EMERGE Leadership Development Program

In a healthcare landscape marked by ongoing change and increased demands on organizations to achieve more with limited resources, professionals in older adult services play a crucial role. They are expected not only to lead but also to drive innovation. To support these professionals, LeadingAge California offers EMERGE, a year-long leadership development program that goes beyond the basics. 

Since 2010, EMERGE has been a catalyst for individuals seeking to transform their leadership skills to successfully lead highly engaged and innovative organizations. EMERGE doesn't just provide education; it inspires and challenges participants. It encourages creative problem-solving and thinking outside the box. This program nurtures resilience, sparks a deep sense of purpose, and fosters forward-looking mindsets. Furthermore, EMERGE creates a strong network of like-minded peers who offer valuable mentorship and support. Together, they become a force for change, reshaping the landscape of older adult services. In a world where achieving more with less is the order of the day, EMERGE equips professionals to lead and innovate with a significant impact.


EMERGE 2024-2025 Schedule

  • Session I: May 13-15, 2024 (in conjunction w/ BOLD Annual Conference) - Anaheim Marriott | Anaheim, CA
  • Session II:  September 18-20 2024 - (in conjuction w/Executive Connect+) - DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Mission Valley | San Diego, CA
  • Session III: December 12-13 2024 - San Francisco Towers | San Francisco
  • Session IV: February 24-26 2025 - (in conjunction w/ RISE Policy Summit) - Kimpton Sawyer Hotel | Sacramento, CA
  • Graduation: May 21, 2025 (in conjunction w/ BOLD Annual Conference) - Hilton San Diego Bayfront | San Diego, CA

 

Curriculum

Participants will engage in four small group, customized learning experiences that include site visits to LeadingAge California member communities, reading assignments from a wide range of authors and experts in the field of leadership development, along with group exercises and class activities aimed towards achieving a self-exploration of different leadership styles.

 

Facilitator & Coaches

 

Facilitator: Matthew Neeley, Hillcrest
Matthew Neeley is president & CEO of Hillcrest. He is a healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience leading older adult services organizations. He enjoys developing others and serves as facilitator of the EMERGE program, the Leadership Development Program for LeadingAge California and on its Public Policy Committee. he is active in community service and has served as Treasurer of the La Verne/San Dimas Meals on Wheels and as board member and Chair of Community Senior Services. He is an adjunct professor, teaching graduate level Gerontology courses for the University of La Verne. Mr. Neeley has dual Master's degrees from Arizona State University in Business Administration (MBA) and Health Services Administration (MHSA).

  
 

Coach: Christine Carrasco, Hillcrest
Christine Carrasco is the Associate Director of Remodeling/Refurbishing/Landscaping at Hillcrest in La Verne, California. In this role, she is tasked with the design, development, and management of construction projects at Hillcrest and is deeply involved with master planning. She also manages the landscaping department, which maintains 23 acres of manicured landscape. With 12 years of senior living experience, Christine is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist.

 

 

 

Coach: Lisa Coe, Paradise Valley Estates
Lisa Coe is the Senior Director of Facility Operations at Paradise Valley Estates in Fairfield, California. In this role, she is tasked with overseeing all facility operations as well as capital improvement projects. Lisa also continues to drive the accreditation process for the organization. Additionally, Lisa supports the community through developing leadership programs and serving on many resident communities. She has been in senior living for over 19 years. Lisa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from San Jose State University in 1992 with a Major in Speech Communication and minor in Public Relations.

 


Coach: Joseph Pritchard, Masonic Homes of California, Union City
Joseph Pritchard is the Director of Memory Care at Masonic Homes of California, Union City. In this role, he is tasked with implementing new technological innovations (iPad, Lumosity, etc.) for use in the Brain Fitness/Memory Care Programs. He previously was the RCFE Healthcare Manager at Masonic Homes from 2014 to 2015. In this role, he managed 48 members of the nursing team, which included training. Joseph earned his M.D. from Our Lady of Fatima University in 2009 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2003.


EMERGE Alumni

Check out Action Learning Projects (ALP) from prior EMERGE classes. Click on the image to view.

