CWAG Staff

CWAG Staff Profiles

(Alphabetical Listing)

Betsy J. Abramson... is an attorney and the director of the Elder Law Center at the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, a non-profit statewide federation of more than 650 organizations that represent and serve Wisconsin's older citizens. Her work with CWAG's Elder Law Center concentrates on issues of access and quality of care, long-term care financing and income security, and substitute decision-making.
A 1981 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Ms. Abramson is the author of numerous publications for consumers and professionals on elder law and has taught "Law and the Elderly" at the University of Wisconsin Law School for seven years.

Molly L. Bandt... is an attorney with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, a non-profit statewide federation of more than 650 organizations that represent and serve Wisconsin's older citizens. Her practice with CWAG's Elder Law Center involves providing legal back-up and training in elder law to Benefit Specialists in 12 counties in Western Wisconsin.
Ms. Bandt has also worked as an attorney at Western Wisconsin Legal Services in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where she represented low-income clients in public benefit cases and other civil matters. She is a 1994 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Rita Cairns... is one of two Dane County Benefit Specialists. In this capacity, she provides information, assistance, counseling and representation to Dane County residents age 60 and over with benefit and entitlement programs, such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medical Assistance (M.A.), Food Stamps, and the Wisconsin Community Options Program (COP).
Prior to joining CWAG/Elder Law Center, Rita served as Richland County's Benefit Specialist for six years. She received her Associate Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Richland and is currently enrolled as a junior in the Department of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Mary Cavitt... has been Office Manager since 1990. She is responsible for smooth running of all office procedures and insure office operations are maintained. This includes information management, word processing, supervision of clerical staff and Title V personnel, maintenance of CWAG office files and records, and determining priorities in order that CWAG assignments are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Mary serves as administrative assistant to executive director and Elder Law Center director.

Tom Frazier... Executive Director of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG), a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan federation of 670 member organizations. Tom has served in this capacity since April, 1983. Previously, Tom worked for two years as a policy analyst with the Wisconsin Bureau on Aging, the designated state unit on aging. He also served for five years as Deputy Director of the West Virginia Commission on Aging.
Tom is familiar with and works closely with the "aging network" in Wisconsin. He has had extensive experience in relating to the problems and concerns of older people in his tenure with CWAG which is governed by a Board of Directors made up of 34 older persons. His advocacy experience includes serving as a lobbyist for CWAG. Tom is a member of NCOA, Vice President of NCCO and holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

Mitchell Hagopian... is an attorney with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups where he coordinates legal back-up services to benefit specialists/paralegals in 58 Wisconsin counties. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.
Prior to his employment with the Elder Law Center, he was an attorney with the Center for Public Representation of Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Hagopian has also served as managing attorney at Western Wisconsin Legal Services, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. His expertise is in the field of public benefits and other civil matters for low income elderly people. He is currently a director of the Elder Law Section of the State Bar.

Daniel Hayes... is a staff attorney at the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee in 1988 and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1992.
Mr. Hayes practices primarily in the area of health care financing and public benefits law and is a member of the Elder Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He currently provides legal backup and training in elder law to benefit specialists/paralegals in 17 counties in Northern Wisconsin.

Michele Hughes... graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School in May of 1988. She worked for Western Wisconsin Legal Services in Dodgeville, Wisconsin for three and one-half years representing low income individuals in various legal matters.
In May of 1992, Michele began work at the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc. During her three and one-half year stay at the Advocacy Center, she represented individuals in mental health facilities, group homes and jails. In February of 1996, she returned to Wisconsin and commenced work with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. Michele is a staff attorney who provides training and legal assistance to benefit specialists in 17 counties and three tribes in the Bay Area Agency on Aging region.

Michelle Koehler... Michelle Koehler is an administrative assistant, having joined the staff of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups in July, 1997. Prior to coming to CWAG, she worked as the communication/production assistant for the State Medical Society of Wisconsin.
Michelle will be graduating in May, 1998 from Cardinal Stritch College with an undergraduate degree in business administration. Her primary duties include membership database management and assistant to the staff accountant.

