Consumer Action Board
Our Consumer Action Board (CAB) is composed of community leaders throughout the United States who are committed to the principle that all Americans should have access to affordable, high-quality health care.
CAB members are especially knowledgeable and passionate about the issues that affect the Medicare community—not just because they care deeply about health care in America, but also because each member is a person with Medicare.
The CAB serves as a national voice for people with Medicare, communicating practical policy positions to local communities, the media, policymakers and elected officials. It works hand-in-hand with our staff to strengthen the voice of consumers in local, state and national health care policy.
We are currently looking for representatives from the following states:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming.
If you're a person with Medicare from one of these states, and are interested in applying for a position on the Consumer Action Board, please contact us by e-mail or call 212-204-6286.
National Consumer Action Board Members
Atlantic Region
Gene Ecton Davis, Virginia (Regional Coordinator)
Shirley Genn, New York
Pearl Lewis, Maryland
Sue Strassman, Pennsylvania.
Central Region
Howard Gochberg, Minnesota (Regional Coordinator)
Harold De Vos, Wisconsin
Bertie Evans, RN, Kansas
Kathy Hoell, Nebraska
Mary Lou Mahan, South Dakota
John McIntyre, South Dakota
Midwest Region
Barbara Bloom Kreml, MSIR, Illinois (Regional Coordinator)
William R. "Bill" Anthony, Missouri
M. Diane Augsbury, Ohio
Thelma Clabbers, Ohio
Meryl Dann, Illinois
Marjorie Mitchell, Michigan
Paul Severance, Indiana
Northeast Region
Harriet M. Goodwin, Vermont (Regional Coordinator)
Martha Bauman, New Hampshire
Krystafer Azur Francaux, New Jersey
John Glasel, New Jersey
Margaret Ross, Maine
Daniel Schulder, Pennsylvania
Lionel Williams, Connecticut
Southeast Region
Gloria Samuels, Tennessee (Regional Coordinator)
Harold Engelman, North Carolina
Jerry Edwards, North Carolina
Louise McKown, Tennessee
Hazel D. Schexnayder, Louisiana
Western Region
Dolores Hubert, Oregon (Regional Coordinator)
Donna Ambrogi, California
Peggy Coster, California
Ben Duggar, Texas
Alan Eisenberg, Colorado
Charles Kelly, Texas
Jacqueline Ridley, Nevada
Arthur Siegal, Washington
Clive Sommer, Arizona
Atlantic Region
Gene Ecton Davis, Virginia (Regional Coordinator)
A former flight attendant and retired high school mathematics teacher, Ms. Davis is actively involved with aging issues in her community and at the state level. She was president of the Virginia Council of Senior Citizens, and is currently the president of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia, a group that speaks for senior citizens in the Commonwealth. She is also on the board of the Northwestern Virginia Health Systems Agency, a charter member of the Alliance for Retired Americans, and a former board member for Jefferson, Virginia Area Agency on the Aging.
Shirley Genn, New York
In 2003, Ms. Genn retired from the Brooklyn-wide Interagency Council of the Aging (BWICA) after 17 years of serving as Executive Director and Director of Public Policy. Prior to that, she served as administrator at the New York City Board of Education in the Office of Equal Opportunity. Ms. Genn provided staff training in compliance and grievance procedures and mediated conflicts within the school system and with outside advocacy groups involved with equal opportunity issues.
Pearl Lewis, Maryland
Ms. Lewis is currently the volunteer Director of the Maryland Patient Advocacy Group, which she founded in 1998 to advocate for the needs of Maryland citizens facing both acute and chronic medical conditions. In 1983, she founded the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Maryland, became its Executive Director, and went on to serve as the National Director of Patient Advocacy and Government Relations in 1988. Ms. Lewis served as a Health Advocacy Specialist in the Office of the Attorney General and originated the concept that led to the creation of the Appeals and Grievance Unit in the Maryland Insurance Administration, and served as Co-Chairman of the PCP Committee of the National Kidney Disease Education Program of the NIDDK/NIH. Currently, her pamphlet, "Children's Eligibility to Medicare" is being published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Most recently she was appointed to the Malignancy Advisory Board of the National Kidney Foundation in New York as well as the Executive Committee Co-chairman of the NKF TransAction Council.
