Leadership Institute 2.0 Graduates pictured above (seated from left): Home Care Manager Quintasia Henderson, VDC Options Counselor (OC) Team Lead Jessica Collier, Transit Fleet Manager Kelsey McGrady, VDC OC Team Lead Sarah Kennedy, VDC OC Team Lead Austen Gaines, and VDC Quality Assurance Manager Nicole Watson. (Standing from left): VDC Budgets, Invoices, and Timecard Manager Robert Doublin, Housing Choice Voucher Program Assistant Director Kenosha Stewart, Adult Day Center Director Suzanne Blanks, Caregiver Support Lead Options Counselor Mary Arthur, Director of Strategic Analysis Julie Northcott-Wilson, and RN Supervisor Andrea Rice. (Not pictured): VDC OC Team Lead Holly Gallagher and Housing Finance Director Elizabeth Myers.

Bay Aging is proud to celebrate 14 employees who graduated from its Leadership Institute 2.0 Management Training Collaborative in July 2026. The program reflects Bay Aging’s continued investment in employee development and its belief that strong, confident managers strengthen the organization’s ability to serve older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, caregivers, and families throughout the region.

Leadership Institute 2.0 builds on Bay Aging’s foundational leadership development work through a customized, six-month program for supervisory and management staff. It offers foundational and refresher training in recruitment, selection, onboarding, equal employment opportunity, performance management, coaching, evaluations, discipline, performance action plans, and termination, using discussion, guest speakers, assignments, case studies, and role-play to help participants apply learning in daily leadership responsibilities.

The 2026 Leadership Institute 2.0 graduation ceremony included remarks from Bobby Vassar, Senior Counselor to the President and Kathy Vesley, President and CEO. During her opening remarks, Vesley celebrated the graduates’ accomplishments and emphasized the responsibility that comes with leadership. Vesley said, “Throughout Leadership Institute 2.0, this group has shown what leaders are

made of: a willingness to listen, support one another, collaborate, lead with integrity, and keep growing. You are prepared to influence others in positive and meaningful ways, and I am proud of the commitment you have shown to Bay Aging, to one another, and to the communities we serve.”

Leadership reflections were shared by Bay Aging leaders on qualities such as listening, empathy, integrity, courage, and problem-solving. Participants also reflected on how the program helped them grow and what they will carry forward from the experience.

Bay Aging’s Leadership Institute 2.0 Management Training Collaborative was also featured nationally at the USAging 2026 Annual Conference and Tradeshow in San Diego on July 18. Stephanie Hudgins, Director of Administration and Operations, and MaDena DuChemin, Director of Human Resources, co-led a workshop with Kyle Sanchez, Planning Director, Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging, titled “Elevating Managers: Two Proven Models for Building Competence and Confidence.” The presentation provided attendees with a comprehensive blueprint for building an internal management training program, covering essential elements such as structure, scheduling, curriculum design, and program goals and expectations.

Bay Aging congratulates the 14 Leadership Institute 2.0 graduates for their participation, engagement, and commitment to leadership. Through programs like this, Bay Aging continues to cultivate a culture of learning, collaboration, and growth—ensuring employees are supported as they develop the skills, confidence, and perspective needed to lead now and in the future.