Meet the Team

As an international consultant, facilitator, educator, and author, my work has been focused on developing co-leadership capabilities and building authentic relationships through dialogue and compassion. As an elder, I am passionate about integrating the inner, inter-, and outer dimensions of regeneration – at a time when our thoughts and patterns of behavior are challenged by the multi-faceted crisis our society is going through. I co-lead the Visionary Planning Process, the Regenerative Elder Process, and the development of an Oregon Chapter.

My life’s commitment has been to transform the quality of thinking, doing, and being in our educational institutions and our businesses. I shine a bright light on the connection between our educational philosophy and practices and their influence in our world and, ultimately, our personal lives. I have been a teacher, school director, university instructor, manager in an international educational corporation, and a business consultant to large and small corporations.

I draw from 40 years as a conservation biologist and activist working in 18 countries, my personal struggle with ageism, and my consciousness shift toward meaning and acceptance of the opportunities provided as an “elder.” I describe this shift in my book on conscious aging, “Grateful, Not Dead: Rewire, Not Retire.” I am also a coach, an IONS Conscious Aging facilitator, and I help facilitate the Elders for Social Justice Action Group, as well as organizing the local Southern-Arizona Elder Action Chapter.

I am an activist, educator, facilitator, and a founding member of Elders Action Network. I co-created and lead The Empowered Elder Workshop, EAN’s foundation course, using my background in education, theatre, ecology, mindfulness, and Joanna Macy’s teachings. I also co-founded and teach within the Facilitator’s Network of Joanna Macy’s work. Previous careers have included theatre teacher and director, environmental and local food systems senior services coordinator, community organizer, and community Dharma Leader.

My career as a Social Worker focused primarily on social policy and program development at both the state and local level. Being a part of EAN and knowing it represents an elder demographic that can use my skill and experience to work on diverse and compelling issues is a source of pride. Working with so many other like-minded, good people is a source of joy. My EAN emphasis has been on infrastructure development and engagement in volunteer outreach.

After two years of service in the Peace Corps in Nigeria, a doctorate in systems science, and a 34-year career in systems analysis and simulation modeling for agricultural development and air transportation, I “retired” and now work for personal and cultural transformation. I currently volunteer with the Nine Gates Mystery School and the National Peace Academy, and co-lead the “Evolutionary Leap” Elder Action Circle. I enjoy time with my family, traveling, walking in nature, and musing in prose and poetry.

My activist focus is to protect the freedom of all Americans to vote in fair elections, and to oppose all efforts to sabotage our democracy. I co-lead Elders for Sound Democracy, and share leadership in my local Elders Climate Chapter in Massachusetts. As a management consultant and public official, I helped many healthcare, human services, and economic development organizations. I divide my time between Boston, MA and Cortez, FL. Working with the EAN team of activists is an important part of my life and highly recommended to others.

Co-lead, Elders for Sound Democracy

As a child, I discovered the wonders of Nature. I am still in love with this world and want to keep it healthy and beautiful. Upon retiring, I watched its degradation, regenerated a damaged redwood forest, and learned about climate change. I am grateful to be part of Elders Action Network to work with others on solutions. I coordinate my local Elders Action/Climate Chapter and work with the regional NorCal Climate Chapter.

As a volunteer with the Creative Initiative and Beyond War Foundations for 15 years, I focused on office management, event coordination, and desktop publishing. These skills were honed during my years as an Executive Administrator at Novell, a Silicon Valley IT company. As co-founder of Elders Action Network, my focus has been on developing the Operations team, and I have found great satisfaction and reward in working with dedicated, like-minded volunteers toward insuring a just and sustainable future for our children, grandchildren and future generations – a call that inspires us all to our highest potential.

EAN Co-Founder

My life’s focus has been to give back to my community, making life better for all. I’ve organized global events – The Beyond War Award, Mikhail Gorbachev’s exclusive speech in San Francisco, The State of The World Forum, and a multicultural event in my city’s school district. My passion is working with high-functioning teams to create something more significant than ourselves. Elders Action Network is my home, where I can offer my skills to save and restore our Earth through our actions.