Dr. Jill M. Bjerke, B.S., D.C., CAPS
Founder
OFFICERS AND ADVISORS
Close
Dr. Jill Bjerke, B.S.,D.C.,CAPS Founder
Our Founder is an internationally recognized expert in aging-in-place, a health care executive, and has a passion for creating a safe home environment for seniors on a global scale.
As a health care executive with over 40 years of experience, Dr. Jill Bjerke has always had a passion for helping people in whatever way she can and that was the purpose behind founding her business, Home Transition Solutions Group, LLC. in 2005.Ā She is a health care executive, physician, international author, and aging-in-place keynote speaker, expert and consultant.
She created her company to help people with the myriad of details and stresses that come with transitioning from the home they have lived in so long to a smaller residence. Home Transition Solutions has provided one on one support and guidance in helping people successfully navigate this often overwhelming experience. But so many clients expressed a desire to remain in their homes as they age that she became a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) in 2011 and is now a nationally-recognized expert in this field.
As a CAPS, Dr. Bjerkeās focus became finding ways to create a safe and secure environment for those who wanted to remain in their homes as they grew older but needed to make changes to do so. In 2009 she created a checklist that she used with clients in garnering background health, financial and other issues related to aging in place decisions. As this checklist became more detailed and sophisticated, it made sense to turn it into a mobile application, Silver SpacesTM released in 2015, that everyone could use, whether they are the homeowner, family, caregiver, or a professional who works with seniors. Since 2009 when the app creation began, she has received contributions and reviews of it by occupational and physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, kitchen/bath designers, remodeling/construction contractors, aging research specialists and a whole host of professionals willing to share their expertise and knowledge in designing a user-friendly, comprehensive aging-in-place mobile app. The app was used internationally and has drawn the attention of professionals who care for and about the aging population around the world.
The assessment continuously evolves to extensively expand, modify and transform the Silver SpacesTM home assessment that represents an unparalleled cloud-based home inspection, guiding users to create a universally livable home. She constantly explores new ideas and methods that can be incorporated into the exploration and planning that is required for a safe home environment.
She is a founder of HomesRenewedā¢ Alliance, a steering committee member of the nationwide Leaders in Lifelong Housing, a member of the Technology Work Group for Dementia Action Alliance, the Iowa Fall Prevention Coalition and the Iowa Livable Homes Coalition. She remains actively involved in both state and national legislative efforts to advance opportunities that will allow seniors to safely remain in their homes as they age.
Close
SHEENA JAFFER
To colleagues and others in her professional and personal circles, Sheena is known as a fierce advocate for aging in place, universal design, age friendly initiatives, along with the potential and promise of how assistive technology complements and supplements successful aging and independence. Through research, she firmly believes that as our population ages, older adults will want to continue to live in the homes of their choice, and assistive devices will play an increasingly significant role in the health and quality of life continuum.
Following a gratifying career in international development and banking, in 2011, she decided to pursue her passion for the field of aging/gerontology, which largely stems from having been the primary caregiver for her parents. Both of them had strokes and it was an eye opening, firsthand experience of having to retrofit their home to accommodate their needs. Categorically, that led to an appreciation of the importance of proactively planning to age in place.
Sheena is also an avid advocate and volunteer of the Age Friendly movement. She has played an active role with the Age Friendly Washington, DC initiative, and currently is a Strategic Adviser for Age Friendly, Edmonton, Canada working closely with the City of Edmonton to achieve its goals and priorities. Sheena has also played an integral role for several years with the Arlington Commission on Aging and as an Ambassador for the DC Office on Aging. In addition, she currently serves on the General Assembly of Partners Ā (GAP), Older Constituents Group.
Sheena has a Bachelor of Arts degree (Economics) from the University of Alberta, and a Certificate on Aging from Johns Hopkins University. In addition, she is a graduate of the inaugural class of the 2012 Leadership Academy of the American Society on Aging, and has acquired the CASPĀ (Certified Aging Services Professional designation from the University of North Texas, a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Southern California, as well as the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation through the National Association of Home Builders. Sheena regularly attends world class conferences and participates in pertinent webinars to keep enhancing her knowledge.
Cumulatively, Sheena brings over 25 years of management experience from the non-profit, academic, banking and corporate sectors. Through these career experiences and a conviction rooted in life experiences. Sheena has demonstrated an impressive track record in advocacy, capacity building, building institutional relationships and partnerships, public relations, marketing, customer service, change management, policy implementation and grassroots advocacy. spearheading multi-million dollar fundraising and resource development campaigns, empowering colleagues, managing and coaching thousands of volunteers and being the architect and implementer of high profile large scale public events.
Sheena Jaffer, CASP, CAPS
Vice President, Global Engagement/Advocacy
ADVISORY COUNSEL
Close
Mike George - Creator of Soaring Families Way
Mike George helps family caregivers move from feeling alone, fearful, and uncertain to becoming confident, empowered champions. A caregiver himself for nearly 3 decades, Mike intimately understands the burdens of supporting the primary care of a loved one. But he also knows the tremendous fulfillment it can bring.
