SNAP Enrollment Tools: Benefits Participation Map and BenefitsCheckUp

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.

Kerry is the Associate Director for Research and Evaluation at the National Council on Aging (NCOA). At NCOA, Kerry supports the execution of NCOA’s research and evaluation agenda, focused on building evidence used to advocate for programs and policies that serve older adults, especially those most in need. Kerry works collaboratively across NCOA to design research methodologies, produce meaningful measures, and analyze the organization’s social impact progress toward impacting 40 million older adults by 2030. Previously, Kerry was the Director of Research and Evaluation at Catholic Charities USA, working to illustrate the size, scope, and impact of the network’s 160+ service provider member agencies. Kerry is passionate about translating community-based programming into impactful data to influence systematic change. Kerry holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Pittsburgh; she holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Point Park University.

Shaneece is a Subject Matter Expert in housing and other areas tied to economic security, such as debt counseling and financial coaching at NCOA. Shaneece brings with her extensive non-profit experience. As a Grants Manager at an international non-profit, she managed grant projects and economic security initiatives from application to approval and utilization, overseeing a $50M portfolio. In progressive positions at a national non-profit housing counseling intermediary, she served as the Housing Counseling Network and Direct Services Director, in which she oversaw over 160 organizations nationwide, a cross- functional team of 10 FTEs, and a budget of over $2.2M. Her portfolio of work included both housing and financial counseling to thousands of consumers annually through direct client services and through their intermediary services that addressed needs, including but not limited to: HECM/reverse mortgage counseling, foreclosure counseling, homebuyer counseling, debt counseling, financial coaching, and assistance accessing federal, state, and local benefits programs (e.g., SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.).

Shaneece was a Mortgage Loan Officer for a major Banking institution where she increased their mortgage loan portfolio; worked with individuals and families with all aspects of mortgages/loans, refinancing, housing affordability and related Affordable Lending Products; and ensured consumers’ preparation for homeownership through homebuyer education and community-level and professional events.

She possesses her Masters in Public Administration from Strayer University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kent State University.