Meet the Faculty

Robert Pearson, LTCGS®
President/CEO, CareQuest University

Robert Pearson LTCGS® is a recognized national leader in the long-term care field. He is the founder, President & CEO of CareQuest University and CareQuest National Work & Family LTC Solutions.  Mr. Pearson’s work with the Health Care Finance Administration in the mid-80’s was instrumental in the development of initiatives to educate Medicare beneficiaries regarding new Medicare reimbursement methods and TEFRA Risk Contracted HMOs.  He developed a comprehensive long-term care planning solution offered through large employer groups.  This solution combines education, communications and care planning to the extended family members of employees.  He also developed a similar process for individuals and their family members.  Mr. Pearson is the author of several LTC Solution Guide books and has published numerous articles and reports dealing with both long-term care planning and the impact that elder care issues have in the workplace.  His unique concepts, studies and reports have been reported by Business Week Magazine, The Washington Post, Kiplinger Financial Magazine, Best’s Review, American Academy of Actuaries, Contingencies, AICPA, US News & World Report, The National Underwriter, Compensation & Benefit Review, Employee Benefit News, Advisor Today and many local and national newspaper services.  Mr. Pearson's two Reports to Congress have made an impact in shaping current long-term care legislation in Washington D.C.

David G. Wegge, Ph.D.
Dean & Chief Academic Officer, CareQuest University

Dr. Wegge has been a Professor at St. Norbert College since 1979.  He teaches courses on government, research methodology and statistics.  He was the founder of the St. Norbert College Survey Center and served as its Director for fifteen years.  Recognized as an educational leader, Dr. Wegge is responsible for curriculum and the quality standards of the "Long-Term Care Group Specialist" program at CareQuest University. In addition to his role as Chief Academic Officer, Professor Wegge teaches a course at CareQuest University.  He earned a BA from University of Minnesota; a MA from Midwestern State University in Texas; and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin.  The Wall Street Journal, London Financial Times, The Economist, The New York Times, Mac Neil-Lehrer NewsHour, Newsweek, USA Today, CBS News, ABC News and CNN have used his research and commentary.

Andrew E. Scharlach, Ph.D.

Professor Andrew Scharlach, Kleiner Professor of Aging at the University of California, Berkeley, is one of America's foremost authorities on aging.  In particular, he has studied and written about family care for the elderly, and how we integrate the demands of our families and our jobs.  Dr. Scharlach has written extensively about controversial issues in aging, coping strategies following the death of an elderly parent, long-term care insurance, and work-family issues.  He earned a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, a M.S. in Social Services from Boston University, and Ph.D. in Psychology from Stanford University.  His research interests include:  aging; inter-generational relationships; caregiving; work/family issues; death, dying, and bereavement; and long-term care policies, programs and services.

Seymour Moskowitz, J.D.

Sy Moskowitz is a Professor at Valparaiso Law School.  His degrees include a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Columbia University.  He worked for Legal Services of Gary, Indiana, helped found a law-reform project in Northwest Indiana and played a crucial role in the development of the law school’s clinical program. He has published several treatises on legal issues in discovery and has written extensively about topics in employment, health, elder and family law.  Sy's main teaching interests are family law, elder law, health law and administrative law.

Vernon Smith, Ph.D.

Vernon Smith is a Principal with Health Management Associates (HMA) where he focuses on Medicaid and state budgets.  Before joining HMA, he served as a Medicaid Director and a Human Services Budget Director during his 30 years of public service.  Vern attended Michigan State University, earning a Ph.D. in Economics, a MA in Economics and a BA in Economics and Health.  He was also a Rhodes Scholar finalist.  He has authored several reports on the effects of the economic downturn on Medicaid, on enrollment trends in Medicaid and on how states are responding to budget shortfalls. Dr. Smith has spoken on these issues before many national and state audiences, including the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Health Policy Forum, the National Association of State Medicaid Directors, committees of the U.S. Congress and Medicaid reform groups in several states.  He has been a guest on National Public Radio and has been quoted as an expert on these issues in the national media.

Mark Jacob Yurkofsky, M.D.
CMD Geriatric Medical Care

Mark Yurkofsky is a board certified internist with added qualifications in geriatrics. He is an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.  He practices in Boston and is Medical Director of Harvard Vanguard’s Medical Associates Extended Care Facilities Program and Harvard Vanguard's Palliative and Supportive Medicine Program.  In addition, he is a certified medical director for long-term care facilities. Dr. Yurkofsky has been an editor and contributor for an Internet company that provides medical advice and information on a variety of issues including aging and nursing home issues.  He is a board member and Secretary of the Massachusetts Branch of the American Medical Director's Association and a Member of the American Geriatric Society.  He has recently co-authored a chapter on subacute care for the latest additions of the textbook, Principle of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.  Dr. Yurkofsky is a graduate of Hamilton College and New York Medical College.

