BOSTON – Today, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) elected AHCA’s Board of Governors and NCAL’s Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term. Chris Wright of Connecticut was elected for a second term as AHCA Chair, and Sarah Silva of Oregon was elected for a second term as NCAL Chair.
“We are fortunate to have another term with Chris and Sarah, two of the strongest leaders in long term care and assisted living,”
said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Clif Porter. “I congratulate all of AHCA/NCAL’s elected leaders. Their years of experience and commitment to the profession will advance our collective ability to further improve care for our nation’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.”
With nearly four decades of leadership in long term and post-acute care, AHCA Chair Wright is the co-founder and current chairman of iCare Health Network. iCare manages 12 skilled nursing facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The facilities are known for providing a wide range of services including placement and care for residents with complex and challenging conditions and those who are underserved.
The members of AHCA’s 2026-2027 Board of Governors include:
- Chris Wright of iCare Health Network (Conn.), Chair
- Tina Thomas of Mission Health Communities (Wis.), Vice Chair
- Barry Carr of Ignite Medical Resorts (Ill.), Secretary/Treasurer
- Phil Scalo of Bartley Healthcare (N.J.), Immediate Past Chair
- Jay Moskowitz of Vivage-Beecan (Colo.), Regional Multifacility Representative
- Brian Bernander of St. Otto's Care Center, Inc. (Minn.), Independent Owner Representative
- Barry Port of The Ensign Group (Calif.), Multifacility Representative
- Heath Boddy of Vetter Senior Living (Neb.), Not for Profit Representative
- Mark Berger of Villa Healthcare (Mich.), At-large Representative
- Marco Carrasco of Miami Shores Nursing & Rehab (Fla.), At-large Representative
- Brett Coble of Bridges Health (Okla.), At-large Representative
- Chris Chirumbolo of Carespring Health Care Management (Ky.), At-large Representative
- Fran Rainer of PruittHealth (Ga.), At-large Representative
- Nigel Santiago of Boswell Transitional Care of Cascadia (Ariz.), At-large Representative
- Michelle Scherwinski of Champion Care, LLC (Tenn.), At-large Representative
- Tara Gregorio of Massachusetts Senior Care Association, ASHCAE Representative
- Bill Charnetski of PointClickCare, Associate Business Member Representative
- Sarah Silva of Cascadia Senior Living (Ore.), NCAL Representative
NCAL also held its Board of Directors election today, reelecting Sarah Silva as chair. Silva is a senior vice president of Cascadia Senior Living, which operates assisted living, memory care, and independent living communities in the Pacific Northwest. Silva brings more than 20 years of experience in senior living.
The members of NCAL's Board of Directors include:
- Sarah Silva of Cascadia Senior Living (Ore.), Chair
- Dave Chensvold of HealthCare of Iowa, Inc. (Iowa), Vice Chair
- Julie Simpkins of Gardant Management Solutions (Ind.), Secretary/Treasurer
- Mark Maxfield of The Cottages, LLC (Idaho), Immediate Past Chair
- Todd Dockerty of Dockerty Health Care Services (Mich.), At-large Representative
- Tandie Hastings of Companion Health Services (Okla.), At-large Representative
- Laurie Henley of Grand Oaks Assisted Living (D.C.), At-large Representative
- Drew Hood of Oak Terrace Assisted Living (Minn.), At-large Representative
- Camille Jordan, Brookdale Senior Living (N.J.), At-large Representative
- Tracy Lichti of New Cassel Retirement Center (Neb.), At-large Representative
- Meredith Mills of Country Meadows Retirement Communities (Penn.), At-large Representative
- Jessica Pelligrino Tsoukalas of Bridgeway Senior Healthcare (N.J.), At-large Representative
- Logan Pratt of Caring Places Management (Wash.), At-large Representative
- Jennifer Svoboda of Sapphire Health Services (Ore.), At-large Representative
- Sharon Thole of Good Samaritan Society (Wis.), At-large Representative
- Marshall Ussery of National HealthCare Corporation (Tenn.), At-large Representative
- Laura Wilson of Tieszen Memorial Home (S.D.), At-large Representative
- Kristopher Woolley of Avista Senior Living (Ariz.), At-large Representative
- Emmett Reed of the Florida Health Care Association, ASHCAE Representative
- Phil Bentley of the Oregon Health Care Association, State Affiliate Representative
- David Voepel of the Arizona Health Care Association, State Affiliate Representative
- Sarah Dirks of Behavioral Health Solutions, ABM Representative
- Tina Thomas of Mission Health Communities (Wis.), AHCA Vice Chair
“Our board members have embraced an important responsibility in shaping what comes next for our profession, and we appreciate their willingness to serve,”
said NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea. “These leaders share the honor of having been selected by their peers for their commitment to assisted living’s future, and their dedication will undoubtedly benefit the residents we serve and the communities they call home.”
Members of the AHCA Board of Governors are elected by the association’s governing body, the Council of States. The NCAL Board of Directors is elected by current members of the NCAL Board and by the NCAL State Leaders. Both boards held the elections at Delivering Solutions 26, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, which concludes today.