Ryan Ramsey is the Associate Director of Health Coverage and Benefits within the Center for Economic Wellbeing. He has over 12 years of experience working to support older adults. His previous roles have included working with the Tennessee Department of Aging and Disability, overseeing the State Health Insurance Assistance (SHIP) Program, Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) program, and data system on delivery of Older American Act services.

Tim Smolen started as the SHIBA Program Manager in January 2021. SHIBA celebrated their 45^th anniversary in 2024.  The program is part of the Consumer Protection Division of the Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner. He is a big fan of the Medicare program – which was signed into law 60 years ago this year. Tim is grateful for the opportunity to be of service and eager to learn more about how he can help people to take care of themselves, in the ways that matter most to them. Current priorities for the SHIBA program are: recruit and train more diverse volunteer advisors, enhanced outreach to traditionally underserved communities, improved partnerships with organizations that support people with the greatest social and economic needs. Fostering collaborative partnerships with Tribes and professionals who serve Native Elders and people with disabilities is a top priority for Tim and SHIBA. Tim lives in Olympia with his beloved wife of 20 years, Stephanie, their dog, Fiona, their cats, Arlo and Tucker. His hobbies include reading, walking, movies, and cooking for friends.

Amanda Krisher, MSW, LCSW, brings over 15 years of direct practice and program management experience to the National Council on Aging where she serves as the Associate Director for Behavioral Health in the Center for Healthy Aging. A seasoned professional in the older adult care industry, she previously was the Senior Director for a live virtual training program for older adult care professionals and a clinical social worker for a community health program and hospice organization. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore and is a Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker in Maryland and Virginia. As a leader in older adult care, she has presented at national conferences and statewide meetings.

Ryan Ramsey is the Associate Director of Health Coverage and Benefits within the Center for Economic Wellbeing. He has over 12 years of experience working to support older adults. His previous roles have included working with the Tennessee Department of Aging and Disability, overseeing the State Health Insurance Assistance (SHIP) Program, Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) program, and data system on delivery of Older American Act services.

Simona Combi managed media relations for several nonprofit research and advocacy organizations, including the Center for Global Policy Solutions and the Urban Institute. Before joining NCOA, she worked for IQ Solutions—a NIH contractor—to support the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s press team. She brings experience generating national media coverage and preparing national level spokespeople for interviews.

Leading the digital team at NCOA, Nicole Knowles is accountable for the strategy, operations, and long-term stewardship of NCOA’s national digital platforms supporting millions of engaged users annually and serving as core infrastructure for mission and federally funded program delivery. This includes BenefitsCheckUp®, a user-friendly, decision-support platform supporting Medicare, Medicaid, and other public benefits access.

Nicole is a senior leader focused on platform, information, and decision-support strategy that helps people and organizations navigate complexity. Her experience includes leading educational and guidance platforms, decision-support tools, and data and analytics practices in mission-driven, rules-based environments. I specialize in content management systems, accessibility, governance, and platform sustainability — ensuring digital ecosystems are both useful for audiences and informative for organizational decision-making.

Emily Whicheloe is Director of Education at the Medicare Rights Center, a partner of the National Council on Aging (NCOA). As Director of Education, she oversees the development of Medicare educational materials for consumers and professionals, manages training programs available to State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors throughout the country, and fields questions from Medicare beneficiaries during weekly helpline shifts. In her free time, she enjoys taking photographs and exploring New York City by bike.

Shea Corti joined the Medicare Rights Center in 2020. As Senior Education Associate, she produces new print and e-learning content, develops educational toolkits and trainings, and implements online learning features. She works in collaboration with Medicare Rights’ Education department and legal counsel to ensure that these educational resources are both consumer-friendly and legally accurate.

Prior to joining the Medicare Rights Center, Shea was a public elementary school teacher in Los Angeles and worked at an EdTech startup focused on mental health. She is dedicated to equitable, empowering learning experiences and quality healthcare for all. Shea holds a B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Education from Stanford University.