ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – ADvancing States, the association representing state long-term services and supports agencies, is proud to announce its Board of Directors for 2024-2025. The Association’s previous Vice-President, Bea Rector will assume the Board Presidency.

 Bea Rector is the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Social and Health Services’ Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA) in Washington State. Bea is responsible for guiding policy, strategy and innovations in what experts consistently rank as one of the nation’s best performing long-term services and supports systems. ALTSA administers long-term services and supports to adults with disabilities, older adults, and their caregivers as well as services and communication access to individuals who are hard of hearing, deaf or deaf blind. ALTSA also investigates and administers services to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation; and regulates and does complaint investigation of the state’s licensed and certified residential and community provider network. Bea has worked in the long-term care field for more than 30 years, including more than two decades with the state.

The prior President, Nels Holmgren, Director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services at the State of Utah, will become Immediate Past President.  In addition to Mrs. Rector, the executive officers on the ADvancing States Board are now: Vice President Ursel McElroy, Director, Department of Aging, Ohio; Secretary Bonnie Silva, Director, Department of Office of Community Living, Colorado; and Treasurer Susan DeMarois,  Director, Department of Aging, California.

ADvancing States is also pleased to announce new at-large member on the Board of Directors: 

Jason Kavulich, Secretary of Aging, Pennsylvania.  The new at-large member joins existing members-at large: Jessica Bax, Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities, Missouri; Victoria L. Elridge, Commissioner, Department for Aging and Independent Living, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Kentucky; Jakenna L. Lebsock, Assistant Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona; David Ward, Sr. Director of Long Term Services and Supports, Health Care Authority, Oklahoma.

These distinguished state leaders will provide strong leadership and assistance to their colleagues across the country and to ADvancing States.