Kris Krasnowski... graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in 1988 with a B.A. degree and majors in Journalism and English. She joined the staff of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) in January 1992 and currently holds the position of Membership Development and Public Relations Manager where she provides public information on state legislative issues concerning the elderly.
Prior experience includes three years at the Sons of Norway International in Minneapolis where she served as fraternal communications coordinator. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors of Ski for Light International from 1989-1992 and was a delegate to the National Fraternal Congress in 1991.

Pariss Lee... began working at CWAG as the receptionist in 1996. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, prior to coming to CWAG, worked at Norrell Services. Her primary duties are answering phones, greeting clients and general clerical duties.

Carol Matoushek... began working with the benefit specialist program at the Center for Public Representation in 1989 and has been with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups since 1991.
Ms. Matoushek is a benefit specialist who provides information, assistance, counseling and representation to Dane County residents age 60 and over with benefit and entitlement programs. She is also a HUD-certified Home Equity Conversion Mortgage counselor, enabling her to provide reverse mortgage couseling statewide.

Gerilynn Rohrer... is a Long-Term Care Project Director for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. She was hired in April, 1996, to focus on a project aiming to maximize long-term care resources for home and community based care. She attended the University of Arizona where she received a BS degree in Rehabilitation in 1990.
Prior to coming to CWAG she worked as the Long-Term Support Coordinator for Green County Human Services for four years. She has also worked for the State of Arizona as a case manager for children with developmental disabilities and their families.

Linda Marty Schmitz... CWAG Events/Member Services Coordinator, is a native of Belleville, WI, and a graduate of Madison Area Technical College in the Business Administration/Marketing Program. She has worked with senior citizens since 1984, when she joined the Elderly Team of the Center for Public Representation, Madison.
Ms. Schmitz transferred to the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups as Administrative Director for the Elder Law Center in 1991 and assumed responsibility for planning and implementing all CWAG events, including a one-day Older Americans Month expo in May and CWAG's annual three-day convention in July.

Glenna Schumann... is a graduate of UW-Stevens Point and a licensed social worker. She joined the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups 4 years ago as Assistant Consumer Advocate.
Her past work experience as a social worker includes county human services, profit and non-profit nursing homes and currently part time home health. At CWAG, as Assistant Consumer Advocate for the Value Plus Medicare Supplement policy of Blue Cross & Blue Shield she helps people become informed consumers.

Gail Schwersenska... is the Project Director for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. She was hired to manage a two year Administration on Aging demonstration grant which is designed to increase citizen participation in Wisconsin's Community Based Long-Term Care programs. In July of 1997 she started with a new AoA grant to train volunteers to recognize Medicare/Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. She is also coordinator for disaster assistance planning for the CWAG and other aging groups. She started with the CWAG in December of 1994.
Gail's prior employment was as the Director of the Waushara County Department of Aging Services for 14-1/2 years and with the Waushara County Dept. of Social Services for 12-1/2 years before that. She is the past-president of the Wisconsin Association of Aging Unit Directors and the 1992 recipient of the Division of Community Services Long-Term Support Award for Elderly Services.

Barb Thoni... is Director of Member Services for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. She has served in that position since November of 1991. Barb joined CWAG in April, 1991 as the Consumer Advocate working in conjunction with the medicare supplement, Value Plus developed and marketed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield and endorsed by CWAG.
Prior to her employment with the Coalition, Barb was the Co-director of the Office on Aging in Barron County for 16 years. Barb is a native of Barron County, Rice Lake to be exact. She attended the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and has a bachelor of science degree in social work. In addition to her work with CWAG, Barb is presently serving as Chair of the Public Policy committee of the South Central Alzheimer's Association and a member of the Wisconsin Rural and Paratransit Providers executive board.

