Mechelle Hicks, President  

Mechelle Hicks was born and raised in Fort Worth before moving to Joshua as a teenager. She recently moved into a new position as a Hospice Liaison with Interim Healthcare after stepping down as the Director of Business Development for Ride N Safe Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, bringing her almost 20 years of transportation experience to an end. Although relatively new to the senior and healthcare industry, Mechelle has worked tirelessly to meet people and make connections. She led the DFW Healthcare Connection group in Burleson and the Linked Network group in Johnson County for over two years before moving out of that area.

Mechelle graduated Suma Cum Laude from Texas Wesleyan University with a degree in Marketing in 2021 and is hoping to continue to earn her MBA soon.

Mechelle is recently married and has two bonus sons. When not working, she can be found reading, spending time with her family, playing with her puppy, Moose, or at her son’s various sports events.

Chris Ibarra, Immediate Past President, Executive Director at Aviva Granbury

Michelle worked in Human Resources and Recruitment for 10 years before leaving in 2014 to help her Mom with the family business, Angelic Place, a Residential Care Home in SW Arlington. There she turned her love of helping people into a love  of helping the Elderly and saw how important it was to find the right benefits for the Senior Community. She currently works for the Elder Law Firm Clifton Coufal where she helps with Medicaid Benefits and Veterans and Surviving Spouses with Veterans Benefits. 

Michelle has volunteered for many organizations over the years and currently advocates for Seniors serving on an Alzheimer’s Association North Central Texas Chapter Gala Planning Committee and Tarrant Area Gerontological Society (TAGS) Board. Michelle served as TAGS Scholarship Chair for 3 years before moving into the TAGS President-Elect Position in 2022, President in 2023 and Immediate Past President in 2024. She also served on the Continuity of Care Board for 4 years as Programs Chair. She is very active in the DFW Senior Healthcare Community and is a Co-Creator of the DFW Healthcare Connection Networking Group that currently has 17 monthly Networking Events through out North Texas. Michelle is the first to reach out to help those who are new to the area or industry and is a firm believer in the benefits of Senior Healthcare Networking and knowing your Community Partners. Michelle lives with her husband, two sons, and their Mini Long Haired Doxie Brooks in Waxahachie, Texas. During her spare time, she enjoys decorating, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family. 

Amanda Schmidt, President Elect 

Dr. Amanda Schmidt, is a physical therapist currently working as a Senior Clinical Liaison at Baylor Scott & White institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas. For over 18 years her work, training, and hobbies have focused on traumatic and orthopedic injuries, alternative treatment methods, diet, nutrition, marketing, business development, and patient advocacy.  Aside from work, she enjoys healthy cooking, CrossFit, yoga, running, speaking, and teaching. Her first love is God and His will. Her husband and children are the lights of her life. She’s honored to have the opportunity to play an integral role in TAGS.   

Sara Egan, Secretary       

Sara’s skilled background as a nurse in oncology set the foundation for her profound commitment to patient care, especially the senior population. It was her passion for creating meaningful connections with patients that led her to fall in love with hospice care. Journey  Hospice stands as a testament to her vision of changing the narrative of hospice care from one of sadness to empowerment and comfort. Through her work, she brings a new dimension to end-of-life care, focusing on quality of life and happiness in familiar surroundings. She has a BS in Communications from the University of Texas and a BSN from Texas Women’s University. 

Sara also serves on the board for Continuity of Care and is part of the leadership team for the monthly gathering of Trending Women - Parker County, which was created to connect and inspire women in business. Sara is married and a mother to 3 young boys. She enjoys traveling, reading, going to concerts and movies, and spending time with her energetic family!

