NCAL Staff

LaShuan Bethea Executive Director lbethea@ncal.org (202) 898-2827	Katherine Preede Vice President of Operations kpreede@ncal.org (202) 898-2843	Jill Schewe Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs jschewe@ncal.org (202) 898-2848
Pamela Truscott Director of Quality Improvement ptruscott@ncal.org (202) 898-6336	Nikki Rollheiser Administrative Assistant nrollheiser@ncal.org (202) 898-2845

Staff Biographies

LaShuan Bethea, NCAL Executive Director

LaShuan Bethea is the executive director of the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), the assisted living voice of the American Health Care Association (AHCA). Bethea joined NCAL in 2021 from Genesis Healthcare, Inc. where she served in various leadership roles since 2007.

Bethea, a registered nurse and attorney, has over 25 years in the profession and a depth of long term care experience. In her NCAL role, she communicates the association vision and mission of "Improving Lives by Delivering Solutions for Quality Care," identifies potential risks and opportunities within the industry, and develops strategies to fortify the sector.

Promoting a culture of transparency and collaboration, Bethea develops a strong relationship with association and industry stakeholders, legislators, regulators, and other relevant parties. A key part of her role is advocating for the interests of assisted living member facilities before federal officials, national consumer and health care associations, and the media. Additionally, she oversees the development of the association's assisted living public policy and quality agenda, serving as a respected voice for the provider community in the field of assisted living.

Bethea received her law degree from Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg, PA. She earned a Master’s degree in Education from American Intercontinental University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Phoenix.

Katherine Preede, Vice President of Operations

Katherine Preede serves as the Vice President of Operations for the National Center for Assisted Living, as which she is responsible for membership growth, retention, and satisfaction. She also supports NCAL’s state affiliates in their efforts to service their current members, market to potential new members, and evaluate and refine the benefits offered. Prior to joining NCAL in December 2012, Katherine was on the Corporate Marketing & Communications team at Sunrise Senior Living where she managed marketing and communication initiatives.

Previously, she served for more than four years as the Manager of Public Affairs for AHCA. In this role, she represented the Association and its members with local, state and national media outlets as well as assisted state affiliate public relations professionals on numerous projects and special events. She also has worked for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and in Congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Katherine is a graduate of American University’s School of Public Affairs with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government.

Jill Schewe, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs

Jill Schewe is the Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). In this role, she provides strategic guidance, advocacy, and support to assisted living providers and NCAL’s State Affiliates on key issues including licensing, regulatory compliance, payment systems, and operational practices. Jill also works closely with state and federal stakeholders to ensure the voices and needs of assisted living providers are effectively represented in policy discussions.

Prior to joining NCAL in June of 2022, Jill spent a decade with Care Providers of Minnesota – the AHCA/NCAL’s state affiliate – where she supported assisted living members and collaborated with state agencies to provide valuable guidance and resources. Her career also includes years of hands-on operational expertise, having opened and managed multiple assisted living communities.

As a licensed assisted living director, Jill has a deep understanding of the perspectives of providers, older adults and home and community-based services. She holds a master’s degree in Management from the St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Gerontology from Winona State University.

Pamela Truscott DNP/HSL, MSN/Ed, RN, DNS-CT, QCP, RAC-CT, CDP, Director of Quality Improvement

Pamela Truscott serves as the Director of Quality Improvement with the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). She joined the NCAL family in October 2022 and prior to that she was working with the American Health Care Association (AHCA) family beginning in June 2019. Pam has been actively involved with a variety of educations, tools and resources.

Pam has over 25 years of long-term care experience and shares a passion for growing education and cultivating new leaders in long-term care. She received a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a focus on Healthcare Systems Leadership in August 2022 from Chamberlain University and a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a focus in nursing education from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2014. Pam is a Registered Nurse and is certified in multiple areas including Director of Nursing Services Certified, QAPI Certified Professional, Resident Assessment Coordinator Certified, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and holds a Nebraska Assisted Living Administrator license.

Pam is an active member of the American Nurses Association, American Assisted Living Nurses Association, American Association of Post-Acute Care Nurses, American Mindfulness Research Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Nikki Rollheiser, Administrative Assistant

Nikki serves as the Administrative Assistant and is an integral part of the association’s daily operations and overall organization. In her role, she manages a wide range of administrative responsibilities and leads the coordination of the association’s Awards Program. Nikki also oversees departmental budgets and expenses for both staff and the NCAL Board Chair, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in financial processes.

She prepares and distributes agendas and minutes for NCAL Board and state affiliate meetings, coordinates logistics for events and conference calls, and provides essential support for staff meetings and other organizational activities. Known for her exceptional customer service, strong organizational skills, and expertise in content management, Nikki plays a key role in maintaining smooth communication and workflow across the association.

Before joining the association, Nikki worked with the American Farm Bureau Association, gaining valuable experience across multiple areas of association management. She is also a former third- and fourth-grade teacher and a proud Tennessee native. Nikki earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Contact Information

General Inquiries

ncal@ncal.org
(202) 842-4444

Media Inquiries

AHCAPressOffice@ahca.org

Sales Inquiries

sales@ahca.org

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