Last updated: August 22, 1997
By: Gail Schwersenska

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Betsy J. Abramson...	is an attorney and the director of the Elder Law Center at the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, a non-profit statewide federation of more than 650 organizations that represent and serve Wisconsin's older citizens. Her work with CWAG's Elder Law Center concentrates on issues of access and quality of care, long-term care financing and income security, and substitute decision-making. A 1981 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Ms. Abramson is the author of numerous publications for consumers and professionals on elder law and has taught "Law and the Elderly" at the University of Wisconsin Law School for seven years.
Molly L. Bandt...	is an attorney with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, a non-profit statewide federation of more than 650 organizations that represent and serve Wisconsin's older citizens. Her practice with CWAG's Elder Law Center involves providing legal back-up and training in elder law to Benefit Specialists in 12 counties in Western Wisconsin. Ms. Bandt has also worked as an attorney at Western Wisconsin Legal Services in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where she represented low-income clients in public benefit cases and other civil matters. She is a 1994 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Rita Cairns...	is one of two Dane County Benefit Specialists. In this capacity, she provides information, assistance, counseling and representation to Dane County residents age 60 and over with benefit and entitlement programs, such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medical Assistance (M.A.), Food Stamps, and the Wisconsin Community Options Program (COP). Prior to joining CWAG/Elder Law Center, Rita served as Richland County's Benefit Specialist for six years. She received her Associate Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Richland and is currently enrolled as a junior in the Department of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Mary Cavitt...	has been Office Manager since 1990. She is responsible for smooth running of all office procedures and insure office operations are maintained. This includes information management, word processing, supervision of clerical staff and Title V personnel, maintenance of CWAG office files and records, and determining priorities in order that CWAG assignments are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Mary serves as administrative assistant to executive director and Elder Law Center director.
Tom Frazier...	Executive Director of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG), a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan federation of 670 member organizations. Tom has served in this capacity since April, 1983. Previously, Tom worked for two years as a policy analyst with the Wisconsin Bureau on Aging, the designated state unit on aging. He also served for five years as Deputy Director of the West Virginia Commission on Aging. Tom is familiar with and works closely with the "aging network" in Wisconsin. He has had extensive experience in relating to the problems and concerns of older people in his tenure with CWAG which is governed by a Board of Directors made up of 34 older persons. His advocacy experience includes serving as a lobbyist for CWAG. Tom is a member of NCOA, Vice President of NCCO and holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from The Pennsylvania State University.
Mitchell Hagopian...	is an attorney with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups where he coordinates legal back-up services to benefit specialists/paralegals in 58 Wisconsin counties. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. Prior to his employment with the Elder Law Center, he was an attorney with the Center for Public Representation of Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Hagopian has also served as managing attorney at Western Wisconsin Legal Services, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. His expertise is in the field of public benefits and other civil matters for low income elderly people. He is currently a director of the Elder Law Section of the State Bar.
Daniel Hayes...	is a staff attorney at the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee in 1988 and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1992. Mr. Hayes practices primarily in the area of health care financing and public benefits law and is a member of the Elder Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He currently provides legal backup and training in elder law to benefit specialists/paralegals in 17 counties in Northern Wisconsin.
Michele Hughes...	graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School in May of 1988. She worked for Western Wisconsin Legal Services in Dodgeville, Wisconsin for three and one-half years representing low income individuals in various legal matters. In May of 1992, Michele began work at the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc. During her three and one-half year stay at the Advocacy Center, she represented individuals in mental health facilities, group homes and jails. In February of 1996, she returned to Wisconsin and commenced work with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. Michele is a staff attorney who provides training and legal assistance to benefit specialists in 17 counties and three tribes in the Bay Area Agency on Aging region.
