Description

About WBC:

Women’s Business Connection is a member-driven initiative to empower women in business. The goal is to offer useful information that is designed for professional and personal growth. This monthly program provides an uplifting environment that fosters female collaboration and support within the business community. (Lunch provided by Holiday Inn & Suites).   Arrive as early as 11am.  Allow enough time to check in, network and be seated by 11:30 as we must start on time. 

Theme/Topic:  Our Loved Ones Are Aging....Now What?!

About our speakers:

Sandy Dyk (moderator)-Director of Operations for All About You Placement and Senior Resources

Sandy Dyk has over 35 years of Senior Healthcare experience with a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts-Music Therapy as well as a Masters of Health Administration. Sandy began her career working in an Assisted Living Community just outside of Milwaukee, WI as a Recreation Specialist with a focus in Music Therapy. Soon after obtaining her Bachelor’s degree, Sandy moved to California and began her lifetime career serving Seniors and their families. While in CA, Sandy opened her own Music Therapy business, providing Music Therapy services to facilities specializing in both Alzheimer’s Disease as well as mental health. Not too long after moving to CA, Sandy soon began moving into a management and operations role, overseeing group homes serving young and older adults with developmental disabilities and later moving into the Senior Living arena and helping to open a new Senior Living community offering both Assisted Living as well as Memory Care. The majority of Sandy’s careers has been overseeing the day-to-day operations and start-ups of large Senior Living Communities, overseeing a mobile physician practice, Administrator and VP of Operations for a multi-site Hospice company and now, Director of Operations for All About You Placement and Senior Resources. Sandy is currently a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Certified Dementia Champion, and serves on several Boards with a focus on Senior’s as well as Leadership.

Traci Beagley-Founder/CEO at Sunland Home Care

Traci comes from a family that has built 55+ communities for seniors since 1958. Over sixty years later, she is still following in her family legacy of working with seniors. In 2016, she started Sunland Home Care, which provides non-medical in-home care to seniors in the Valley. Traci has created an award-winning company that focuses on culture first. Sunland was awarded A Great Place to Work for 5 consecutive years and was named several times on the Fortune Best Workplaces for Aging Services. Sunland Home Care has been recently named an AZ Most Admired Company. Sunland Home Care has won the industry’s highest awards, Best of Home Care Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice and Leader in Experience. Traci has been featured in Scottsdale Lifestyle magazine and The Know Book Phoenix, a global group of female entrepreneurs and businesswomen, and was recognized in 2024 as Who’s Who In Healthcare in Arizona. In 2018, Traci was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of this, Traci has volunteered at Banner MD Anderson Breast Cancer Center, helping to raise over $2.0m for various breast cancer programs, notably a mobile mammography bus called The Big Pink Bus. She was honored to be the 2021 Honorary Bat Girl by Major League Baseball and the Arizona Diamondbacks for her fight against breast cancer. Community service is an important conviction to Traci. She has served on various boards in the community to help make our state a better place to live. She loves giving back and volunteering her time to organizations that assist the underprivileged, seniors, Veterans, and the arts.

Laura Nero-Co-Owner and Patient Advocate for RN Health Advocates

Laura obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Valdosta State University in Georgia. Upon graduation, she returned to her home state of Arizona to begin her nursing career at the Mayo Clinic. The majority of Laura's 10-years in Mayo was spent working on an inpatient Medical/Surgical/Palliative care unit. After deciding to transition from bedside nursing, Laura delighted in working for two years as a school nurse. Although working with children brought her much joy, she knew geriatrics was the population she wanted to serve. She was able to re-engage with seniors via concierge nursing and came to understand more fully the importance of patient advocacy. Laura feels strongly that all patients should have someone standing in their corner during some of their toughest and most vulnerable times. She takes great pride in her ability to collaborate and coordinate care in a complex healthcare system.

Monika “Mo” Lukasiewicz-Program Director for COPE

Monika “Mo” Lukasiewicz, OTR/L, serves as the COPE Program Director and has the pleasure of being the first occupational therapist to work on the Oakwood Creative Care (OCC) team. After OCC was awarded a federal grant from the Administration for Community Living in 2021 focused on the Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiatives, Mo was hired to learn and implement a clinical, immersive and evidence-base program (called the COPE Program) in order to begin serving care partners and people living with dementia AT HOME.

As of February 2024, the new Dementia Hub is officially home to Oakwood and Arizona’s first therapy clinic dedicated to evidence-based dementia care. The current clinical offerings include interdisciplinary COPE-based services led by a COPE trained occupational therapist with collaboration from a COPE trained nurse practitioner.

Monika graduated with her master’s in occupational therapy from the College of St. Mary in Omaha, NE in 2009. With over 20,000 patient encounters (including at least 6,000 home visits) in 15 years of home-based, outpatient, ICU, acute care, and acute rehab healthcare, she loves problem solving to enhance quality of life and prevent hospitalizations. As a result she loves identifying and aligning do-it-today solutions to match some of healthcare and families most unique challenges. Her purpose is to inspire her community through a poetic understanding and use of occupational therapy.

Roxanne DalPos-CEO at Lifeline Behavioral Health

"Dr. Roxanne DalPos is a licensed psychotherapist and CEO of a COA accredited counseling agency, Lifeline Behavioral Health, with over 20 years of experience in leadership and management consulting for Fortune 500 companies. A Walden University alumna, she specializes in diversity, inclusion, and equity in business practices. As Clinical Director, she oversees intensive outpatient programs and offers comprehensive mental health services. Dr. DalPos has developed a curriculum for caregivers, teaching CBT and DBT therapies for both professional and personal backgrounds. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she is dedicated to integrating therapeutic approaches that foster wellness. Her expertise makes her a distinguished leader and trail blazing example in her field."

Pro Networking Tip: 

Members did you know that if you bring a door prize you will get a minute at the mic to promote your business? Valid for Members in good standing only (value of $25 or more, no BOGO's or discounts off an item or service). Please make arrangements prior to the event.  If you are bringing a door prize and after you check in, please bring your door prize to Christine so she can check you off the list.  If you pick up a gift card, considering purchasing one from a member.

Registration Includes: 

• Access to the event
• Food
• Eligibility to win Door Prizes

Dress Code: Business Casual

Please remember to pre-register to receive the discount.  Allow enough time to check in, network and be seated by 11:30 as we must start on time.  You may bring promotional flyers/brochures for the designated table at the back of the room.  Please do not distribute flyers/brochures/samples on the dining tables.  Please be sure to take your promotional items with you when you leave.