Steve Bahmer - President & CEO

Steve Bahmer is President and CEO of LeadingAge Southeast. Since joining the Association in 2015, he has modernized our mission and service model, and positioned LeadingAge Southeast as the leading voice for the entire continuum of high quality, mission driven senior living providers and their residents. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare and higher education association leadership, public policy and consulting, Steve is a trusted and visionary leader who values innovative, strategic thinking, energetic advocacy, concierge-level member service, clear communication, and a tireless work ethic rooted in integrity.

In addition to his leadership at LeadingAge Southeast, Steve is a member of the University of Central Florida Senior Living Management Advisory Board, a member of the Board of Directors for LeadingAge Florida’s Value First group purchasing organization, and a member of the LeadingAge national State Executives Forum Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Florida Society of Association Executives and is active in a number of aging services-related partnerships and projects around Florida, including initiatives focusing on quality care, information technology, workforce issues, and affordable senior housing.

Steve and his family enjoy Florida’s warm weather and gorgeous beaches. He is a lifelong, die-hard baseball fan, especially of his beloved Colorado Rockies, and enjoys keeping up with his family’s athletic, academic and musical pursuits.

Joey Mookerjee - Chief Operating Officer

Joey Mookerjee serves as Chief Operating Officer of LeadingAge Southeast, bringing over 15 years of senior living leadership experience to the role. He oversees the association’s daily operations and leads key areas including communications, membership, professional development, and sponsorships. Prior to joining LeadingAge Southeast, Joey held executive roles with Brookdale Senior Living, Lifespace Communities, and Westminster Communities of Florida. He holds a Master of Health Services Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from Albion College. Joey is committed to advancing innovation, excellence, and meaningful support for mission-driven senior living providers across the Southeast.

Nick Van Der Linden - Senior Director of Operations

Nick Van Der Linden serves as the Senior Director of Operations for LeadingAge Southeast, and joined the association in 2019. Nick is responsible for the association’s internal and external communications through message development and platform management. He executes and coordinates the communications plan, including press releases, communications events, management of social media platforms, weekly newsletter, and other communications innovations. Nick began his professional career as a Public Information Specialist for the Florida Department of Health where he had an active role in the daily operations of the media office, including the management of media inquiries and responses. He later served as the speech writer for the State Surgeon General before being appointed as the Department’s Interim Communications Director.

Nick is a native of the Netherlands and moved to the United States in 2003. He obtained a Master’s degree from Auburn University and lives in Tallahassee with his wife Austyn and their three children.

BIO 4

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kasey anderson, shrm-cp - Director of Administrative Services & Executive Support

Kasey Anderson is the Executive Assistant to the President/CEO. In addition to providing administrative and strategic support to Steve Bahmer, she is the administrative liaison to the Board of Trustees, coordinates our annual awards program, and works on special projects and assignments. Kasey joined the LeadingAge Southeast team in 2018 with a professional background in workforce development, human resources, and hospitality. She is a certified member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Kasey is originally from Bradenton, a graduate of Emory University, and the proud mom of two children. In her spare time, she enjoys running, yoga, reading, and traveling – especially back home to the beaches of Anna Maria Island.

robert bernal - Value first southeast regional manager

Robert “Bobby” Bernal is the Southeast Regional Manager for Value First. His role is to work with our member communities to identify the very best price through our GPO for good and services that they purchase on an ongoing basis. Prior to starting with LeadingAge Florida in 2014, Bobby spent 22 years in the managed care industry as a lobbyist and association Executive Director.

In 1992 Bobby was the founding Executive Director for the Florida Association of Managed Care Organizations representing 21 Medicaid HMO’s. (FAMCO as it was known) merged with the Florida Association of HMO’s (Commercial Health Pans) in 2000, to become what is today the Florida Association of Health Plans. Bobby stayed with the merged association as Director of Government Programs (Medicaid, State Children’s Programs SCHIP and Long Term Care).

In 2003 Bobby accepted a position as VP of Government Relations for Amerigroup, a national HMO Medicaid Plan. In 2008 Bobby was appointed Director of Business Development for UnitedHealth Care Community Plan, where he oversaw a team of 10 outreach coordinators for the Medicaid, Florida Healthy Kids and Long Term Care Programs. Bobby is a graduate of Florida State University with Bachelor of Science in Government.

connie cheren - clinical & compliance specialist

Connie Cheren, RN, MSW, life’s work has been in assisting nursing homes and assisted living communities with understanding and successfully meeting state and federal standards, and in improving quality care outcomes in long term care. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in clinical excellence and regulatory compliance.

