NADTC - Key Persons

Carrie Diamond

Job Titles:
  • Senior Director of Transportation & Mobility at Easterseals, Inc
Carrie Diamond joined Easterseals in March 2020 and became the Senior Director for Transportation and Mobility in January 2022. In this role she serves as the Co-Director of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center a Federal Transit Administration technical assistance center focused on accessible transportation. Prior to joining Easterseals, Carrie operated a one-call transportation hub at the Aging & Disability Resource Center in Portage County, WI. She implemented a mobility management program and travel training service while at the ADRC. Carrie spent the last 9+ years as the Transportation & Volunteer Specialist for the Greater WI Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. (GWAAR) which oversees aging programs in 70 counties and 11 tribes in WI. She provided technical assistance, training and funding oversight for transportation and volunteer programs and developed specific expertise in non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and volunteer driver programs. Carrie is a certified ADA Coordinator through the University of Missouri and holds Community Resource Specialist - Aging & Disability Certification from the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.

Chelcie Beadnell

Job Titles:
  • Training and Technical Assistance Project Coordinator at Easterseals, Inc
Chelcie Beadnell joined Easterseals in January 2022 as the Training and Technical Assistance Project Coordinator. She supports the work of NADTC by coordinating initiatives to promote the development, sustainability, inclusivity, and improvement of transportation programs across the country. Prior to joining the team at Easterseals, Chelcie was the Mobility Manager for Union County, Ohio. Her position was housed at a local health department, which gave her a somewhat unique opportunity to really dive into the impacts of transportation on health outcomes in a community. In that capacity, she worked closely with community stakeholders on initiatives to increase available transportation resources for the communities she served. This included the establishment of the Union County MOVES Coalition, the facilitation of a 10-year Transit and Mobility Plan, participation in the development of Central Ohio's first Regional Mobility Plan, and the development of Union County's first and only Travel Training program. Chelcie has significant experience with community building through her work with the Union County MOVES Coalition, the Union County Drug Free Coalition, the Council for Union County Families, the Union County Community Services Association, and the Reimagining Rural Regions Initiative through Bowling Green State University. She brings over 8 years of experience and expertise in coalition development, advocacy, strategic planning, and social determinants of health to the Easterseals and NADTC team. Chelcie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health from Kent State University and is an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist.

David Somers

Job Titles:
  • Senior Research Associate at USAging
David Somers joined USAging in June 2022 as a Senior Research Associate for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. In his role, David will support NADTC in our product development, social media and transportation program development work. David has extensive experience in communications, research, writing and community outreach. He has worked with local, national and international nonprofits and is passionate about mission-related work that improves quality of life for all. Dave holds a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, Denver, and a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

Heather Edmonds

Job Titles:
  • Senior Program Associate at USAging
Heather Edmonds joined USAging in October 2018. As a Program Associate with the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), she provides technical assistance to transportation professionals on accessible transportation addressing the needs of older adults and people with disabilities and provides grants management support for NADTC grant program. Prior to joining USAging, Heather worked as a Program Specialist at EDJ Associates. She worked onsite at the National Science Foundation where she supported their work to review proposals and award grants, planned numerous small and medium sized meetings and provided analytical support. She has over eight years of experience in outreach and conference coordination working with various agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Heather has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Science in Community Health from Towson University. She is a Certified Information & Referral Specialist from the Association of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS) and a certified ADA Coordinator through the University of Missouri.

Jane Mahoney

Job Titles:
  • Training & Technical Assistance Specialist at Easterseals, Inc
Jane Mahoney joined Easterseals in November 2021 as a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. She supports NADTC by providing technical assistance, training, and educational opportunities to transportation programs across the country. Prior to joining Easterseals, Jane worked in the Aging Network for over 25 years as a Social Worker, Caregiver Program Coordinator and Elder Benefit Specialist. Her last 12 years was spent working for the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources as a Caregiver Support Specialist and Older American's Act Consultant where she provided training and technical assistance for family caregiver support programs and aging plan development to 70 counties and 11 tribes in Wisconsin. Jane was co-chair of the Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance, served on the Advisory Board for the Wisconsin Dementia Resource Network, was a project advisor for the National Alliance for Caregiving's 50 States project, and was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Caregiving. Jane is a certified ADA Coordinator through the University of Missouri, holds a Community Resource Specialist - Aging & Disability Certification from the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), and has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN.