Michelle Koehler...	Michelle Koehler is an administrative assistant, having joined the staff of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups in July, 1997. Prior to coming to CWAG, she worked as the communication/production assistant for the State Medical Society of Wisconsin. Michelle will be graduating in May, 1998 from Cardinal Stritch College with an undergraduate degree in business administration. Her primary duties include membership database management and assistant to the staff accountant.
Kris Krasnowski...	graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in 1988 with a B.A. degree and majors in Journalism and English. She joined the staff of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) in January 1992 and currently holds the position of Membership Development and Public Relations Manager where she provides public information on state legislative issues concerning the elderly. Prior experience includes three years at the Sons of Norway International in Minneapolis where she served as fraternal communications coordinator. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors of Ski for Light International from 1989-1992 and was a delegate to the National Fraternal Congress in 1991.
Pariss Lee...	began working at CWAG as the receptionist in 1996. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, prior to coming to CWAG, worked at Norrell Services. Her primary duties are answering phones, greeting clients and general clerical duties.
Carol Matoushek...	began working with the benefit specialist program at the Center for Public Representation in 1989 and has been with the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups since 1991. Ms. Matoushek is a benefit specialist who provides information, assistance, counseling and representation to Dane County residents age 60 and over with benefit and entitlement programs. She is also a HUD-certified Home Equity Conversion Mortgage counselor, enabling her to provide reverse mortgage couseling statewide.
Gerilynn Rohrer...	is a Long-Term Care Project Director for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. She was hired in April, 1996, to focus on a project aiming to maximize long-term care resources for home and community based care. She attended the University of Arizona where she received a BS degree in Rehabilitation in 1990. Prior to coming to CWAG she worked as the Long-Term Support Coordinator for Green County Human Services for four years. She has also worked for the State of Arizona as a case manager for children with developmental disabilities and their families.
Linda Marty Schmitz...	CWAG Events/Member Services Coordinator, is a native of Belleville, WI, and a graduate of Madison Area Technical College in the Business Administration/Marketing Program. She has worked with senior citizens since 1984, when she joined the Elderly Team of the Center for Public Representation, Madison. Ms. Schmitz transferred to the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups as Administrative Director for the Elder Law Center in 1991 and assumed responsibility for planning and implementing all CWAG events, including a one-day Older Americans Month expo in May and CWAG's annual three-day convention in July.
Glenna Schumann...	is a graduate of UW-Stevens Point and a licensed social worker. She joined the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups 4 years ago as Assistant Consumer Advocate. Her past work experience as a social worker includes county human services, profit and non-profit nursing homes and currently part time home health. At CWAG, as Assistant Consumer Advocate for the Value Plus Medicare Supplement policy of Blue Cross & Blue Shield she helps people become informed consumers.
Gail Schwersenska...	is the Project Director for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. She was hired to manage a two year Administration on Aging demonstration grant which is designed to increase citizen participation in Wisconsin's Community Based Long-Term Care programs. In July of 1997 she started with a new AoA grant to train volunteers to recognize Medicare/Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. She is also coordinator for disaster assistance planning for the CWAG and other aging groups. She started with the CWAG in December of 1994. Gail's prior employment was as the Director of the Waushara County Department of Aging Services for 14-1/2 years and with the Waushara County Dept. of Social Services for 12-1/2 years before that. She is the past-president of the Wisconsin Association of Aging Unit Directors and the 1992 recipient of the Division of Community Services Long-Term Support Award for Elderly Services.
Barb Thoni...	is Director of Member Services for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. She has served in that position since November of 1991. Barb joined CWAG in April, 1991 as the Consumer Advocate working in conjunction with the medicare supplement, Value Plus developed and marketed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield and endorsed by CWAG. Prior to her employment with the Coalition, Barb was the Co-director of the Office on Aging in Barron County for 16 years. Barb is a native of Barron County, Rice Lake to be exact. She attended the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and has a bachelor of science degree in social work. In addition to her work with CWAG, Barb is presently serving as Chair of the Public Policy committee of the South Central Alzheimer's Association and a member of the Wisconsin Rural and Paratransit Providers executive board.