Randi Hagstrand, Treasurer and Senior Living Specialists

Randi Hagstrand holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of North Texas. Her career in Healthcare  was first inspired by her sister, a LVN who has spent most of her career working with Seniors in nursing facilities. Out of college she obtained her Certified Nursing Assistant certification and worked on the floor at a local nursing home, while also working as a Physician’s Scribe in the emergency department. She then made a pivotal point to pursue the Administrative aspects of Senior Care. Before joining Senior Living Specialists in January 2021, she worked as an Admissions and Marketing Director for eight years. Her sense of purpose is fulfilled when she gets to educate and provide comfort to families facing the challenges of aging adults. Randi is married with three children. She enjoys photography, running, visiting local coffee shops and traveling.

Vanessa Hernandez, Programs Chair

Vanessa Hernandez is a compassionate and experienced professional who has spent her career supporting older adults and their families. With a deep understanding of the aging journey, she brings warmth and expertise to every   interaction. As a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Dementia Live Coach, Vanessa is especially passionate about helping individuals living with memory loss feel seen, understood, and valued.

A graduate of Texas Wesleyan University, Vanessa blends her academic background with years of hands-on experience in senior care settings. Her approach is rooted in empathy, respect, and a strong commitment to enhancing the lives of older adults and their caregivers.

Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys time with her husband and two children, finding balance and inspiration in family life.

Courtney Chamberlain, Summer Forum Chair

Bio & Photo Coming Soon 

Paige Wolk, LBSW, CDP- Social Work Chair and Senior Vice President, Overture Home Care

Paige began her career as a Social Worker in a skilled nursing facility and has been working with Older Adults ever since. Her experiences with Older Adults include Social Work, Business Development, Public Relations, Advocacy, Community Education and Sales/Marketing for long term care facilities, rehabilitation facilities and subacute units. She joined Overture Home Care in 2016 as the Senior Vice President.

Mrs. Wolk has a passion for Older Adults with particular interest in Alzheimer’s and Dementia. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) and volunteers regularly for Dementia and Alzheimer’s related causes. She is passionate about being a Dementia Live Certified Coach and holds trainings regularly to educate others about Dementia. 

She served as President of TAGS in 2019 and 2020 and currently serves as the Vice President for Dementia Friendly Fort Worth and serves as an Advisor for the 2023 and 2024 Community Advisory Council for the UNT Health Science Center for Older Adults. 

Paige is married with three children and resides in Tarrant County. 

Toni Sudderth, Community Engagement, Senior Area Advisor, Reliant at Home

Toni graduated Tarleton State University in 2010. After a 10 year career in banking, Toni brought her customer service skills and her deep, abiding passion for the senior population to the health care industry in 2015. Toni begin in home care, worked for a memory care and has been Reliant at Home, on their home health team, for 4 years now. 

Toni has a deep passion for advocating and educating and does so through her various commitments to Tarrant County nonprofits. Toni has had a love and concern for the senior population ever since her childhood. She has always been very close with her grand and great grandparents. In recent years, she helped her grandmother and mother understand what life looks like with Alzheimer’s, as her grandfather fought and lost his battle in 2017. 

Toni is a wife, mom of two energetic girls, a boxer and Great Dane that keep her busy and proud. Toni enjoys spending weekends with her family and friends on Lake Travis, in the Texas hill country and doing all she can to make amazing memories for her little ones. Toni and her family reside in Weatherford, Texas.

Mariela Heffel,  Faith-Based Chair 

Bio & Photo Coming Soon  

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Kaitlyn Ramey, Scholarships Chair  

Bio & Photo Coming Soon

David O'Connor, Administration Chair and Administrator at The Stayton at Museum Way 

David O’Connor is a Healthcare Administrator at The Stayton at Museum Way with expertise both in health  insurance costs and coverage, and in issues surrounding primary care and the health care workforce. He has an extensive background in health care management, policy, and public health. In his managerial role, he oversees all aspects of a facility’s health care delivery to ensure optimal care for patients. His goal is to improve the quality and efficiency of medical care, manage the finances, prepare budgets, hire, and manage staff, ensure compliance with regulations and more.  He approaches all aspects of any job with positive, hard-working mindset, and helping find solutions to any challenges.

