2022 Senior Centers Programs of Excellence - Nutrition

Dianne Stone has more than 20 years of experience with senior centers and aging issues, primarily as the Director of the Newington Senior and Disabled Center in Newington, Connecticut. Stone has also worked, volunteered, and held leadership positions with a variety of organizations in Connecticut, including Connecticut AgeWell Collaborative, the ADA Coalition of Connecticut, Connecticut Medicaid Oversight Council, and the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity. She joined NCOA in January 2022, as a member of the Center for Healthy Aging, where she is primarily focused on supporting senior centers throughout the country through the ACL-funded Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center and NISC. 

Jenna Hauss has spent the past 15 years working with older adults, and is dedicated to the continued growth of enhancing community-based services to best meet the demands of a growing population. Jenna has worked as a Social Worker and leader through a variety of clinical and community based settings. In 2018, Jenna became the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Community Based Services, supporting the executive leadership in their strategic vision and grant development opportunities throughout ONEgeneration. Her most recent transition to President and CEO comes with extensive history at ONEgeneration, allowing for a full –comprehensive understanding of the direction and growth opportunities that lay ahead, concentrating around supporting our most vulnerable communities. Jenna currently serves on the Accreditation board for the National Council on Aging and is the representative of California for the statewide leadership collaborative with the National Institute of Senior Centers.

Sue Bohnsack has a Recreation degree and a minor in Therapeutic Recreation. She has held a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist certificate since 1996. She has been working with the senior population for over 26 years in many different settings including long term care, memory care and independent recreation. Over the past 14 years she has held the position of Supervisor at the Eden Prairie Senior Center in Eden Prairie Minnesota. She leads a Eden Prairie Professionals in Aging organizations in her area that network with other senior service organization and support seniors in her community. She was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Aging in 2019 from the Minnesota Association of Senior Services. She prides herself on creating a warm and welcoming space for all seniors to attend and recreate. Sue is a wife and mother of 3 beautiful adult children. When not spending time with her girls she and her husband enjoy camping.  

Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s degree in clinical social work from Fordham University. Stephanie is a Certified CHOICES Counselor with the State of Connecticut Health Insurance Assistance Program, a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher. She has over 25 years’ experience in the field of gerontology and worked in both a clinical and administrative capacity in a variety of settings including nursing homes, the Area Agency on Aging, private practice, and medical home care. Stephanie has been with the Senior Center with the Town of Cheshire for over ten years. She began her time at the Senior Center as the Senior Services Social Worker for the Town of Cheshire and was promoted into her present position of Coordinator of Senior Services/ Municipal Agent for the Elderly in December of 2019.

Bambi Press serves as Healthy Aging Director for the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center and the Iowa Department on Aging. 

She supports the aging network in the delivery of Older Americans Act congregate and home-delivered nutrition services, including new, innovative service delivery models that are changing the aging nutrition landscape. Bambi previously served as Community Nutrition Director for a home delivered nutrition program in Central Iowa. 

As a registered, licensed dietitian, Bambi is committed to helping people enjoy better quality of life through improved access to good nutrition. She found her passion for working with older adults when she volunteered for six years in her local senior center, serving up Fresh Conversations, a fun nutrition education program designed to support healthy aging and independence.