Melanie Garland, BSW has dedicated her career to promoting health and wellness for aging adults and their caregivers. From her time as a social worker at an Area Agency on Aging to her current role as a Volunteer Supervisor with the Indiana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), she has brought innovative ideas to reach the community. She is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and is a certified yoga and older adults exercise instructor. She uses her unique blend of education and experience to empower seniors through education and wellness.

Megan Rogers is the Volunteer Supervisor for northwest Indiana and has been a SHIP counselor for 8 years. Before joining SHIP, she spent 10 years with an Area Agency on Aging in both direct service and management positions. She double majored in Sociology and Criminal Justice and holds a bachelor?s degree. Megan is a Certified Memory Care Professional and is certified in three Suicidal prevention techniques: QPR (Question, Persuade, and Referral), ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), and Mental Health First Aid; as well as a certificate in Non-Profit Business Management from IUSB. Megan enjoys public speaking and educating professionals, beneficiaries, caregivers, and SHIP counselors.

Brandy Bauer is Director of the Center for Benefits Access at the National Council on Aging, where she works with community organizations and state agencies across the country to promote benefits for older adults, identify strategies to improve the financial security of vulnerable seniors, and educate consumers about scams targeting older adults. She has worked in the field of aging for 11 years. Prior to that, she spent a decade in the international health and human service sectors, working on improving access to services for vulnerable and marginalized populations, including refugee and war trauma survivors in Europe, and as a humanitarian aid worker in Afghanistan.