Policy Forum
Thursday, June 22 | 8:15 am – 9:30 am
We’re excited to gather with aging services leaders to hear the latest policy trends and updates statewide and nationally. Our speakers will discuss a broad range of topics impacting affordable senior housing providers, nursing homes, home and community based services, hospice and home health. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions and discuss trending issues over breakfast.
Ruth Katz, Senior Vice President for Public Policy at LeadingAge
Ruth is responsible for leading strategy on public policy and advocacy to advance the nonprofit’s public policy agenda. The policy office works on affordable housing, long-term care across the continuum, health care quality, managed and integrated care, survey and certification issues, elder justice and other important concerns. During the years of the pandemic, Ruth led the LeadingAge Policy Team’s outward facing, member-focused response with daily/biweekly Coronavirus Update Calls (each drawing 500 plus callers), direct technical assistance to members and state partners, a robust and successful advocacy program, and tools and resources for members. Prior to joining LeadingAge, Ruth was a longtime senior executive at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). As Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary, she led a group that focused on the development and execution of policy research and analysis for programs in aging, long term care and disability. Ruth serves as a Steering Committee member of the Moving Forward Coalition, chairs the American Society on Aging’s Journal Generations Editorial Board, and has served on the AARP Home and Community Based Services Chartbook Advisory Board since its inception. Ruth is a trained SEED (Seeking Equity and Educational Diversity) facilitator.
Kimberly B. Gomes, Partner, Byrd Gomes
Ask Kim to name her dream job, and she would say, “Lobbyist.”
Really, who even knew there were people like that?
Kim became a lobbyist in her own unique way. She did not get here through politics or law or a cause. Her earliest interests had nothing to do with lobbying. She was a gymnast and a competitor in ballroom dancing. That led to a degree from the University of Delaware in fitness management, and that led to a position at the University of Delaware as the coordinator in charge of the fitness class program on the campus.
From there, it was on to work at an insurance office and brokerage firm, except Kim was looking for a new direction, and she thought lobbying would be fun.
Of course she did. She had a taste for the unexpected. She had the slow heartbeat that comes from winning competitiveness. She had a practical foundation of business, organizational and management experience.
Kim added in an academic component by earning a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Delaware. One of the faculty members was Ed Freel, formerly the Delaware secretary of state, and he connected her with Bob Byrd. It clicked, and Kim joined the firm.
Kim’s background has been a fine fit, even her ballroom dancing. She paired with Tom Cook, who was the Delaware secretary of finance, for a charity “Dancing with the Stars” event, where they were judged the best dancers. See? Kim was right all along that lobbying could be fun.
Sam Weinstein, Lobbyist, PPAG
