Kathy Bernetti, CPA
Senior Vice President of Finance
Kathy has been with Lifespan Network since January, 1996. She was involved with the merger of the Maryland Assisted Living Association, the formation of Lifespan’s educational arm, The Beacon Institute and Lifespan Products and Services.
Prior to Lifespan, Kathy owned a CPA practice concentrating on Nonprofit consulting. She was SVP at SouthTrust Bank in Atlanta as well as several national banks in Washington DC concentrating on business lending. Kathy graduated from the University of Delaware and obtained her CPA in 1995. Kathy volunteers at many local organizations including St Louis Church, St Francis Church, Archbishop Spalding and The Food Pantry at St Benedicts. She has been the finance chairman of several local charities and homeowner associations. She is an avid runner and sports enthusiast.
Donna Bonum
Director of Human Resources/Business Affairs
Donna has been a vital part of the LifeSpan Network team for over 20 years, having joined in October 2005. Originally hired as Office Manager, her talents were quickly recognized, leading to a promotion to Director of HR/Business Affairs.
Before her long and successful tenure at LifeSpan, Donna spent 15 years with the Association for International Practical Training (AIPT). In this role, she specialized in the J1 Visa exchange program for young professionals in the hotel and culinary industries. In a previous and unique experience, she also served as an x-ray technician for a roaming health screening company that served unionized groups as a benefit.
Outside of her impressive professional career, Donna is a dedicated family person who enjoys making new memories with her loved ones.
x221 | dbonum@lifespan-network.org
Lesley Flaim
Senior Vice President, The Beacon Institute
Lesley has been with LifeSpan for 10 years, starting as a Grant Manager, moving to membership support and finally to her current role supporting The Beacon Institute. For over 20 years prior to joining LifeSpan Lesley was a career government contractor working in the area of criminal justice. She has a MS in Justice from American University.
x261 | lflaim@lifespan-network.org
Annmarie Gordon
Education Program Manager
Annmarie has served as the Education Program Manager for The Beacon Institute since 2007, dedicating her career to advancing the knowledge of senior care professionals and caregivers. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of educational programs that advance knowledge for professionals, caregivers, and providers in the senior care sector.
x240 | agordon@lifespan-network.org
Kevin Heffner
President
Kevin Heffner has served in the role of President and CEO of LifeSpan Network since March 2017. Prior to this, Kevin served as Director, External Relations, with UMBC’s Management of Aging Services Program/The Erickson School. Before joining the Erickson School, Kevin served as Executive Director of The Beacon Institute, the Educational Affiliate of LifeSpan Network, from its founding in 1997. He oversaw the creation of The Beacon Institute’s Handelman Learning Center, The Mid- Atlantic Wellspring Program, and The Beacon Institute’s scholarships program, among other responsibilities.
Kevin is a Member of Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s Work Force Development Board (GWDB) and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Patient Safety Center. Kevin’s areas of professional certification include association management (CAE) and fund development (CFRE). He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Past Recipient of McDaniel College’s Community Service Award and The Beacon Institute’s Hall of Fame Award. Kevin has a BA in Communications from McDaniel College and an MA in Management of Aging Services from UMBC.
x226 | kheffner@lifespan-network.org | View Bio
Jamie Stewart (Jaegers)
Director of Membership and Business Development
Jamie has worked at the LifeSpan Network since April 2022 as the Manager of Membership and Business Development. Prior to joining the LifeSpan team, she worked in Independent Living at Riderwood Village, an Erickson Living community in Silver Spring, MD. She is a graduate of UMBC’s Health Administration and Public Policy undergraduate program and earned her M.A. in Management of Aging Services from the Erickson School at UMBC in 2016. After graduating, she worked for the Erickson School of Aging where she helped foster relationships with alumni, taught the undergraduate internship course and managed educational programs for the school.
Danna Kauffman, Esq.
Public Policy Consultant
Danna L. Kauffman, Esq. is the managing partner of Schwartz, Metz, Wise and Kauffman, PA. She has worked in various levels of State government and in the private sector for nearly 30 years. Throughout Danna’s State government and private sector experience, she has established a reputation as a problem solver and consensus builder who can handle complicated issues in a trusted and professional manner. Prior to joining the Firm in 2014, Danna served as Counsel to the then House Environmental Matters Committee (now known as the House Health and Government Operations Committee), working on complex health care issues, and then spent three years as a senior legislative advisor to Governor Glendening, where she worked on a wide range of issues in the areas of health, environment, civil rights and homeland security. Upon leaving government service, Danna came to work internally for LifeSpan as the Senior Vice President of Public Policy.
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Raised in Howard County, Maryland, Danna holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Towson University, where she graduated cum laude. In 1996, she graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she was an editor on the Maryland Law Review. Prior to entering State government service, Danna began her career as a litigation attorney at Smith, Somerville and Case, P.A.