Since 2014 she has worked with LeadingAge Southeast as their Clinical and Compliance Expert helping members with survey preparation, regulatory questions and COVID-19 response. In 2020 she received the LeadingAge Florida Chair’s Award for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic and providing guidance to members.

Karen Contrenchis - State Director, Louisiana & Mississippi

Karen Contrenchis has served as President/CEO of LeadingAge Gulf States since 2004. In her capacity as President/CEO, Karen is responsible for the overall management of the Association including the implementation of a strategic plan; financial resources; and, ensuring member value in areas such as public policy, education, group purchasing, and publications.Karen also works in concert with the Association board to keep them informed of important trends to enhance member success in the Long-Term Care field.

In addition to her leadership for LeadingAge Gulf States, Karen serves on the Louisiana Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness Review Committee appointed by the Legislature; was a member of LeadingAge National Executive Forum; and liaison for several state regulatory and legislative organizations. She is a Licensed Facility Administrator in the state of Louisiana.

Before joining LeadingAge Gulf States, Karen served for 27 years as the Associate Executive Director/Controller for Woldenberg Village in New Orleans. Karen grew up in several states as the daughter of a retired Navy father and settled in New Orleans after his retirement. When she's not working, she enjoys time with her husband Joe, family members and she loves to travel.

Julie Copeland - Membership Manager

Julie Copeland is LeadingAge Southeast’s Membership Manager. Julie joined the association in December 2001 as Business Development Manager before transitioning to her current role in July of 2024. Julie is responsible for recruiting, exhibitors and sponsors. She also recruits new Business Members/Partners, while working to retain our current Business Members/Partners. Julie maintains and updates our membership database, including new entries, membership staff changes, record-keeping and creates internal reports.

Julie is a native of Michigan, an avid sports fan and an active member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). She is married to Robert, and has three adult children – all of whom are graduates of The Florida State University.

magdalen flynt - Director of Convention and Brand Experience

Magdalen Flynt is the Office Manager and Accounting Coordinator for LeadingAge Southeast and joined the association in February, 2017. Magdalen brings over 20 years of administrative experience to Office/Operations Management, Accounting and Event Coordination. She manages and coordinates the association’s general office functions; she serves as the association’s community member liaison and event registrar; she manages and oversees the administration of community membership dues and accounts receivables and provides creative ideation, event coordination and event management support.

Magdalen is a Massachusetts native who relocated to Florida in 2006 to escape the cold and be closer to family. She loves all New England sports teams, the Florida Gators, coffee and chocolate. Magdalen is a self-proclaimed animal lover and lives in rural Jefferson County on acreage with a variety of livestock. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children. Her hobbies include decorating, hiking with her four dogs, cooking, reading, going to the beach and volunteering in her church community.

Lisa Jensen - Director of Public Policy and Reimbursement

Lisa Jensen has served on the Public Policy team for LeadingAge Southeast since August 2021. Her primary focus in this role is identifying and developing public policy positions and initiatives, creating analysis and guidance on regulatory changes, and supporting legislative advocacy on behalf of association members. Lisa is available to provide operational support for members and assistance on reimbursement, quality initiatives, and regulatory questions.

Prior to joining LeadingAge, Lisa was employed by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. In her roles as Bureau Chief of Medicaid Program Finance and supervisor over Nursing Home Reimbursement, she was responsible for the fiscal planning of Florida’s Medicaid services budget and Medicaid rate setting for institutional providers including nursing homes.

Lisa grew up in Lakeland and Tallahassee, Florida and has a B.S. in Economics from Florida State University. When she's not working, she enjoys yard work, hiking with her dog, and going to dive bars with her best friends.

Kiki Litchford - Director of Professional Development

Ms. Litchford’s career includes more than a decade of experience working for domestic and international nonprofits, government agencies, and private institutions. While pursuing graduate degrees she gained experience with providers of older adult and disability services. She joins LeadingAge Southeast with an MA in Social Work and an MA in Public Administration from Florida State University, in addition to a BA in Entrepreneurship.