OUR SPEAKERS
Attorney
Director, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
Washington, D.C.
Erica F. Wood is Assistant Director of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging. She has been associated with the Commission since 1980, where she has worked primarily on issues concerning adult guardianship, legal services delivery, dispute resolution, health care and managed care, long-term care and access to court. She has participated in many national studies on public guardianship and guardianship monitoring. Prior to 1980, she served as staff attorney at Legal Research and Services for the Elderly at the National Council of Senior Citizens. Ms. Wood is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association. She was appointed by the Governor as a member of the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board. She is the Chair of the Arlington County Commission on Long-Term Care Residences; and served for over 20 years as legislative chair of the Northern Virginia Aging Network. Ms. Wood received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the George Washington University.
Fiduciary Branch Manager
Guardianship Division, Department for Aging and Independent Living, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Frankfort, KY
Adanne Bagby has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Kentucky and attended Kentucky State University for additional accounting courses. She grew up in a family run lumber yard, worked as a volunteer for many service organizations including meals on wheels and ran her own business in Lexington. She began her auditing career with the Auditor of Public Accounts in 1991 served on the Governor’s Commission for Quality and Efficiency and the Governor’s Task Force for “Empower Kentucky”. In 1997, she moved to the Cabinet for Health Services, Office of the Inspector General as Contract Branch Audit Manager and from there became involved with the fiduciary part of the public guardianship program. The public guardianship program had an in-depth audit completed by the APA which found numerous internal control problems relating to handling of monies of wards of the Cabinet. In 2003 Ms. Bagby was asked by the Cabinet Secretary to work with the Cabinet for Families and Children, Guardianship Program and assist in bringing the program into compliance with auditing standards. Today she manages the Fiduciary Branch which handles benefits and financial matters, including financial reports to the courts, for all wards of the Cabinet in compliance with KRS 387. She is also a National Certified Guardian through the Center for Guardianship Certification, an allied foundation of the National Guardianship Association and a charter board member of the Kentucky Guardianship Association.
Chief District Judge, Division II 25th Judicial District
Richmond, KY
Brandy Oliver Brown has served a District Judge in the 25th Judicial District (Madison and Clark Counties) for for the past eight years, four as Chief Judge. Prior to serving as Judge she was an Assistant County Attorney in Madison County where she was prosecutor for Juvenile,Traffic, Criminal, Domestic Violence and Family Courts. Judge Brown completed her undergraduate work, cum laude, receiving a B.A. as an English major with a minor in Business. She attended the University of Kentucky College of Law and received the J.D. Degree in 1993. She has been active as a member of the training committee for District Judges and served as a member of the statewide Elder Abuse Committee's Guardianship Subcommittee.
Internal Policy Analyst
Division of Protection and Permanency, Department for Community Based Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Frankfort, KY
Stacy Stacy Carey earned her B.S.W. from Eastern Kentucky University. She has been employed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as an investigative worker for Adult and Child Protective Services and in her current position as an Internal Policy Analyst in the Adult Safety Branch. As an adult protection worker, Ms. Carey has served as a member of numerous guardianship interdisciplinary evaluation teams. Specializing in the areas of domestic violence and elder abuse, Ms. Carey currently provides consultation and direction to field staff across the state, reviews and develops policy, and provides training to community partners. She serves as a member on the Counsel on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Project Safe, and the Elder Abuse Rally Committee.
Attorney
Assistant Fayette County Attorney
Lexington, KY
Wayne Cook has been involved with the Mental Health Division of District Court as an Assistant County Attorney in Fayette County since 1984. This includes representation of the Commonwealth in guardianship and involuntary hospitalization proceedings. He has also worked as a sole practioner in the general civil practice of law since 1975. Mr. Cook received both a B.A. in psychologhy in 1972 and J.D. from the College of Law in 1975 at the University of Cincinnati.
Attorney
Braxton Crenshaw Law Office
Lexington, KY
Braxton Crenshaw attended the University of Kentucky where he earned a B.B.A. in Marketing in 1992 and the University of Kentucky College of Law earning his J.D. in 1996. He practices general law including criminal defense, domestic relations, probate, mental health and other areas of civil law in his own law office. Additional work experience include serving as a Trial Commissioner with the Kentucky Bar Association, a Hearing Officer with the Commonwealth of Kentucky Board of Claims, and a volunteer Mediator with the Lexington Mediation Center.
