GLEN MELIN – PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Glen is responsible for the overall management of the association including the development and implementation of its strategic vision, supporting programs and alignment of staff and financial resources. With over 35 years of experience in our field in the State of Washington, he works to identify opportunities, threats, interests, needs, and concerns of members and develops and directs the political advocacy agenda on behalf of members. Glen works in concert with the association’s governing body to establish and frame the association’s strategic direction and works to ensure the board is informed of relevant environmental trends and pressures to help position members for success in this dynamic healthcare field. Glen staffs the Executive and Governance Committees and the Life Plan Communities Cabinet.
ALYSSA ODEGAARD – VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC POLICY
Alyssa provides health policy leadership on assisted living, housing and adult day matters impacting members. In this capacity, she works with various federal and state policy and regulatory decision-makers and is an important member of the Association’s advocacy team both here and in Washington DC. She works with members assessing and identifying their legislative and regulatory needs, analyzes and communicates legislative and regulatory initiatives, and contributes to our legislative news to engage members in grassroots advocacy. She builds collaborative relationships among housing communities and service providers to stimulate partnership opportunities and is actively engaged in working with multiple organizations, including our state agencies, to find innovative solutions to advance healthy aging for near poor and poor individuals. She works to expand the voice of other housing organizations to ensure senior housing needs are not forgotten and is a strong proponent of ending senior homelessness. Alyssa identifies training opportunities on behalf of our members in support of their service excellence. Alyssa staffs the Adult Day, Assisted Living and Housing Cabinets.
SARAH WHITMARSH – VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBER ENGAGEMENT
Sarah Whitmarsh is the Vice President of Member Engagement at LeadingAge Washington, where she leads key efforts in member relations, communications, education, and workforce development. In this role, she works closely with staff, providers, and external consultants to ensure that LeadingAge Washington delivers valuable services aligned with the needs of its members. Sarah is instrumental in expanding and supporting the wide range of education offerings available to members and is focused on building collaborative efforts to strengthen the long-term care workforce across the state.
Sarah brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as Director of Resident Services at Heron’s Key, where she worked since 2015. She holds a BA in Business Administration, a Master’s in Gerontology, and certificates in grant writing and online teaching and training. Additionally, Sarah is a 2023 Fellow of the Larry Minnix National Leadership Academy, the model for LeadingAge Washington’s Leadership Institute.
In her role, Sarah is dedicated to engaging with members, ensuring that their wants and needs are at the forefront of LeadingAge Washington’s mission, and helping foster connections that benefit both staff and residents of provider communities.
LAURA HOFMANN, MSN, RN – DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL & NURSING FACILITY REGULATORY SERVICES
Building on over 25 years of experience as a registered nurse in skilled nursing facilities, Laura has emerged as a leader in policy development around clinical activities at both the federal and the state level, including assessment, care planning, outcome measurement, and regulatory compliance. With expertise in the CMS Five Star Quality Rating System and Washington State quality measures, Laura helps providers identify areas of clinical focus that can improve outcomes and reduce hospitalizations. Laura also monitors and reports survey trends in skilled nursing facilities and inspection trends in assisted living settings, acting as a liaison between members and state agencies to clarify changes in regulatory expectations. Laura is a valuable resource for providers wishing to stay informed on the latest developments in acute, post-acute, and long-term care environments, and she has a passion for fostering partnerships among long term care providers, hospital systems and other stakeholders.
CASSI MERITT – DIRECTOR OF MEMBER DATA AND BUSINESS SERVICES
Cassi primarily maintains and updates our current membership database, including new entries, membership staff changes, record-keeping and creates internal management reports. She manages the education program registration database while assisting the Director of Education and Member Development in the production of materials for conferences and training sessions throughout the year. She also provides onsite coordination and support for all association events. Cassi is a key connector for our business partners and provider members to support the sharing of resources and expertise.