This lived experience was the inspiration behind the creation of The Soaring Families Way, a proven model that guides families in creating the best home care experience, and generates positive change for everyone involved in the caregiving journey. He is a speaker, author, and co-founder of Soaring Families – the hidden universe of family caregivers you didnāt know existed.
Mike George
Creator of Soaring Families Way
Close
Jeff Gray - Founder and CEO, Forever Home
Jeff Gray is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s prevention and care.Ā His ventures in age tech include The Memory Kit, the Care Card mobile app, and Forever Home, which combines modern technology, leading-edge research, and exceptional home service professionals to enable people to live longer, safer, and better in the place they choose to call home.
Jeff became interested in age tech after losing his mother, Molly, to Alzheimer’s in 2015. Since then he has remained committed to improving the quality of life for aging people, and the family members and care professionals that support them. His background includes Jeff Gray Consulting and Advisory, Advisor to the Neuro Plan Brain Initiative, LLC, Co-Founder & CMO Real Estate Broker Partnerships and Jonny On It.
Jeff Gray
Founder and CEO, Forever Home
Close
ROSEMARIE ROSSETTI, Ph.D. President of Rossetti Enterprise
Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D. is a powerful, internationally recognized speaker, author, consultant, and president of Rossetti Enterprises since January 1997. www.RosemarieSpeaks.com.Ā Rossetti Enterprises is a Disability-Owned Business Enterprise through Disability.
She acquired a spinal cord injury on June 13, 1998, while riding her bicycle she was crushed by a 7,000-pound tree. As a person who uses a wheelchair, she knows firsthand the benefits of accessible design and universal design.
Rossetti and her husband, Mark Leder led the design team, were the general contractors/builders, and since May 2012 have lived in the Universal Design Living Laboratory, the national demonstration home and garden in Columbus, Ohio. www.udll.com.Ā This is the highest-rated universal design home in North America earning three national certifications: Livable Design, ZeroStep, and Life-Flex. The home received a Silver rating certification on the LEED for Homes program from the U. S. Green Building Council and earned a Gold rating certification on the National Green Building Standard program. The home is certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.Her TEDx talk video about the Universal Design Living Laboratory can be viewed at https://www.rosemariespeaks.com/.
Rossetti is an inspiring entrepreneur who is rethinking design and building by spearheading discussions and experiments around re-imagined living spaces. She is a keynote speaker at international and national conferences and events. Her live and virtual presentations help people integrate universal design, accessible design, and green building features into their projects. She speaks to and consults with consumers, builders, remodelers, realtors, architects, engineers, interior designers, developers, business owners, and occupational therapists.
As a universal design and accessibility consultant, she works with clients who want to make their homes, condos, apartments, hotels, and workplaces more inclusive. Rossetti was certified as a course instructor for the National Association of Home Builders Universal Design/Build course. She is certified as a Senior Home Safety Specialist. She is a Certified Living in Place Professional.
From May 2018 to the present, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Universal Design Commission, Inc. and served on the certification committee. She was a member of the Habitat for Humanity International, Construction Standards Task Force, and Accessibility Committee from June 2019 to February 2020. Her motivational keynotes are focused on coping with change, resilience, and dealing with adversity.
As an internationally recognized expert on accessibility and disability inclusion, she speaks to and consults with meeting professionals. Her insights help save time, reduce stress, and achieve success in planning more diverse and inclusive meetings and events. Rossettiās sought-after presentation focused on accommodating people with disabilities at meetings and events has been a game-changer in the meetings industry.
She is the author of the books:
Universal Design Toolkit, Time-saving ideas, resources, solutions, and guidance for making homes accessible.
Take Back Your Life! Regaining your footing after life throws you a curve.
Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D.
President of Rossetti Enterprise
Close
Curtis R. Nelson President & CEO of EDC, Inc.
With over thirty-five years of successful national and international business creation and leadership experience, Curtis Nelson has directed the development and successful launch of over 100 new businesses and more than 500 new products for the communications, IT, military, transportation, medical, health, food, and gardening industries worldwide. Nelson is a seasoned public speaker, entrepreneur, investor, consultant, and three-time veteran of Inc. Magazine’s 500 Fastest-Growing Private CompaniesĀ® list (#48, #67, #225).
A 1974 graduate from the University of Iowa, Nelson holds a BBA in Marketing. He has been an active U of I alumnus, served seven years on the U of I Research Foundation BOD, is a director and officer on multiple private and public boards, and is also the author of The Recipe for Business SuccessĀ®.
Nelson currently serves as President & CEO of EDC, Inc., a nationally recognized business accelerator which he founded in 2003. He is the President & CEO of CRN LLC, a business consulting organization, and AccelerateIT, LLC; manager of Iowa Seed Fund, LLC and Iowa Seed Fund II, LLC both seed-stage investment funds. Nelson is also co-founder and current President of the Iowa Venture Capital Association.
Contact:
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Websites: www.edcinc.org / www.recipeforbusinesssuccess.com / www.isf2.com / www.iowaventure.org
Curtis R. Nelson
President & CEO of EDC, Inc.