EMERGE 2019-2020

CLASS OF 2020

Jiane Bassi • Leif Cameron • Meredith Chillemi • Bethany Dinh • Kelly Dodd • Jessica Duplantis • Emily Farber • Juan Gaytan • Adam Kopras • Ranshu Malini • Celina Manzanarez • Kim McNulty • Enrique Montero • Christine Nguyen • Isaac Ortega • Susie Ponce • Sergio Solorio • Marna Topping

 

EMERGE Class 2019

CLASS OF 2019

Claudia Butler • Lisa Coe • Julia Early • Michael Easbey • Megan Foster • Jane King • Sarah Leck • Cammille Lo-Li • Gina Manansala • Cristina Mendez • Jessica Montes • Yvette Ochoa • Antonio Roque • Paige Ryan • Jordan Shanahan • Aireen Tibon • Rosa Torres • Shirley Turner • Bernadette Viray • Mary Vo • Elise Walker • Kristen Wanner

 

EMERGE Class 2019

CLASS OF 2018

Mia Almonte • Lucy Ascalon • Yolanda Barba • Davina Barker • Bradley Burgoyne • Beatriz Camarena • Andrea Campisi • Amy Carson • Mario Chavez • Denise Edmonds • Zuly Garcia-Uicab • Glen Gillum • Morgan Jarek • Esther Koc • Kristina Lugo • Angelina Machado • Tia Owens • Shannon Penick Piexoto • William Penrod • Christine Regan • Susan Ruan • Nathaniel Runas • Geoven Snaer • Charmaine Verador • Charles White

 

EMERGE Class 2017

CLASS OF 2017

Tracy Anderson • Dianamaria Baciarelli • Elizabeth Catron • Victor Ceron • Ronald Chan • Denisa Feddersen • Vincent Foresta • John Grimes • Adam Hill • Jennifer Martinez • Brian McBee • Brian Morrow • Christina Piexoto • Miguel Rodas • Denise Rodriguez • Dawn Shimel • Nicole Snowberger • Jonni Streeter • Therese Ten Brinke

 

EMERGE Class 2016

CLASS OF 2016

Michelle Alcedo • Arleen Amorozo • Dennis Davis • Noel Donato • Shawn (Cuong) Duong • Micki Gerardi • Melissa Gill Hausz • Judith Gitonga • Robin Gordon • Ernesto Guzman • Jane Hopper • Benson Lee • Sylvia Najarro • Hanane Omari • Luis Perez • Maria Plurad del Rosario • Michele Pomerance • Joseph Pritchard • Kenny Ramirez • Natali Rivera • Hector Rodriguez • Wendy Starr • Pedro Vidana

 

EMERGE Class 2015

CLASS OF 2015

Gayathri Amancherla • Jennifer Arent • Karina Barragan • Marcela Castaneda • Abigail Castillo • Kim Delgado • Joshua Delgado • Neil Fancher • Connie Garrett • Christine Hanson • Heather Harris • Jennifer Marlette • Meagan McLellan • Richard Nordsiek • Leticia Ontiveros • Frances Prochilo • Adrian Quinones • Neal Talman • Megan Thomas • Therese Wellington

 

EMERGE Class 2014

CLASS OF 2014

Veronica Arevalo • Deborah Barrette • Loretta Cecconi • Ilona Corpus • Mary Grace Crisostomo • Elena Davidenko • Marlena del Hierro • Liam Dunfey • Jana Gesinger • Kenetta Jackson • Kristi McKinney • Allison Nord • Mark Rivera • Carolee Rodrigo • Andrea Smith • Alexandra Steadman • Gisele Tackoor • Rithy Thong • Jennifer Torres • Ron Wall • Connie Yuen

 

EMERGE Class 2013

CLASS OF 2013

Joleen Anderson • Paloma Barroso • Rachel Betzler • Maria Burton • Steve Cheregoza • Teresa Dang • Maria Teresa del Carpio • Sharon Fay • Janice Fujii • Deborah Gonzales • Katherine Hanline • Michael Keller • Jessica Litchfield • Cindy McCreary • Rachel Miner • Samuel Oden • Kendra Roberts • Nelson Rodrigues • Yvette Duarte • Sergio Solis • Sarah Stichler

 

EMERGE Class 2011

CLASS OF 2011

Elisabeth Anderson • Tristin Benjamin • Nan Boyd • Therese Brown • Michelle Cuevas • Peter Dine • Ashley Duke • Mayra Garcia • Jodee Gibson • Travis Hanna • Yannick Himber • Tyler Ichien • Doug Kaplan • Tiffany Karlin • Angela Lazarich • Audrey Lee-Sung • Jill Love • Sandra Mirasol • Theodore Morales • Rebecca Spencer • Monica Winn



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