NCAL Leadership

Chair Mark Maxfield (ID) The Cottages, LLC

Vice Chair Sarah Silva (OR) Arete Living

Secretary/Tresurer David Chensvold (IA) Assisted Living Partners

Immediate Past Chair Gerald Hamilton (NM) R&G Healthcare Management

The purpose of the Emergency Preparedness and Life Safety (EP/LS) Committee is to advocate, educate, and provide feedback on a range of emergency preparedness (EP) and life safety (LS) issues. The EP/LS committee focuses on issues such as ensuring that long term care (LTC) is a component of national EP plans and helping LTC organizations improve their EP capabilities through supportive resources. The committee also focuses on the development of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards impacting nursing centers that are adopted by CMS (primarily the Life Safety Code – NFPA 101); NFPA codes and standards impacting assisted living and residential care which may be adopted by states; Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities, which are used in most states’ development of the nursing center licensing standards and other architectural and building guidelines for both nursing centers and assisted living communities; and monitoring the interpretation of the Life Safety Code by state and federal surveyors. The committee reviews and provides feedback on proposed rules, measures, etc. and provides operational perspectives on issues as requested.

Members of the EP/LS committee are experts in EP and/or LS issues. The committee develops workgroups when addressing specific committee priorities, including Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI) residential guidelines and NFPA codes and standards. The committee meets in person annually, in conjunction with the AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit, and hosts regular conference calls.​

The purpose of the Customer Experience Committee (CEC) is to champion the importance of meeting customer expectations now and in the future. The CEC focuses on issues such as the adoption of coreQ and discussing current customer expectations and experiences across the continuum of care. The committee accomplishes its work through the development of tools and resources to support members in achieving high levels of customer satisfaction, by collecting, analyzing, and using data to drive performance improvement, and by promoting the use of successful practices. The committee also reviews and provides feedback on proposed rules, measures, etc. and provides customer experience expertise on issues as requested.   

Members of the CEC are experts in customer experience and measuring customer satisfaction. The committee meets in person annually, in conjunction with the AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit, and hosts regular conference calls throughout the year. 

The NCAL Policy and Regulatory Committee addresses legislative and regulatory developments that may affect the assisted living profession, including changes to Medicaid, and other national regulatory agencies like OSHA, DOL, etc. The committee monitors developments from federal policy makers and may inform AHCA/NCAL’s response to federal activity that could affect regulation of the profession. The Policy and Regulatory Committee develops resources and tools for members as needed. The committee also provides a forum for members and state affiliate staff to discuss state-level regulatory and legislative developments to identify trends, as well as effective government relations and public affairs strategies.

Members of the NCAL Policy and Regulatory Committee are experts in policy development and review and knowledgeable about assisted living regulations on the state level. The committee may meet in person annually and hosts regular conference calls throughout the year. 

The NCAL Quality Committee focuses on quality improvement programs in an effort to enhance the overall care provided in assisted living communities. The committee examines ways the profession can use data collection to improve care and services through quality improvement efforts. These efforts are furthered as the committee identifies strategies to encourage participation and improve functionality with AHCA/NCAL’s data collection tool LTC Trend Tracker. Additionally, the committee assists with education, resources, and outreach to members. The committee supports assisted living involvement in the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards Program to help cultivate a culture of excellence in these communities.

Members of the NCAL Quality Committee are experts in quality improvement and data collection. The committee meets in person annually, in conjunction with the AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit, and hosts regular conference calls throughout the year. 

​The purpose of the Workforce Committee is to improve the stability, supply, and performance of staff in LTC settings. The committee focuses on issues such as staff turnover, retention and satisfaction, and engagement. The committee accomplishes their work through the development of tools and resources to promote staff stability, identification and promotion of best practices that impact the workforce, and the evaluation of workforce strategies where AHCA/NCAL can most impact its members. The committee also reviews and provides feedback on proposed rules and regulations, public reporting of staffing dates, staffing measures, etc. and provides quality improvement perspectives on issues as requested. 

Members of the Workforce Committee have expertise in staff recruitment, retention, and turnover. The committee meets in person annually, in conjunction with the AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit, and during regular conference calls.