Maine Council on Aging adds new members to board of directors

BRUNSWICK — The Maine Council on Aging recently welcomed three new members to its board of directors. Peter Baker, program manager for Geriatrics at MaineHealth; Catherine Ryder, CEO at Tri-County Mental Health Services; and Angela Westhoff, CEO of the Maine Health Care Association, assumed their roles after a unanimous vote during the annual meeting.
Baker is a licensed clinical social worker, serving as program manage for geriatrics at MaineHealth for the past two years. Previously, he was program director at the Alzheimer’s Association Maine Chapter and executive director of Cape Memory Care. He has an extensive background in services for older adults and is a strong business development professional with a MSW from University of Southern Maine.
As the chief executive officer of Tri-County Mental Health Services for more than 10 years, Ryder is a leader in the behavioral health services sector. She has a master’s degree in educational counseling and was director of clinical services at Tri-County before being selected to serve as chief executive officer in 2012. She is responsible for leading many innovative collaborations with primary care and other community organizations and is actively involved in board leadership in various healthcare organizations in Maine. 
Westhoff recently moved into the position of chief executive officer of Maine Health Care Association after more than 20 years in nonprofit leadership roles in Maine, including with Maine Dental Association, Maine Osteopathic Association and Healthy Androscoggin. Her organizational leadership has included a focus on health care, reimbursement policy, public health, and communications.  She holds a master’s degree in communication from the University of Maine.
“We are thrilled to add these strong leaders with such diverse backgrounds and knowledge to our Board of Directors,” said Jess Maurer, MCOA executive director.  “These new voices will advance our work in building an integrated system of formal and informal supports that support healthy aging and prioritizes low cost/high value interventions across all systems.”  [Text Wrapping Break]
The Maine Council on Aging is a multidisciplinary network of more than 120 organizations, businesses, municipalities and older community members.