Ten McKnight’s Women of Distinction will share pearls of wisdom and answer questions next week during two educational sessions as part of the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Forum and Awards.

The events will take place Tuesday, May 14, at the JW Marriott Chicago. Tickets to the entire Women of Distinction event, as well as Forum-only tickets, are available and may be purchased at www.mcknightswomenofdistinction.com.

In the first educational session, titled “Leadership, mentorship and organizational culture” and scheduled for 2-3 p.m. CT, participants will discuss what makes for great leaders and mentors and how they contribute to an organization’s culture.

McKnight’s Senior Living Editor Lois A. Bowers will moderate the session, which is sponsored by Reliant Rehabilitation. McKnight’s Women of Distinction panelists will include:

  • Becky Bodie, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Diversicare Healthcare Services, and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee.
  • Lynn Hood, CEO of Principle LTC and the 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award honoree.
  • Shelly Koch, executive director of operations, home-based services, for the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Rising Star.
  • Nancy Maina, senior health services director at Brightview Senior Living’s Brightview Severna Park and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Veteran VIP.
  • Karen Peck, vice president of clinical services, East Division, for Brookdale Senior Living  and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee.

In the second session, titled “The long-term care workforce shortage: Surviving and thriving” and scheduled from 3:30-4:30 p.m. CT, participants will share what successful providers are doing to keep their organizations operating efficiently and effectively.

McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger will moderate the session, which is sponsored by Sentrics. McKnight’s Women of Distinction panelists will include:

  • Sharon Eyster, vice president of operations/chief operating officer of United Church of Christ Homes and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee.
  • Kate Gilday, administrator, Legacy Healthcare, and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Rising Star.
  • Ruth Katz, president and CEO, Association of Jewish Aging Services, and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee.
  • Lisa King, regional vice president, All Ways Caring HomeCare and 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee.
  • Aimee Middleton, vice president, operations, Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and 2023 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee.

The educational sessions will precede a cocktail party, dinner and awards presentation celebrating this year’s McKnight’s Women of Distinction. See details of the day’s agenda here.

Tickets for the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Forum and Awards are going fast but are still available and may be purchased at www.mcknightswomenofdistinction.com. Options include forum-only tickets and packages that include all events.

Those with questions about the events should contact Anna Naumoski, senior event manager at the parent company of the McKnight’s brands, Haymarket Media, at [email protected].

Healthcare Services Group is the Platinum sponsor of this year’s event. PointClickCare is the Gold sponsor. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include Curana Health, DirecTV for Business, EasyShifts, Reliant Rehabilitation, ShiftKey and Sentrics.