Anthony G. Proulx, FSA, MAAA

Tony Proulx has 25 years experience in the insurance industry.  He has an extensive background in valuation, financial reporting and projections, experience monitoring and pricing.  Tony has extensive knowledge in employee benefits and substantial experience with long-term care insurance at Lewis & Ellis, Inc., where he is a Vice President.  He also has experience in disability income and other individual health products.  He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.  Tony has a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College with a double major in Mathematics and Physics and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Gary L. Rose, FSA, MAAA, CLU

Gary Rose has 28 years of experience in the insurance industry.  He has an extensive life and health insurance background in financial reporting, valuation, pricing, corporate planning and financial projections.  Over the years he has gained valuable knowledge providing expert testimony, serving as Appointed Actuary and Illustration Actuary and preparing statutory, GAAP and tax financial statements. This is his twenty-fourth year with Lewis & Ellis, Inc., where he serves as President. His professional designations include Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and Chartered Life Underwriter.  Gary has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska with a double major in Mathematics and Economics with a minor in Actuarial Science. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

James M. Ouimet, MBA, CES

Jim Ouimet is Chairman and CEO of The James Group, LLC, an insurance sales and marketing consulting organization he founded in 1995.  He began his insurance career in 1976 as an insurance sales representative and has spent over twenty years in worksite marketing.  He has an intimate knowledge of this segment of the insurance industry.  Jim is a part owner and director of the National Association of Professional Enrollment Specialists / enrollment Specialists International (N.A.P.E.S./eSI).  He served as the Association's full-time president during its first three years, helping it to become the insurance industry's largest worksite marketing focused association.  He is also President Emeritus of the Mass Marketing Directors Association.  Jim has been published in a number of magazines and has authored a book on the discipline of selling:  The True Basics of Successful Selling.  Jim is a graduate of Dominican College and received his MBA from Notre Dame.  In 2000, he was inducted into the International Worksite Marketing Hall of Fame.

Russell D. Francis, CFP, CPA

Russell D. Francis has over a decade of experience in investing and tax planning. In addition to being a Certified Financial Planner, he is an IRS Enrolled Agent and a Certified Public Accountant.  Previous experience includes teaching high school physics and 10 years as an Editorial Systems Manager for the Los Angeles Times.  In 1996 he was the branch manager of a local independent securities firm.  In 1997 he became a fee-only financial planner and registered as an Investment Advisor with the State of Oregon.  Russ has a BA in chemistry and a teaching certificate from California State University Fullerton.  He also is a graduate of the College for Financial Planning, and has a post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting from Portland State University. Russ has taught tax and retirement planning classes for the College for Financial Planning, AARP Tax-Aide, and City University.  He is a frequent seminar leader for local tax and financial planning organizations.  Russ is an active member of the Financial Planning Association, Oregon Society of CPAs, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.

Dough Singh, Ph.D.
Institutional Long-Term Care

Dr. Singh is an Associate Professor at Indiana University-South Bend.  Professor Singh received his Ph.D. in Health Administration from the School of Public Health, University of South Carolina.  He also has an MBA in Business Administration from Ball State University, as well as a BBA in Business Administration from Northwood University.  He is the author of the book Nursing Home Administrators:  Their Influence on Quality Care and co-author, with Leiyu Shi, of the book, Delivering Health Care in America:  A Systems Approach.  Dr. Singh has published numerous articles in a variety of leading professional journals.  At Indiana University, Professor Singh teaches courses on: Long-Term Care Administration, Health Systems Administration and U.S. Health Care.

Georgann Ames, MSSW, CISW, LTCGS®, LTCRS®

Georgann Ames, a geriatric care social worker, is the Director of Care Planning Services with CareQuest where she has been providing counseling, guidance, assessments and care plans for families.  Ms. Ames has also provided individual and group counseling to diverse populations in the fields of health, human services, education, employment and training.  Other experience includes program planning, development and implementation and administrative work in the fields of education, health and human services.  Ms. Ames earned both a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Lea Fosz, MBA, FLMI

Lea Fosz is currently a marketing executive for one of the leading group long-term care insurance carriers in the industry.  She has spent over 25 years in the insurance industry in various functions including marketing research and individual long-term care product development.  For the last 13 years, Lea has been instrumental in the development of the group long-term care business unit for her employer.  Her experience in the group long-term care market includes national account management, proposal management and marketing.  Over the years she has worked closely with many employers, brokers and consultants educating them on the need for long-term care insurance in the workplace.  She has also been actively involved in research aimed at new product development and employee participation in the plan.

Robert H. Meister, LTCGS®

Bob Meister began developing marketing concepts for major corporations over 40 years ago.  During that time he has worked primarily as a marketing strategist advising manufacturing and service businesses in a great number of consumer and industrial sectors.  He has also served a variety of association clients working on special projects.  His work has been recognized in the business press and with a number of national awards for creativity and strategic marketing.  Bob's experience includes working with international corporations and groups.  During the last decade he has focused on understanding the needs of the aging and marketing eldercare and long-term care benefit concepts to groups and corporations.  He now serves as Director of Student Enrollment for CareQuest University.

Michael Bina
Principal, Intellectual Marketing

In the Employer/Group Benefits business since 1979, Michael Bina has been a PR Consultant and/or Department Head for American Express, Fireman’s Fund, Lincoln National and American Medical Security.  He served four years on the Public Relations Committee of the Health Insurance Association of American (HIAA) in Washington D.C.  He also served two years on the Education Committee of HIAA.  Michael was editor of Dolata's Agent and Broker Digest and correspondent for TEAM Magazine of the National Association of Health Underwriters.  He serves on the Editorial Board of Marketplace Magazine.  He established Michael Bina Associates in 1990 and founded Intellectual Marketing in 1999.  He has 31 international, national and regional awards for excellence in marketing and public relations.