Media Kit

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Welcome to LeadingAge PA’s Media Kit! This resource is designed to provide journalists, bloggers, and other media professionals with the essential information needed to accurately report on issues related to aging services in Pennsylvania. 

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The Trusted Voice for Pennsylvania Aging Services

Established in 1963, LeadingAge PA is a trusted voice for the aging services sector in Pennsylvania. As a state affiliate of LeadingAge National, LeadingAge PA facilitates change and promotes the delivery of quality, affordable, and ethical care. It provides its mission-driven members with essential resources related to education and workforce support. Notably, its government relations team proactively advocates for aging services on the state and local levels and ensures members receive updates on key issues and policies.

 

 

Areas of Expertise
  • Complex Aging Services Systems: Nursing Homes, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Personal Care/Assisted Living, Affordable Housing, Living Independent for the Elderly, Home and Community Based Services
  • Government Regulation, Legislation, and Advocacy
  • Staffing and Workforce Challenges
  • Funding, i.e., Medicaid
  • Innovations in Senior Care
  • Statistics, Demographics, and Trends in Aging
Resources

 

 

Subject Matter Experts

 

Garry Pezzano, president and CEO of LeadingAge PA, is dedicated to leading and advocating for quality, affordable, and ethical care for seniors in Pennsylvania. He is a highly experienced clinical operations and post-acute care leader committed to ensuring clinical excellence and healthcare access through delivery model transformation, technology implementation, treatment innovation, and new reimbursement methods. 

Pezzano's career spans more than 30 years, leading strategic change and enhancing clinical effectiveness for Genesis Healthcare.


Chuck Quinnan, the Senior Vice President and Chief of Government Affairs Officer at LeadingAge PA develops and implements the organization's public policy agenda. He builds relationships and collaborates with government officials and agencies to advocate for LeadingAge PA and its members. Additionally, Quinnan oversees the Government Affairs team, ensuring that the Association's legislative agenda aligns with the needs of its members. 

Quinnan previously served as the director of intergovernmental affairs and as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council within the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Additionally, he served as the executive director of the Finance Committee and the Aging & Older Adult Services Committee at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.


Anna Warheit, Director, Regulatory Affairs

 

As the Director of Regulatory Affairs, Anna Warheit is responsible for various duties that support the association's government advocacy and regulatory policy programs. Her responsibilities include providing support and tools to assist members in their regulatory compliance efforts, advocating for the reasonable easing of regulatory barriers to enhance quality of care, and building a strong network of contacts within regulatory agencies that have jurisdiction over programs of interest to association members.


Prior to joining the Association, Warheit worked as a manager of social services for a LeadingAge PA member organization in the western portion of the state. Warheit has a master’s degree in social gerontology and a Juris Doctorate in Health Care Law.  

 

In her role as Director of Member Engagement & Workforce Solutions, Erin McDermott implements a workforce development strategy to assist members in addressing their workforce challenges. This includes establishing and managing strategic partnerships with educational institutions and representing LeadingAge PA and its members at internship and career fairs to promote careers in aging services. 


McDermott's previous experience in senior services includes roles in social work, sales, and marketing.

Your Contacts

 

Katie Andreano, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

Katie Andreano, as the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, is tasked with leading and implementing the Association's public relations, communications, and marketing strategies to ensure that members and stakeholders receive relevant and consistent information aligned with the Association's priorities.

Before joining LeadingAge PA in 2022, Andreano focused on supporting non-profit organizations in achieving their goals through creative and strategic communications. Her most recent role was as the director of communications at member community Messiah Lifeways. Andreano is a graduate of Messiah University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a focus on film and media arts.


Toshi Nelson, Communications Manager

Toshi Nelson has over 15 years of experience in broadcast journalism, public relations, and marketing support. As the Communications Manager at LeadingAge PA, she uses her expertise to cater to Pennsylvania’s aging services sector. Nelson is committed to increasing awareness and sharing the often-overlooked stories of the gratifying work and challenges in aging services in Pennsylvania. 

Nelson started her career in television news production, spending a decade as a news producer in Central Pennsylvania and Baltimore. Later, she transitioned into roles at a corporate law firm, followed by a nonprofit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Media Inquiries

Want to learn more? Interested in gaining insight into the landscape of Pennsylvania’s aging services?

Contact Katie Andreano, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, at kandreano@leadingagepa.org and Toshi Nelson, Communications Manager, at tnelson@leadingagepa.org.