Jeremy Johnson-Miller

Job Titles:
  • Communications Manager at Easterseals, Inc
  • Communications Manager for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
Jeremy Johnson-Miller joined Easterseals in October 2020 as Communications Manager for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. He supports NADTC by maintaining constant communication through e-alerts, newsletters and social media, as well as, providing technical assistance, training and educational opportunities to transportation programs across the country. Prior to joining Easterseals, Jeremy was the Transit Programs Administrator & Statewide Mobility Coordinator within the Public Transit Bureau at Iowa DOT. Overseeing all state and federal funding programs at Iowa's designated public transit agencies, as well as, connecting human service organizations with vital transit needs. During Jeremy's 12 years working within the public transit industry, he has developed a specialty for mobility management, community outreach, healthcare access, and disability advocacy. His career has earned him the ‘Mobility Manager of Year' award from FTA Region VII as well as being recognized by Mass Transit Magazine's "40 Under 40" list in 2019. Jeremy graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's Degree in Geography, and is a Certified Public Manager from Drake University.

Katherine Newman

Job Titles:
  • Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at Easterseals
Katherine Newman joined Easterseals in March, 2023 as a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist. She supports the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) by providing technical assistance, training, educational opportunities and information to transportation programs across the country. Prior to joining Easterseals, Katherine worked in an Agency on Aging transit division as the Mobility Manager for 12 counties in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula of Virginia for 10 years. She was active in the Virginia Association of Mobility Managers and served on the Community Transportation Association of Virginia Board of Directors.

Ken Thompson

Job Titles:
  • Technical Assistance Director
Ken Thompson joined Easter Seals Project ACTION in 2002 as a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist, and is currently the Technical Assistance Director for Easterseals Transportation Group. He supports the NADTC by providing technical assistance, training and information to customers on a variety of issues including accessible transportation, the ADA, veterans' issues, building partnerships, and service planning. His over twenty years' experience working in human services includes managing a human service transportation system that followed a U.S. Navy stint working in aviation. He grew up in a career military family and attended military schools overseas. Ken holds a Masters in Public Affairs and B.A. from Hood College in Maryland. He has completed the ADA Coordinator's Training Certification Program, University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences and is a Certified Information & Referral Specialist from the Association of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS).

Melissa Gray

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director of Transportation at USAging
Melissa Gray joined USAging in January 2018. As Assistant Director of Transportation of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), she serves as a resource on accessible community transportation addressing the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. She provides program management, communications, and programmatic support to the NADTC leadership team and to internal/external partners that are also working to promote accessible transportation options in their local communities. Melissa is passionate about supporting communities in their transportation efforts to enable older adults to maintain their independence and age in place in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Melissa has more than 10 years experience in aging programs, all with the focus of enhancing the quality of life of older adults through designing programs and initiatives that promote an independent and inspiring lifestyle for seniors. Melissa holds a MS in Gerontology from Texas Tech University and BS in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Virginia Dize

Job Titles:
  • Program Director at USAging
Virginia Dize joined USAging in January 2008. As Co-Director of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, she oversees USAging's efforts to support transportation within the Aging Network and related transportation projects. Prior to joining the staff of USAging, she served as an Associate Director of the National Association of State Units on Aging. Her work in transportation and mobility includes managing several rounds of demonstration grants, and developing publications on older driver safety, pedestrian safety, volunteer driver programs, transportation for elders living on Indian reservations and diversity. With more than thirty years' experience in aging programs, Virginia is also a respected authority on program issues related to innovations in home and community-based services, family caregiver issues, and consumer direction. Virginia holds a MS in Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University and BA in History from Mary Washington College.