SPEAKER BIOS
Emily Allen
Senior Vice President of Programs at AARP Foundation
Throughout her career, Emily’s primary passion has been on serving the needs of those most at risk in our communities. She has served in several capacities in the non-profit, education and economic development arenas both in the U.S. and internationally and has worked across the generations to ensure vulnerable and at-risk individuals have access to the resources and services they need to thrive. In her current role, Emily is responsible for overseeing AARP Foundation’s programmatic portfolio that focuses on addressing the social determinants of poverty among older adults and on increasing equitable economic outcomes for those most marginalized in our country. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Westminster College and a master’s degree in Human and Organizational Learning from The George Washington University.
Megan Schmidt
Training Manager at Adult Protective Services
Megan Schmidt serves as the Training Manager for the Utah Department of Health & Human Services, Adult Protective Services. Megan has a BA In Psychology and Exercise Science from Augustana University and Social Service Worker licensure from Weber State University. Megan has worked in the Human Services field for the past 18 years, focusing on inpatient behavioral health across the lifespan and crisis case management for those with serious mental illness. Sharing education with community members, promoting awareness of resources and services, and empowering staff in their roles are passions for Megan. Before becoming the Training Manager, Megan was an APS Investigator in Utah for 3 years.
Kathy Nelson
Training Specialist for Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services
In addition to being a caregiver within her own family, Kathy Nelson is the Caregiver Support Training Specialist for Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services. She has authored the curriculum for Caregiver Academy, Caregiver Talking Points, and created the Managing Care Guide and Creating Joy Booklet. She is a Master Trainer and has 20 years of experience with teaching caregivers in ways that are self-reliant and creative.
Klea Harris
Attorney at Angel Advocates
Klea loves helping families use estate planning to heal their relationships rather than perpetuate conflict. She believes in estate planning that is guided by love and governed by law. With these principles in mind, she started Angel Advocates, PLLC in 2019 and enjoys leading a team of likeminded estate planning attorneys and consulting 500+ other attorneys so they can successfully implement purposeful elements into their own practices. She earned her bachelor’s in History and Gerontology and law degree from Brigham Young University. In service to her clients, Klea draws from her experiences as a wife of 26 years and mother of eight children, including three adopted from Haiti in 2003. She loves meditation, watercolor, and hiking the National Parks with her family.