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x224 | dkauffman@lifespan-network.org
Ashlie T. Bagwell
Public Policy Consultant
An experienced lobbyist, Ashlie T. Bagwell joined HJM in 2013 after spending the previous decade as a government relations professional in Annapolis and throughout Maryland. Bagwell’s vast experience and excellent reputation among Maryland legislators and government officials are invaluable assets to HJM and its clients. Before joining the team, Bagwell worked six years as a government relations consultant at an Annapolis lobbying firm. In that position, Bagwell represented many diverse clients, including many companies and organizations headquartered or located in Montgomery County.
Throughout her career, Bagwell has built strong relationships with members of the Maryland General Assembly, as well as legislators and agency representatives in county and local governments throughout the state. Over the years, she has built particularly solid relationships with elected officials, policymakers, and community members in Montgomery County, making her an asset to HJM clients with issues before the Montgomery County Council or the Montgomery County Delegation. Her versatility has allowed her to represent clients seamlessly in a wide range of policy areas.
Bagwell contributes her time to public policy issues specifically relating to matters that affect girls and women. Through the years, she has served as the Advocacy Program Director for Maryland Girls’ State, the Chair of Planned Parenthood Advocates of DC, Maryland and NoVa, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Planned Parenthood of Metro Washington DC Action Fund. In addition, Bagwell serves as a mentor with Leadership Montgomery Emerging Leaders and member of NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland. In 2023, Bagwell was named a Top Lobbyist by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics. She received the “Community Service Award” from the Maryland Government Relations Association in 2022. Bagwell was named one of Daily Record’s “Leading Women” and in 2004 she was a recipient of the Women Information Network’s “Women of Achievement” award. Ashlie T. Bagwell earned her bachelor of arts and master’s degree in public health from The University of South Carolina. The combination of Bagwell’s extensive knowledge and education makes her an outstanding advocate for her clients.
Kim McCracken
Program Coordinator
Kim joined the LifeSpan Network in March 2019. Before joining LifeSpan, she worked in several positions at Centrus Energy Corporation in Bethesda, MD and IBM in New York and Washington, DC where she was recognized with the “IBM Means Service” award. As Program Coordinator for the Beacon Institute, Kim assists with coordinating educational webinars and in-person classes, as well as LifeSpan provider and associate member calls. Kim is a graduate of the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), formerly known as the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) where she received her BS in Management Studies. Kim enjoys reading, walking, taking pictures, and listening to jazz. She loves spending time with her three grandchildren.
Paul N. Miller, CPA
Chief Operating Officer
Paul has 35 years of experience in accounting, third-party reimbursement, and computer related issues pertinent to various health care providers. Prior to entering public accounting, he was the Budget Administrator for the State of Maryland Medical Care Programs and an Audit Supervisor with the State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. From 1989 until 2004, Paul was a consultant and then the Director of Reimbursement for the Long Term Care Consulting Department of American Express Tax and Business Services Inc. Currently, Paul is the Executive Director of Aegis Healthcare Business Solutions, Inc. d/b/a LifeSpan Products and Services , a Division of LifeSpan, which provides group purchasing, liability insurance and business consulting services to long-term-care providers. Paul serves as the Director of Reimbursement Services for Mid-Atlantic LifeSpan and MANPHA. Paul represents LifeSpan on the State Nursing Home Liaison Committee.
Paul is a non-practicing CPA and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1979.
x250 | pmiller@lifespan-network.org | View Bio
Cierra Derato (O’Keefe)
Director of Marketing and Communications
Cierra joined the LifeSpan Team in June of 2023 in a brand new position. Prior to this, she climbed the higher education ladder at various institutions including University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland, College Park, and most recently, Mount St. Mary’s University. Her responsibilities included recruiting and marketing to both prospective and current undergraduate students, as well as planning and executing campus events. In her current role, she manages all e-communications, print media, social media, newsletter, and SEO initiatives for LifeSpan in the spirit of sharing the good news about the senior living industry. Cierra is a proud graduate of the Robert H. SmithSchool of Business, and resides in Accident, MD with her husband, her bernedoodle, Riggs, and cat, Leon.
x223 | CDerato@lifespan-network.org
Eric Shope
CRISP Liaison
Eric joined the Lifespan team in 2021. Prior to that Eric spent 30+ years in Nursing Facility Operations in Maryland. Eric received his B.S. In Health Planning and Administration from the Pennsylvania State University and his M.G.A., from The University of Maryland University College. Eric served two terms as Board Chair at the former Health Facilities Association of Maryland. In 2004 Eric completed the inaugural Future Leaders Program at the American Healthcare Association.
X235 | eshope@lifespan-network.org