Our Leadership Team

Andrea Gallagher is President of Senior Concerns. She is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and Founder of Rethinking Your Future™ and The Cards I’ve Been Dealt. Andrea served as past President of Life Planning Network; a national community of professionals from diverse fields who support individuals to successfully plan for and navigate the second half of life. She served as Life Transitions Chair of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth International Conference on Positive Aging. Andrea is co-leader of the Conejo Senior Resource Network, part of the Greater Conejo Chamber of Commerce. She is the creator of the distinguished speakers series Boomer Bootcamp. Andrea is one of the editors and a chapter contributor to LIVE SMART AFTER 50! An Experts’ Guide to Life Planning for Uncertain Times (Cypress House, January 2013) and the author of The Other Side of Fifty, a bi-monthly newspaper column. Andrea is a national speaker on topics related to life planning, positive aging and Boomer transitions.

Phone: (805) 497-0189 X225
Email: andrea@seniorconcerns.org

Darlene Sturgeon is the Director of Finance of Senior Concerns. Darlene has been in the financial/accounting profession for over 20 years. She has held leadership positions in a variety of industries such as asset management, government, non-profit, construction, and service based. She has also worked as a business and accounting consultant assisting business owners with operational and financial growth. Darlene holds undergraduate degrees in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Finance & Accounting. She also holds an MBA from California Lutheran University and is currently working towards her doctorate in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Organizational Development.

Phone: (805) 497-0189 ext. 222
Email: darlene@seniorconcerns.org

Martha Shapiro is the Director of Programs for Senior Concerns. In this role, Martha oversees the Adult Day Program and the Caregiver Support Center. She ensures that the programs run smoothly day to day and that every participant is treated with dignity and respect to maximize their quality of life. Martha brings to this role a background in older adult services and caregiver support. She earned her Master’s degree in Social Welfare from UCLA and currently holds her License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW). Martha serves on many community committees including the Ventura County Military Collaborative, The Financial Abuse Specialist Team, The Ventura County Compassionate Care Coalition and The Dementia Care Network .

Phone: (805) 497-0189 ext. 230
Email: marthas@seniorconcerns.org

Lisa M. Weaver, M.S., R.D., is the Director of Nutrition Services. In this role, Lisa manages the organization’s Meals On Wheels Program, the Adult Day Nutrition Program and the Congregate Meal Program at the Goebel Adult Senior Center. Lisa brings extensive experience in clinical, management, counseling, teaching and food production. Most recently, she served as a Public Heath Nutritionist for the Ventura County Health Care Agency. She has also worked as a Clinical Dietitian for Los Robles Hospital Nutrition Clinic, and as an RD Health Coach for Wellpoint, Inc. In addition, she has worked with Head Start Nutrition Services for the County of Ventura, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, and Ventura County Public Health.

Phone: (805) 497-0189 ext. 229
Email: lisa@seniorconcerns.org

Janet Young is Director of Development at Senior Concerns. Janet has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit development, public relations and marketing, working with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark, The ALS Association National Office and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She brings extensive experience working with corporate, foundation and individual donors to match their giving interests to the programs and services at Senior Concerns. On a volunteer basis, Janet recently served as Director of Publicity for the Ventura County Chapter of NAWBO. She received a Professional Designation in Public Relations from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Phone: (805) 497-0189 ext 248
Email: janety@seniorconcerns.org

Carie Salas, MSW, is the Case Manager for the Caregiver Resource Center at Senior Concerns. Carie is a recent graduate from the University of Southern California, School of Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health. She completed an internship at the Alzheimer’s Association California Central Chapter and has extensive knowledge working with caregivers and their loved ones.

Phone: (805) 497-0189 ext. 235
Email: carie@seniorconcerns.org

Betty Berry brings a deep understanding of senior issues to her position as Senior Advocate for Senior Concerns. She has advocated for seniors since 1993. She has served on the Area Agency on Aging’s Advisory Council as a member and Chair, has been a member of the Financial Abuse Strategic Team (FAST) and currently serves on the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) Advisory Board and authors the Senior Advocate column that appears in the Ventura County Star every Wednesday.
Betty completed her undergraduate degree at California Lutheran University and earned her Juris Doctorate degree at Ventura College of Law.
Phone: (805) 495-6250
Email: betty@seniorconcerns.org

Charna Posin is a Certified Senior Advisor and Patient Advocate. Life changing events, like helping her mother transition from living independently to assisted living and, at the same time caring full time for her husband, who was dying of cancer, caused Charna to reexamine her own life. She discovered that these experiences caused a shift in her career, from a background of specializing in disability income benefits for physicians, to her passion of Senior Advocacy. She is also a hospice educator and speaker and holds a certificate in Heart Touch, bringing comfort to patients and their families. Charna will tell you that she finds fulfillment everyday in connecting seniors with the services they need to feel empowered, safe and happy.

Phone: (805) 495-6250
Email: charna@seniorconcerns.org

Viki Kind is a clinical bioethicist, professional speaker and hospice volunteer. Her award winning book, The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices For Those Who Can’t, guides families and professionals through the difficult process of making decisions for those who have lost capacity. She has lectured across the United States teaching healthcare professionals to have integrity, compassion and to improve end-of-life care through better communication. Patients, families and healthcare professionals rely on Viki’s practical approach to dealing with challenging healthcare dilemmas. Viki provides bioethics consultation and support for many hospitals in the Los Angeles area. She holds a master’s degree in bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from California State University at Northridge. She is also an honorary board member of the Well Spouse Association and has also been a caregiver for many years for five members of her family.

David Pacic is a healthcare education consultant with a focus on improving health outcomes. With over thirty years of multi-disciplinary experience within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry he has been the recipient of 7 achievement awards for his contributions in medical education, marketing, sales and management. David has a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and is grounded in adult learning theory, application and outcomes along with in-depth disease state and clinical knowledge.