Retired
Lexington, KY
Susan Crone has worked in both the private and public sector for over 30 years with adults and youth with physical and mental disabilities. During her tenure with the Cabinet she served as a rehabilitation instructor working with adults with a dual diagnosis at Eastern State Hospital and for 18 years with the Cabinet for Families and Children's Public Guardianship Program as a front line case worker, regional supervisor, branch manager for Adult Protective Services and Guardianship, and an internal policy analyst. Sue holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from Lebanon Valley College, PA, and is a National Certified Guardian through the Center for Guardianship Certification, an allied foundation of the National Guardianship Association and a charter board member of the Kentucky Guardianship Association. Since her retirement in 2008 she has remained active in guardianship and adult protection issues through the Kentucky Guardianship Association, the National Guardianship Association, the National Adult Protective Services Association and as a speaker/trainer on guardianship in Kentucky.
Division of Guardianship Director
Department for Aging and Independent Living, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Frankfort, KY
Phyllis E. Culp, R.N., M.S.W. is Director of the Division for Guardianship in the Department for Aging and Independent Living. Ms. Culp has a Diploma of Nursing from the Ball Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Muncie, Indiana. She received her Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree from the University of Kentucky (UK). In addition, she earned Post Masters Certificate in Gerontology at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. She has managed a geriatric mental health center and has a long career in nursing. She has worked for DAIL for over eight years and has had primary responsibility for the Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias, developed the Kentucky National Family Caregiver Support Program, has been both grant writer and Project Director for the Administration on Aging (AoA) Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grant, State Planning Grant and the Aging and Disability Resource Center Grant.
Staff Attorney Supervisor
Department of Public Advocacy, Protection & Advocacy Division
Frankfort, KY William Dolan is a Staff Attorney Supervisor with the Division of Protection and Advocacy in Frankfort. His practice involves assisting adult individuals with disabilities pursue legal, administrative and other appropriate remedies. He received a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, in Business Administration from Carthage College, and a J.D. from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville where he served as a member of the Journal of Law and Education. He formerly clerked for Joseph R. Huddleston, Kentucky Court of Appeals and practiced with O'Bryan, Brown & Toner, PLLC
Training Specialist
Eastern Kentucky University
Department for Community Based Services Training Office
Owensboro, KY
Norman Hayden has provided protective services to individuals and families in Kentucky for over fourteen years in a variety of roles including direct service worker, supervisor, and trainer. Currently, Mr. Hayden provides training and consultation for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Community Based Services on Adult Protective Services, for victims of elder maltreatment, domestic violence, and vulnerable adult populations. Mr. Hayden also provides medical social services to individuals with a terminal illness and their families through Hospice of Western Kentucky. Mr. Hayden completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Louisville. He earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Western Kentucky University and is licensed as a Certified Social Worker (C.S.W.).
Division Chief
Jefferson County Attorney's Office, Mental Inquest and Guardianship Division
Louisville, KY
Jennifer Leibson serves as Division chief for the Mental Inquest and Guardianship Division in the Jefferson County Attorney's Office and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law. She received her B.A. Degree, cum laude, in French From the University of Cinicinnati; M.A. in French from the University of Miami, Ohio; and her J.D. From the University oof Dayton, Ohio. She formerly clerked in the Montgomery County Ohio Prosecutor’s Office. Jennifer is involved with numerous community organizations including Project Women, Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky, Jewish Community Federation, Louisville Metro Elder Abuse Fatality Review Committee, Louisville Elder Abuse Services Coordinating Committee and Habitat for Humanity.
Attorney
McClelland and Associates
Lexington, KY
Robert L. McClelland is a Lexington attorney licensed in Kentucky and West Virginia, recognized by his peers and clients alike for his experience as an Elderlaw and Estate Planning.In 1972 he earned a B.S. from the University of Charleston and in 1983 he earned a J.D. from Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law. After practicing 26 years, he has focused his practice to counsel aging clients and special needs families regarding asset protection, Guardianship, Special Needs Planning, public benefits, Probate and Estate Administration. Mr. McClelland is personally a fiduciary and special needs Trustee in multiple cases for disabled clients. Beyond the expertise within Mr. McClelland’s office, he is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Elder Law Committee, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc., the Special Needs Alliance, ElderCounsel, LLC, the Bluegrass Estate Planning Counsel, Southeast Estate Planning Forum and WealthCounsel, LLC., all are national collaboratives of the top elderlaw and estate attorneys, offering access to top professional financial advisors, insurance professionals, certified public accountants and other attorneys who may have special expertise relevant to a particular client’s case. McClelland has been published repeatedly on issues familiar to attorneys with older clients and has spoken for the Kentucky Bar Association Annual Conference multiple times on senior issues and is called upon to give continuing legal education workshops on guardianship, Medicaid planning and estate planning strategies to attorneys, social workers, nursing home professionals.