Christina Mauldin, Nursing Chair, Senior Clinical Liaison Encompass Health 

Christina Mauldin is an LVN and current a clinical Liaison at Encompass Health Inpatient Rehab. She has been a nurse for 16 years, graduating from Tyler Jr College. She is continuing her education at Tarrant County Community College. She has  two children. Jada, 21yrs old and attending college at Oklahoma University. Jrue, 11yrs old who enjoys playing sports, camping and fishing.  Christina has a wide background of nursing history and experience. She has worked in hospice, home health, level 1 trauma hospital, assisted living, skilled nursing and now inpatient rehab.

Kathryn Rotter, Public Policy Chair

Kathryn Rotter currently working for Commissioner Gary Fickes, Precinct 3 and I just got a promotion and my new title is Executive Administrator Programs and Outreach. Her responsibilities include serving the senior community, addressing transportation issues, and handling other priority issues within Northeast Tarrant County. Prior to working for Commissioner Fickes, she served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley from April of 2012 though July 2022. She was tasked with creating a senior expo event for Tarrant County. This event, Senior Synergy, just completed its 9 th year and focuses on providing health education, health screenings, services, resources and so much more to help seniors in our area live an independent and healthy lifestyle.

Kathryn is an experienced Community Outreach Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in government administration. She is skilled in non-profit organizations, budgeting, event planning, customer service, and sales. She is a strong business professional with a BBA focused on Business Management and Marketing from Texas Christian University - M.J. Neeley School of Business.

Kathryn has one son who graduated from Stephen F. Austin; he continued his education and is now serving the community as a paramedic/firefighter. Kathryn is a brand-new Grandmother, as her son and daughter in law, who live in Collin County, delivered their first child in April of 2022. Kathryn enjoys the outdoors, including hunting, loves to travel and thrives on spending time with her family.

Michelle Myers - Membership Chair, Clifton Coufal Law Firm

Michelle worked in Human Resources and Recruitment for 10 years before leaving in 2014 to help her Mom with the family business, Angelic Place, a Residential Care Home in SW Arlington. There she turned her love of helping people into a love of helping the Elderly and saw how important it was to find the right benefits for the Senior Community. She currently works for the Elder Law Firm Clifton Coufal where she helps with Medicaid Benefits and Veterans and Surviving Spouses with Veterans Benefits. 

Michelle has volunteered for many organizations over the years and currently advocates for Seniors serving on an Alzheimer’s Association North Central Texas Chapter Gala Planning Committee and Tarrant Area Gerontological Society (TAGS) Board. Michelle served as TAGS Scholarship Chair for 3 years before moving into the TAGS President-Elect Position in 2022, President in 2023 and Immediate Past President in 2024. She also served on the Continuity of Care Board for 4 years as Programs Chair. She is very active in the DFW Senior Healthcare Community and is a Co-Creator of the DFW Healthcare Connection Networking Group that currently has 17 monthly Networking Events through out North Texas. Michelle is the first to reach out to help those who are new to the area or industry and is a firm believer in the benefits of Senior Healthcare Networking and knowing your Community Partners. Michelle lives with her husband, two sons, and their Mini Long Haired Doxie Brooks in Waxahachie, Texas. During her spare time, she enjoys decorating, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family. 

Katie Luna, Community Engagement Chair  and Clinical Liaison Emerald Hills Rehab Center

Katie Luna has been married for 20 years and is a mother of three. Before she started working as a Marketing & Admissions Director at   Emerald Hills, she owned her own bakery. Katie has been an LVN for 10 years and took a break in between to chase her dreams of owning a bakery. After COVID she decided to get back into the medical field as a liaison and is loving this new line of work! Katie is eager to promote TAGS and take part of such a wonderful organization.

Saundra Bramlett, Scholarship Assistant Chair   

Bio & Picture - Coming Soon