Sue Strassman, Pennsylvania
Ms. Strassman has retired from her third career as the program director in a social service agency, where she also directed the Senior Citizens Center. Her other careers include being a medical technician and an assistant in her husband's accounting office. She also worked as commissioner and vice-chair of the Wilkes-Barre City Planning and Development Commission for nineteen years. Ms. Strassman serves on the Luzerne County Advisory Board of the Children and Youth Agency. She is a past president of the Greater Wyoming Valley Jewish Community Center. Having served as the chair of the Project Area Committee of the Wilkes-Barre Redevelopment Authority for thirteen year following the disastrous Agnes Flood of 1972, Ms. Strassman's interests are community-wide.
Central Region
Howard Gochberg, Minnesota (Regional Coordinator)
After 36 years, Mr. Gochberg retired as Vice-President, Logistics and Custom Products for Land O'Lakes, Inc. During the course of his career he served as President of the Council of Logistics Management; as President of the Whey Products Institute; as Chairman of the Grocery Manufacturers Distibution/Logistics Committee; on the Steering Committee of the Food Industries International Trade Council: and as a member of a Presidential Delegation to the former Soviet Union led by the Secretary of Agriculture to assess food distribution issues. Presently, he is a Community Faculty member in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Metropolitan State University and a member of the USDA's Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets. In terms of health care, Mr. Gochberg is extremely active as a board member of the Metro Region of the Minnesota Senior Federation. He is Co-Chair of the Medicare Justice Coalition. He is a member of MSF's Health Action Committee and a member of the Legislative Committee of National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). He is also a member of a sub-committee of Minnesota's State Advisory Council, which addresses mental health issues as they relate to seniors.
Harold De Vos, Wisconsin
Mr. De Vos worked for an e-group dedicated to the support of those using intrathecal pumps to relieve chronic intractable pain. He currently advocates for low-cost health insurance for under-insured Americans and for adequate pain relief to people who are disabled or suffering from cancer.
Bertie Evans, RN, Kansas
Ms. Evans was a nurse for almost 50 years before retiring. She then started a Community Case Manager Program to help community members find solutions and access resources for their health care needs. Ms. Evans is currently the Community Case Manager of Wichita County and an advocate and counselor on various issues, including but not limited to Medicare Part D prescription drug plan selection and enrollment, Medicare Savings Programs, Low-Income Subsidy and Medicaid. She is also an advisory board member for the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care, the Medical Peer Review and Quality Assurance Organization for Kansas.
Kathy Hoell, Nebraska
Executive Director of Nebraska Statewide Independent Living Council, a nurse by training with a Master's in Public Administration, Ms. Hoell has Medicare because of a disability. In Nebraska, she is very active in advocacy for people with disabilities, especially around the issue of independent living.
Mary Lou Mahan, South Dakota
Ms. Mahan has spent a lifetime working in business, agriculture, politics and public service. For the past several years, she has worked extensively to provide health insurance and benefit packages to families through a partnership she formed with insurance providers. In addition, Ms. Mahan has an extensive and lifelong background in local, state and national politics. Her commitment to public service explains her extensive background and experience in community involvement, including longstanding service on several hospital and nursing home boards, local and state health care associations, and a variety of educational enhancement positions.
John McIntyre, South Dakota
Before retiring in 1993, Mr. McIntyre served thirty-eight years as a middle school teacher and counselor. In recognition of his career, he was awarded the Marvin Kemp Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Guidance and Counseling, the Orv Schmieding Award for Counseling Skills, and the SFEA and SDEA Human and Civil Rights Awards. For the past ten years, Mr. McIntyre has served as an instructor in the 55 ALIVE Defense Driving Program for AARP and has been an active member of the Government Affairs Committee of AARP South Dakota. Mr. McIntyre has served one term as Representative and one term as Senator in the South Dakota Legislature and is currently Chairperson of the Minnehaha County Democratic Party. He was elected to be a Kerry delegate at the 2004 Democratic convention in July 2004.
