeAnn Akins
DeAnn Akins is founder and CEO of OctoFly Dreams, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Classically trained at the Kansas Leadership Center, she has honed her craft as a Fellow with the 2010 LeadingAge National Leadership Academy and as a creator and facilitator of leadership programs across the nation including LeadingAge Florida Leadership Academy, LeadingAge North Carolina Leadership Academy, LeadingAge Michigan Leadership Academy and the LeadingAge DC, LeadingAge Maryland and LeadingAge Virginia Leadership Academy. DeAnn also provides executive coaching and facilitates leadership retreats with individual organizations throughout the country. DeAnn has more than 20 years of experience in the field of aging and brings a rich leadership background with a passion for personal development and innovation. A Kansas native, DeAnn holds a Master of Science in Education from the University of Kansas and has served as an adjunct instructor at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. DeAnn is a licensed nursing home administrator and served as Administrator in skilled nursing, assisted living and home care agency settings.
Coach – Henry R. Moehring, MBA, LNHA
Henry R. Moehring, is Senior Vice President of Health Care Services & Operations at Asbury Communities, one of the nation’s largest not‑for‑profit systems of continuing care
retirement communities and related aging services. Henry previously served as the Associate and Executive Director of Asbury Methodist Village during a 10-year span before joining the Alpha-
1 Foundation as its President and CEO in 2016. He returned to Asbury in 2018 in as Senior Vice President with a focus on Skilled Nursing, and too on his current role in 2020. He is a fellow of the LeadingAge Leadership Academy, Class of 2012. Henry has more than 30 years of health care administration experience across the continuum of care. Henry holds a BS in Healthcare Administration from Wayland Baptist University, and a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Henry brings a proactive leadership style and builds collaborative relationships across the organization with a focus on outcomes and mission.
Coach – Charlotte Sibold
Charlotte Sibold joined Sunnyside in Harrisonburg, VA, as the Executive Director in June of 2020. In her role she is responsible for the overall operations of the nearly 150 acre campus, where over 400 residents reside. She assists the CEO in the development and implementation of short and long range strategies and master planning for the campus. Prior to Sunnyside, Charlotte worked at Kendal at Lexington for nearly 18 years, where she held a variety of positions. Her last two roles were Director of Marketing followed by Administrator of Health Services. Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional
Communications and a Master of Science in Community Health/Healthcare Management; both from Old Dominion University. She maintains her license as a Nursing Home Administrator, as well as licenses for Nursing Home and Assisted Living Preceptor. Charlotte is a 2019 graduate of the LeadingAge Larry Minnix Leadership Academy.
Coach – Robin Von Der Pool
Robin Von Der Pool, with more than 30 years in the healthcare field, Ms. Von Der Pool was a licensed Radiological Technologist, a Certified Phlebotomist and a Certified as an Activities Director. Ms. Von Der Pool offers a unique blend of leadership, vision, and knowledge. She has served as the Director of Volunteer Services and Community Liaison at Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home since 2007. Robin has also held executive leadership roles in other organizations. As the Director of Volunteer Services, she has implemented various programs which have connected the community to Stoddard’s residents. As Director at Stoddard, Robin has demonstrated the ability to improve volunteer retention. She is currently working with various organizations and volunteers to provide virtual activities for the residents. She has also assisted in obtaining several grants for the benefit of the facility. Robin co-produced and directed a historical documentary on Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home from its inception in the early 1900’s to the present. Ms. Von Der Pool holds several degrees and certificates from Montgomery College and Howard University in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She prides herself in being 2018-2019 alumni of the LeadingAge DMV Leadership Academy. Ms. Von Der Pool is dedicated to serving the residents of Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home’s community with compassion and understanding to meet the mission and vision of the organization. 
Leadership Academy Major Sponsors
Sodexo provides Quality of Life Services that contribute to individual well-being and organizational performance. In Senior Living, Sodexo’s on-site services support clients’ objectives as they help improve comfort, safety, and the overall quality of life for your residents. 
Ziegler is a full-service specialty investment bank and broker-dealer. Specializing in the healthcare, senior living, education, and religion sectors, Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic
advisory services, equity and fixed income sales and trading, wealth management, and research.
