Serving as the principal advocate for stipended Americorps Seniors programs since 1971!
ASPN BOARD MEMBERS
Get to know your ASPN Board.
Lisa Jenkins,
President
Project Location: Camp Springs, Maryland.
Lisa manages a Foster Grandparent Program adjacent to Washington, D.C. She has been with Prince George’s County Government for 27 years where she has worked in Aging and
Disabilities Division. As AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network President she looks forward to working with the current board members to continue to advocate nationally for stipend programs to succeed
locally in our communities.
Rebecca Maletto-Cornell,
Vice President
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Project Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rebecca states that she is grateful to learn and serve with others from across the country to help continue to make our program be the best it can be. Click here to email Rebecca.
Learn more about Rebecca here.
Shaunda Noah, Secretary/Treasurer
Project Location: Wilburton, Oklahoma. A large percentage of her volunteers are Native American who assist other native children in the classroom with reading and literacy. Click here to email Shaunda.
Learn more about Shaunda here.
Stacy Friesland,
Chairperson - FGP
Project Location: Asheville, North Carolina. Stacy's project encompasses the majestic mountains of western North Carolina. Previously, she was a station supervisor for the Senior Companion Program. Click here to email Stacy.
Josie Fliger,
Past President
Project Location: Tallahassee, Florida. Josie manages all three Senior Corps programs. She is passionate about helping seniors stay active and engaged while dispelling myths about aging. Click here to email Josie.
Learn more about Josie here.
Tina Brown,
Chairperson - SCP​
Project Location: Redding CA. With nearly four decades of experience, including 29 years with Connected Living Tina has dedicated her career to supporting and advocating services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. In her current role, she oversees the three federally funded AmeriCorps Seniors programs managing a team and volunteers. Tina was recognized with the 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors Excellence Award from the National AmeriCorps Office. Click here to email Tina.
Learn more about Tina here.
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Jennifer Lantz, North Central Representative
Project Location: Charles City, Iowa. Jennifer directs the Foster Grandparent Program in north central Iowa. She also has a passion for volunteering for local and national organizations. She brings to the board the perspective of a newer director who joined during the pandemic. Click here to email Jennifer.
Open, Mountain Representative
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Open, Southeast Representative
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Van Johnson, South Central Representative
Project Location: Houma, Louisiana. Van is passionate about training my volunteers to serve enthusiastically their children as well as mentoring new directors and witnessing their growth in the program. Click here to email Van.
Open, West Representative
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Danielle Lyons, Midwest Representative
Project Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana. Danielle has served as a program director for 7 years and continues to learn something new about intergenerational relationships everyday. She believes it is essential for those who manage AmeriCorps Seniors programs to have a voice in shaping their work and impact. Danielle is proud to be part of the ASPN team, advocating for project staff and volunteers and ensuring their perspectives are heard and valued.
Click here to email Danielle.
Tammy Taylor, At-Large Representative
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Project Location: Jefferson, North Carolina. Tammy has over 30 years experience working with Senior Corps Programs. Her work with FGP provides firsthand knowledge of the tremendous impact in the everyday lives of volunteers and the children they serve. Click here to email Tammy.
Learn more about Tammy here.
Sonja Workman, At-Large Representative
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Project Location: Beatrice, Nebraska.
Sonja has been an employee of, Blue Valley Community Action for 30 years and the program director for 19 years. She is a believer in the importance of the Foster Grandparent Program, the purpose and all it stands for. Sonja has witnessed what a relationship between a Foster Grandparent Volunteer and a child can do. She is a believer in helping others and being involved in your communities. Click here to email Sonja.
Learn more about Sonja here.
Carol Ayars, At-Large Representative
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Project Location: Richmond, Virginia.
Carol serves as the AmeriCorps Seniors Programs Manager and brings more than 25 years of experience in volunteer management and working with older adults. Carol finds great joy in working with volunteers, especially older adults in the Foster Grandparent Program. For Carol, the Foster Grandparents and the children they mentor represent the heart of her mission: ensuring that no one falls through the cracks without someone who cares and shows up for them. Click here to email Carol.
Learn more about Carol here.
Suzanne Hull, At-Large Representative
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Project Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In Hawaii, almost one in five persons is now 65 or older. A perfect place for intergenerational services. Suzanne sees the ASPN board as a place where advocacy, teamwork and passion combine. Click here to email Suzanne.
Learn more about Suzanne here.
Makieya Kamara, At-Large Representative
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Project Location: Boston, Massachusetts. Makieya is the Director of Elder Services & Project Director for the Foster Grandparents Program at Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. Passionate about aging and intergenerational programs, she is a social worker whose program spans nine cities and towns across Greater Boston. Her work connects generations by serving children in schools, Head Start programs, afterschool settings, and early education centers. In her free time, she enjoys reading and gardening.
Learn more about Makieya here.
Heidi Powers, At-Large Representative
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Project Location: Alpena, Michigan. Click here to email Heidi.
Learn more about Heidi here.
Natalia Uribe-Netufo, At-Large Representative
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Project Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey. Natalia is the Lead Project Director for the Foster Grandparent Program at Gateway Community Action Partnership. With more than seven years of experience, Natalia is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for older adults to stay engaged, valued, and included as vital members of the community. She leads a bilingual program dedicated to ensuring volunteers receive quality experiences.
Learn more about Natalia here.
Denise Nelsen,
ASPN Operations Manager
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Location: Carver, Minnesota. Denise has a long history working with the Senior Corps programs and loved the opportunity it provided to serve on this board previously! She says her participation introduced her to some amazing people! Since 2014, Denise has been assisting ASPN with many tasks including member list-serves, member management, sales, etc. Click here to email Denise.
Laura Morgan-Kessler, Washington D.C. Advocate
Location: Washington, D.C. Since 2015, Laura Morgan-Kessler has served as the federal advocate for the Americorps Seniors Professional Network, Inc. She is a strong believer in the role for ASPN and its members to education Members of Congress on the impact and importance of the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program in local communities.
She provides ASPN with timely and strategic intelligence on Congressional and federal agency actions and helps develop and implement federal advocacy strategies to accomplish ASPN’s federal goals. She maintains strong working relationships with Members of Congress and their staff, as well as the Americorps agency staff.
Laura has been a federal advocate in Washington, D.C. for over a decade. Prior to that, she spent time on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer for California’s senior Senator Dianne Feinstein. A native of Southern California, Laura received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Wake Forest University. She and her husband live in Northern Virginia with their daughter.