Please join us for a Special Webinar

An Insiders’ Look Into Living Smarter – Aging Smarter

The Alliance for Aging invites you to watch a high-level roundtable discussion among three prominent Elder care and Older Adult organizations.
Thursday May 19, 2022, 2:00PM

Featuring

Dionne Polite – AARP
Carlos Martinez – United Homecare
Martine Charles – Alliance

Special Guest Moderator

Susan Holtzman, of the Office of Mayor Levine Cava

WE URGE YOU TO SUBMIT RELEVANT QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE

Register Now (Zoom Meeting) – click on the button below

For more information or questions please contact Alan Frent at frenta@allianceforaging.org

Our Panelists

Susan O’Mahoney Holtzman is the Older Adults and Special Needs Advocate in the Office of the Mayor. Susan has been a resident of Miami-Dade County for over thirty years. Her experience in aging population, mental health and disability issues includes working with associations, advocates, county government and municipalities. Susan served as Advisor on Aging population issues to Commissioner Levine Cava during most of her term and served as Health Systems Director for the Alzheimer’s Association. Susan also has a background in medical education and medical business and has worked with hospitals and health systems all over the United States and with clinicians from all over the world. She is passionate about the opportunities for innovation that exist to meet the needs of Miami-Dade older adults, those with mental health issues, and the differently abled

Susan holds a Master’s in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies with experience in addressing health and societal issues for older adults.

Martine Charles is the Director for Planning and Population Health for the Alliance for Aging, the area agency on aging serving Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. With nearly three decades of nonprofit leadership and community-building experience, she is responsible for the Alliance’s population health programs that deliver evidence-based health promotion services in response to the community’s pressing health challenges. She coordinates emergency preparedness for staff and local service providers She also oversees grants management, and the regional planning and evaluation of comprehensive service systems for older adults. Ms. Charles holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education with a specialization in Urban Studies from Hunter College, and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Roger Lopez is the Chief Operating Officer at United HomeCare. In this role, Lopez is responsible for revenue cycle management, human resources, information technology and home health care. He also coordinates all aspects of operations with other colleagues of the Executive Management Team.

Prior to re-joining United HomeCare as Chief Operating Officer, Lopez served as Vice President of Operatoins. Lopez previously serviced as Chief Operating Officer for Riverwalk Ranch, Mansfield, Texas, and Bayshore Dura Medical, Miami Lakes, Florida, and was Vice President of Operations for DMC and Vice President of Operations for A.M.S. and C.M.S., a DME provider in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Additional positions held were President and COO of PAL Laboratories Inc., Vice President of U.S. Operations for Banner Pharmacaps, General Manager of Phaco/Pack Operations for Allergan Inc., and Director of Operations for Coulter Corporation. Lopez has also served as a member of the Board of Governors for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (1994 – 1996), Chairman of Dade Manufacturers and Biomedical Exchange Council, and Chairman of Coulter Corporation Federal Credit Union (1980 – 1990).

Mr. Lopez is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University where he received his M.B.A., and Florida International University where he received his B.B.A., with majors in management and finance. He also received an Executive Leadership for Healthcare Professionals Certificate from Cornell University.

Dionne Polite is AARP Florida’s Director of State Operations. She’s been in this role for seven years, and is responsible for the oversight and management of all outreach initiatives, engagement opportunities and education efforts in the state of Florida to its 50+ communities. Previously, Dionne was the Associate State Director of Multicultural Initiatives in New York State before relocating to South Florida.

Dionne has served on Leadership Florida’s Executive Board, currently serves on Broward College Foundation Board, the board of YWCA of South Florida, South Florida Institute on Aging and on the Miami-Dade Elder Affairs Advisory Board where she is the First Vice President. She is a member of the North Broward Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and was selected by Legacy Magazine/Miami Herald’s 2019 Top Executive of The Year. Dionne is married to Darryl, a retired New York State Trooper, and together, they have two adult children. They all reside in West Miramar, Florida.