Nurse Consultant/Inspector
Adult Safety Branch/ Medical Support, Department for Community Based Services
Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Lexington, KY
Jeanie Neikirk, R.N., is employed as a Nurse Consultant/Inspector for the Adult Safety Branch/Medical support with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Her main function is to provide medically-related consultation regarding the Adult Services population on adult abuse, neglect and exploitation in home or institutional settings. In addition, she provides consultation to state guardianship staff regarding medical issues and DNR requests for state guardianship clients. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1975. She is certified by the Centers for Medicaid Services as a Nursing Consultant. Her experience includes 15 years of hospital nursing in ICU, ER, and OB/GYN settings, a former inspector with the Inspector General’s office for licensed health care facilities, and case management with a managed care company. Jeanie serves as a member on the State-wide Folic Acid committee, Elder Abuse Committees in Fayette, Scott and Madison counties and is a member of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Adult Health Care Advisory Committee related to medical decisions for incapacitated adults served by the state public guardianship program.
Medical Director Norton Hospital
Norton Healthcare
Louisville, KY
Dr. Robert Powell has served as a community member of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Adult Health Care Advisory Board, which was actively involved in the development of protocol and standards of practice related to medical decisions for incapacitated adults served by the state's public guardianship program. He earned a B.A. In English and Chemistry from Belmont College and graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine with his M.D. In 1962. A Viet Nam era Veteran, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and a Fellowship in Pulmonary Diseases, served as an instructor and assistant professor in pulmonary disease at the University of Louisville and practiced privately in pulmonary disease and critical care. He has been Medical Director at Norton Hospital since 1998 and Medical Director Respiratory Care Program at JCTC since 2005. He has served on numerous boards and committees that address ethics and quality of life issues. Caring for patients with respiratory illness which frequently required ventilatory support and other life sustaining treatment, diagnostic tests and medical interventions stimulated his interest in medical treatment and end of life decision making. He has been especially interested in learning, practicing and guiding others in a humane, legal, and ethical approach to these subjects.
Nursing Home Coordinator/Team Leader
Hospice of the Bluegrass
Lexington, KY
Tracey Ragone earned her B.S.W. From the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1986 and has worked for over twenty years as a licensed social worker in acute hospital and long term care settings. She has been a member of the Nursing Home Team with Hospice of the Bluegrass for over fifteen years and currently serves as Coordinator/Team Leader. Ms. Ragone was one of the original community partners agreeing to serve on the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Adult Health Care Advisory Committee. She continues to serve on this committee sharing the community perspective on medical issues of individuals served by the public guardianship program and also serves on the Ethics Committee for Hospice of the Bluegrass.
Director of Fiduciary Services
GuardiCare Services, Inc.
Louisville, KY
Becky Smith serves as Director of Fiduciary Services at GuardiaCare Services, Inc., Louisville, Ky. a private non-profit agency providing services primarily to older persons who need assistance with managing their financial or personal affairs. Over the past twelve years, she expanded the Fiduciary Services program at GuardiaCare and started the guardianship services currently offered by the agency. The program provides Representative Payee Services for over 140 persons and has court appointments for over 150 persons as Guardian or Curator. She is also a Faculty-Field Liaison with the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville. She supervises students who are completing a practicum in the community. Ms. Smith is a member of the National Guardianship Association, charter board member for the Kentucky Guardianship Association, a past president and charter board member of the Kentucky Association for Gerontology, licensed as a Certified Social Worker in Kentucky and is certified as a National Certified Guardian (NCG) with the Center for Guardianship Certification. She received her BA and MSSW from the University of Louisville.
Attorney
Bullock and Kauffman, LLP
Lexington, KY
Upon his graduation from Transylvania University with a B.A. Degree in 1990, Ross Stinetorf entered law school at the University of Kentucky School of Law. He earned his J.D. ,passed the bar exam, and joined the law firm of Todd & Walter in 1993. Mr. Stinedorf has accepted appointment as Counsel for the respondent, representing incapacitated individuals in adult guardianship cases, and as guardian ad litem for neglectd and abused children. Mr Stinedorf developed a general legal practice representing clients in such areas as domestic relations, employment law, personal injury, social security disability, domestic violence, and criminal law.
Director and Chairperson, Graduate Center for Gerontology
University of Kentucky
Wethington Health Sciences Building
900 South Limestone
Lexington, KY 40536-0200
859-257-1450 EXT 80196
pteaster@uky.edu