Midwest Region
Barbara Bloom Kreml, MSIR, Illinois (Regional Coordinator)
Ms. Kreml worked for the American Hospital Association (AHA) for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on the health care labor market. Ms. Kreml has used her expertise in professional credentialing, education and public relations with organizations such as the Professional Examination Service (PES), the National Consortium on Health Science and Technology Education (NCHSTE) and the League of Women Voters of Chicago. Ms. Kreml has spent the last five years volunteering her time to hospice care at Horizon Hospice.
William R. "Bill" Anthony, Missouri
A native Missourian, Mr. Anthony has 31 years' experience in education as a teacher and school administrator. He also worked at the Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging and as a Certified Fire Investigator. Mr. Anthony is active in his community and currently volunteers as a Medicare and Medicaid counselor.
M. Diane Augsbury, Ohio
Ms. Augsbury retired after 35 years of service in health care public relations and human resources, and at a physicians' office. Her career at a large health system included developing and managing employee benefits. She was involved in various organizations that worked on health care issues, and also volunteered for various agencies. For years she coordinated the United Way campaign at her organization and was chairperson of a United Way Investment Council committee. Currently she is a certified ombudsman and volunteer consultant for the Area Agency on Aging, and is active in various community organizations.
Thelma Clabbers, Ohio
A retired nurse, Ms. Clabbers has dedicated her life to the health care field. Ms. Clabbers served as the Director of the Health and Wellness Program for the Hospital Corporation of America in Virginia and worked for 12 years as the Assessment Manager for the Medicaid Waiver Program for five counties in Ohio. Currently, she volunteers as a nursing home ombudsman and as medical researcher for Pro Seniors, an elder law firm in Ohio.
Meryl Dann, Illinois
Ms. Dann's experience with home care, long-term care, and aging issues are at the national, state and local levels. She was an administrator at a nationally respected multi-level long-term care facility and worked for the American Hospital Association, where she was responsible for policy and regulations covering a wide array of aging/health concerns as well as consulting to the Veteran's Administration and other organizations. Ms Dann co-authored the book The Dilemma of Caring, about adults caring for older family members and friends. While retired from not-for-profit administration she still maintains an active volunteer schedule.
Marjorie Mitchell, Michigan
Ms. Mitchell served as Executive Director of "The ARC" for 10 years. ARC serves 60 plus chapters, advocating education and services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Throughout her career, Ms. Mitchell reviewed and prepared many proposals, implemented program development plans, performed program evaluations, developed coalitions and initiatives/proposals, coordinated funding development, among other things. She is President of the Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network, President of the Community Opportunity Center, and serves as Board Secretary for the Michigan Health Insurance Access Advisory Council. She has a "Heart of Gold" award, presented from the Tri-county Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Severance, Indiana
Mr. Severance is the founder of United Senior Action of Indiana, a 15,000-member senior citizen public policy advocacy organization. He founded United Senior Action in 1979, and served as its Executive Director until 2006, when he retired. He continues to serve as a consultant to the organization, while pursuing his new passion of urging seniors to speak powerfully on behalf of future generations. Earlier in his life, Mr. Severance served as director of North East Area Development in Rochester, New York; the Steuben County Senior Federation in Corning, New York; and the Near East Side Community Organization in Indianapolis.
Northeast Region
Harriet M. Goodwin, Vermont (Regional Coordinator)
Now retired, Ms. Goodwin was most recently the Executive Director of COVE (The Community of Vermont Elders), a statewide advocacy and educational organization. While there she obtained the Robert Wood Johnson/Atlantic Philanthropies $2.6 million grant called "Better Jobs Better Care," one of five national grants awarded to projects that address the future issues of staffing for long-term care facilities. She now serves on a number of boards, including the Advisory Board to the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living. She worked for over thirty years in a variety of senior services from housing to psychological and social services. A psychologist by training, she holds an MS in Gerontology and is a licensed social worker (LCSW). She was appointed by Senator Patrick Leahy to represent Vermont at the most recent White House Conference on Aging.
