NCOA Builds Leadership Team to Ensure That Every Person Can Age Well

ARLINGTON COUNTY, Virginia, Jan. 30 -- The National Council on Aging issued the following news release:

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- New executives bring expertise in aging, policy, marketing, and partnerships

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The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is building its leadership team as part of a focused strategy to ensure that every person is able to age with their best possible health and economic security.

"We believe that everyone deserves to age well--regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or background," said James Firman, NCOA president and CEO. "People today have both the gift and challenge of planning for a bonus 20-30 years of life. Many struggle to maintain good health and economic security. Our focus is on empowering individuals with trusted, proven solutions--and protecting and strengthening federal programs that people depend on. Our new team members will help us meet our goal of improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020."

Bob Ensinger joins NCOA as its first Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer. He will oversee the development and implementation of a consumer-facing marketing, branding, and corporate communications strategy. Additionally, Ensinger will support NCOA's advocacy agenda, elevating the organization's voice as a respected national leader, and he will help build bold strategic partnerships to meet NCOA's goals.

Ensinger previously served as Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), an association representing more than 1,300 private and public companies globally. Under his leadership, the association initiated a business development function and corporate partnership program, developed and initiated its first organizational strategic communications plan, and underwent a rebranding.

Prior to ISRI, Ensinger led communications at several Washington, D.C.-area trade associations and nonprofits, including the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, and American Association of Blood Banks.

Josh Hodges joins NCOA as its first Chief Customer Officer. Hodges will develop a comprehensive and authoritative view of today's older adult and serve as a consumer advocate as NCOA creates comprehensive experiences for them. He will plan, organize, and align NCOA's programmatic portfolios and network activation strategy to enable NCOA to reach millions of individuals and empower them to enroll in benefits programs, prevent falls, and manage their health.

Hodges comes to NCOA from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living (ACL) where he was Acting Deputy Administrator of the Center for Integrated Programs. In this role, he oversaw 11 distinct aging and disability programs encompassing nearly 400 federal grants and 12 contracts. He also oversaw the creation of the Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling and led the transition of the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) to ACL.

Prior to ACL, Hodges worked at Customer Value Partners where he designed and implemented a new enterprise portfolio management system, and for Grant Thornton, LLP where he provided direct support to federal government agencies.

In addition to hiring Ensinger and Hodges, NCOA is building its leadership team with the following new and promoted staff members:

Erin Kee McGovern is now Associate Director, Economic Security, after serving as Associate Director, Hunger Initiatives for the NCOA Center for Benefits Access. In her new role, McGovern will lead a team responsible for implementing the Center's Benefits Enrollment Centers and the Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative. She will oversee a grantee portfolio of 104 grantees in 46 states and will be responsible for expanding the Center's digital outreach strategy.

Marjory Moore is NCOA's new Director of Development. Working with stakeholders across the organization, Moore will build NCOA's strategic partnerships with corporations and foundations to support its mission and programs. Moore comes to NCOA from the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, where she was Chief Development Officer.

Vivian Nava-Schellinger has been promoted to Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs after serving as Senior Manager for National and Community Partnerships within NCOA's Center for Benefits Access. In her new role, Nava-Schellinger will lead NCOA's efforts to manage an ecosystem of partnerships in support of its strategy. Before joining NCOA, she was Director of Strategic Partnerships at Enroll America.

Jennifer Tripken is the new Associate Director of NCOA's Center for Healthy Aging. Tripken will provide technical assistance and support to NCOA grantees that are providing chronic disease self-management and falls prevention programs across the country. Tripken comes to NCOA from Marymount University, where she was associate professor and department chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance.

Dorothea Vafiadis is the new Director of NCOA's Center for Healthy Aging. Vafiadis will lead NCOA's two National Resource Centers funded by ACL that provide technical assistance and resources to support state and community-based organizations in implementing, scaling, and sustaining evidence-based falls prevention and chronic disease self-management programs. Before joining NCOA, Vafiadis was National Director of Healthy Living at the American Heart Association.

"With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, we know that we must find new and strategic ways to understand their needs and help them thrive," Firman said. "With our new staff expertise, we are confident we will achieve our 2020 goal early--and are already setting our sights on a bold new vision."

For more information about NCOA, visit ncoa.org.