HSS Advisory Board Members

Merrill Friedman

Position: Senior Director – Disability Policy Engagement, Elevance Health

Merrill Friedman leads the Disability Policy Engagement team and advocacy strategy for Elevance Health, a leading health benefits company serving nearly 71 million people nationwide through its affiliates.

Merrill Friedman

Senior Director – Disability Policy Engagement, Elevance Health

Merrill Friedman leads the Disability Policy Engagement team and advocacy...

Kathy Greenlee

Position: Senior Director, ADvancing States and former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging

Kathy Greenlee was instrumental in founding the Administration for Community Living at HHS.  She also a served as the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

Kathy Greenlee

Senior Director, ADvancing States and former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging

Kathy Greenlee was instrumental in founding the Administration for Community...

Janet LaBreck

Position: Co-Founder of Synergy Consulting Partners and former Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration

Under her leadership, Janet LaBreck was responsible for promulgating the most substantive national policy regulation changes to the Vocational Rehabilitation program in over 15 years.  In addition to her work at Synergy Consulting and her own consulting business, she is a Respectability and National Braille Press board member.

Janet LaBreck

Co-Founder of Synergy Consulting Partners and former Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration

Under her leadership, Janet LaBreck was responsible for promulgating the...

J.T. Lane

Position: Chief Population Health & Innovation Officer, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

J.T. Lane directs ASTHO’s support of state and territorial partnerships to end the HIV epidemic, state and territorial public health capacity building, rural health innovation, and primary care and public health integration.

J.T. Lane

Chief Population Health & Innovation Officer, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

J.T. Lane directs ASTHO’s support of state and territorial partnerships...

Yolanda Stevens

Position: Program and Policy Analyst, National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)

Dr. Yolanda Stevens brings more than 25 years of experience to her role at NAEH. She has spent the majority of her career at the local level on issues related to vulnerable populations-older adults, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Yolanda Stevens

Program and Policy Analyst, National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)

Dr. Yolanda Stevens brings more than 25 years of experience...

Mary Sowers

Position: Executive Director, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)

Before joining NASDDDS, Mary Sowers was with Mercer Government Human Services Consulting where she provided consultation and technical assistance to state governments on a wide array of Medicaid-related issues, with a focus on integrated care, home and community-based services, and managed long-term services and supports.

Mary Sowers

Executive Director, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)

Before joining NASDDDS, Mary Sowers was with Mercer Government Human...

Sandy Markwood

Position: Chief Executive Officer, USAging

Sandy Markwood is a national advocate for aging issues and a champion for ensuring that older adults have the best supports to age well at home and in their communities. As the CEO of USAging since 2002, she is committed to ensuring that our society values and supports people across the lifespan.

Sandy Markwood

Chief Executive Officer, USAging

Sandy Markwood is a national advocate for aging issues and...

Abby Cox

Position: Senior Director of Aging Policy, ADvancing States

Abby Cox provides strategic leadership over the aging and disability work of ADvancing States, overseeing the analysis of federal regulations and advocating for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. Abby is the former Assistant Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Aging Services in Georgia, and also served as Vice President of Business Solutions at WellSky.

Abby Cox

Senior Director of Aging Policy, ADvancing States

Abby Cox provides strategic leadership over the aging and disability...