Martha Bauman, New Hampshire
Martha Bauman is a freelance writer who writes a column on senior issues for the Keene Sentinel and senior profiles for New Hampshire Magazine. She chairs the Area Committee on Aging. Prior to retirement, she was the Director of Monadnock Volunteer Center and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. She has also directed long-term care services in substance abuse programs and mental health centers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Ms. Bauman chaired the Area Committee on Aging for eight years. She is a member of the Advisory Council of the Endowment for Health, a foundation formed from the sale of New Hampshire Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She also served as a board member of New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
Krystafer Azur Francaux, New Jersey
Mr. Azur Francaux is currently a hotline counselor at the Medicare Rights Center and a part-time assistant at the Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia. In addition to his advocacy efforts, he is also chairman of the speakers bureau of the Master Gardeners of Union County.
John Glasel, New Jersey
A professional trumpeter, Mr. Glasel was president of Local 802, the New York City local of the American Federation of Musicians, and trustee of its Health Benefits Plan. Since retiring in 1993, he has served as vice-chair of the Gray Panthers of Northern New Jersey and is presently secretary of Health Care for All/NJ.
Margaret Ross, Maine
Ms. Ross is a registered nurse who retired from state service as the Director of Maine Medicaid Surveillance and Utilization Review. During her state service, she participated in efforts to identify and deter misuse and abuse in the health care system, specifically with Medicare and Medicaid. Currently, Ms. Ross participates as a volunteer at Maine Public Television, is a member of the Maine Medicare Education Partnership and is a trustee of the Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing.
Daniel Schulder, Pennsylvania
Mr. Schulder has devoted much of his life to legislative and policy development on aging issues and programs. He has served as the Director for Public Policy and Legislation for the National Council on the Aging, as the Director of the Department of Legislation and Public Affairs for the National Council of Senior Citizens, as the Director of Legislation for the Alliance for Retired Americans, and as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. Presently, Mr. Schulder continues to advocate on behalf of seniors as a consultant for the Board of Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans.
Lionel Williams, Connecticut
A native of New York, Mr. Williams moved at the age of 25 to Connecticut, where he worked for state and national unions negotiating contracts and representing unions in arbitration proceedings. He currently serves on the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration as a labor arbitrator.
Southeast Region
Gloria Samuels, Tennessee (Regional Coordinator)
A lawyer, Ms. Samuels worked for Legal Services, specializing in health law and representing individuals who had their TennCare (Medicaid) services terminated, had been denied a service or had a variety of other problems involving their health. She is active in educating people with Medicare about their rights and protections, and attempting to make Medicare recipients realize the failures of Part D.
Harold Engelman, North Carolina
A former Japanese language specialist in the U.S. Army and a Vice President of nationally known insurance companies, Mr. Engelman has become very involved as a health advocate. He is a state representative for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and a former Area Director of the AARP Workforce. He also serves on the Arbitration Panel of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).
Jerry Edwards, North Carolina
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Mr. Edwards had a 30-year career in health care administration, management and regulatory compliance in the public and private sectors. Currently, he is active in health advocacy work in North Carolina, especially around the issues of health care for elderly, disabled, developmentally challenged and people with HIV/AIDS.
Louise McKown, Tennessee
Ms. McKown has a rare, progressive neurological condition and had to go without health insurance when her COBRA coverage ran out before her Medicare kicked in. She is very involved in disability advocacy. She works for the East Tennessee Technology Access Center in Knoxville. She presently chairs the Olmstead committee for the Tennessee Disability Coalition. Ms. Mckown also works very closely with United Way in her county, addressing senior citizens' issues. She also serves the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities Council for the 16 counties around and including Knox County.
Hazel D. Schexnayder, Louisiana
A native of Louisiana, Ms. Schexnayder worked as a School Food Service Manager for 24 years and then as a Child Nutrition Program Supervisor for seven. After retiring, she became involved in several health education initiatives in her community.
Western Region
Dolores Hubert, Oregon (Regional Coordinator)
Ms. Hubert was born, raised and educated in Oregon, and after a career in nursing she pursued her studies in Health Care Administration. She worked as an ombudswoman in nursing homes, resolving complaint issues for residents. Ms. Hubert chairs the Health and Long-Term Care Committee of the Governor's Commission for Senior Services and lobbies for senior issues in the Oregon legislature.
Donna Ambrogi, California
As a two-time Fulbright Scholar and Pew Fellow in health care policy, Ms. Ambrogi has devoted much of her life to health care education and advocacy. A retired elder law attorney and professor, Ms. Ambrogi serves on the boards of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) and of Pilgrim Place, the retirement community where she and her husband live. She founded a Consumer Advisory Council for Inter-Valley Health Plan, a local nonprofit Medicare HMO, to communicate problems that HMO members have with its services; and she volunteers at a food distribution center for the poor and homeless in southern California. She formerly was a member of the California Senior Legislature.
Peggy Coster, California
Disabled since 1989, Ms. Coster is involved in health care and disability advocacy. She has participated in the founding of local organizations, and served as President of the board of In Home Supportive Services and as an officer of Access SF. She is also a local public access producer, and has worked with various other efforts, especially concerning disability access and health care - Medicare and wheelchairs in particular.
Ben Duggar, Texas
Mr. Duggar is currently a Certified Volunteer Ombudsman serving nursing home residents in Galveston County. He has spent 40 years in public health, working for the U.S. Public Health Service, in academia and with various research and consulting firms assisting federal, state, and community health organizations. For 10 years prior to retiring in 1998, he was Vice President of the Center for Health Policy Studies in Columbia, MD. He has also served on the board of a community hospital and of a rehabilitation center for the blind that included a special residential program for older adults with impaired vision. Mr. Duggar has a doctorate from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Alan Eisenberg, Colorado
A graduate of University of Colorado, Mr. Eisenberg worked for 15 years as a pharmacist managing domestic and international corporate purchases for Abbot Laboratories and Baxter International in Illinois. Returning to Colorado, he developed an institutional pharmacy practice providing health care to long term care facilities, assisted living facilities, penal institutions, the mental health population, and hospice programs specializing in pain management. Mr. Eisenberg currently serves on the board of Colorado Foundation for Medical Care and on the Executive Committee for Seniors Inc. He also is a legislative advocate for AARP and a former vice president for Rx Plus.
Charles Kelly, Texas
A retired consultant for the U.S. Office of Economic Development and President of his own real estate company, Mr. Kelly has applied his business experience and organizational skills with a passion and a commitment to the education and well-being of senior adults. He has provided care to senior adults as an officer of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and as the Director of Senior Care Management. Presently, Mr. Kelly volunteers as the Senior Outreach Coordinator for the Galveston County Health District in Texas.
Jacqueline Ridley, Nevada
Ms. Ridley is a retired college professor and has been a senior advocate for over 30 years. She served a four-year term with the Nevada Commission on Aging, started one of the first community college gerontology programs in the country and helped in the development of numerous senior programs, including senior centers and hospice. She is currently on the Nevada Advisory Council for the Severely Disabled and has been a SHIP Medicare advisor for 9 years.
Arthur Siegal, Washington
Mr. Siegal, a graduate of the University of Denver and electrical engineer, has held volunteer posts in both his professional trade and community member capacities. He is a founding member of both the North American Telecommunications Association and Seattle Electronic Trades Association. He was a charter member of the Board of the Seattle Community College District. He was a member of the organizing committee for the African-American/Jewish Coalition for Justice. He also served on the Group Health Cooperative Board for nineteen years, six years as chair, and the Temple De Hirsch Sinai Board for fourteen years, three years as chair.
Clive Sommer, Arizona
Mr. Sommer is a book store co-owner and chief financial officer. He was a visiting associate professor of mathematics at Arizona State University. Mr. Sommer has also served as a board member of the following organizations: Gentle Strength Food Cooperative, Mill Avenue Merchant Association, Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association and Arizona Citizen Action.