Keynote Speakers

Magie Cook

CEO and Founder; orphan turned entrepreneur , Maggie’s Salsa

Magie grew up among 68 other children in an orphanage in Mexico. She eventually was able to immigrate to America on a basketball scholarship at the University of Charleston. While there, she started to make fresh salsa for her friends. After graduating university and while struggling to find a job and make ends meet, Magie became homeless. A friend later entered her in West Virginia's Fresh Salsa competition which she won the contest unanimously. She was gifted $800 to start her business, and the beginning stages of Maggie’s All-Natural Fresh Salsa’s & Dips was born. Through perseverance, passion, and an inner drive to keep going despite many challenges that halted momentum, Magie expanded her company an in 2015, sold it at the height of it's success for $231 million. Magie then shifted her focus toward giving back to the community that raised her, returning to Mexico to serve as the US Program Director of the Give New Life Orphanage where she grew up. She focused on the generational problem of human sex trafficking, and led a team to help rescue 31 Mexican children from the Cartel and sex trade. 

Magie is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Nobel Entrepreneurial Prize in Mexico, the Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and West Virginia’s Generation Next “40 Under 40” Award.

Speaking Events

Clif Porter

President and CEO , American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living

Clifton (Clif) Porter II is the President and CEO of the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing over 14,000 long-term care providers. With more than 35 years of experience in the field, he played a key role in securing critical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Porter began his career in 1989 as an administrator-in-training and later held senior roles at skilled nursing centers and HCR ManorCare. He has earned numerous awards, including the Industry Ally Award from McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and recognition on The Hill’s Top 100 Lobbyists list. Porter holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and co-founded the Porter Legacy Scholarship to support students in the College of Health Professions.

Speaking Events

LaShuan Bethea

Executive Director , National Center for Assisted Living

LaShuan Bethea is the executive director of the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) – the assisted living voice of the American Health Care Association (AHCA). Bethea joined NCAL from Genesis Healthcare, Inc. where she served in various leadership roles from 2007 – 2021. Bethea, a registered nurse and attorney, has a depth of long term care experience. She began at Genesis HealthCare in February 2007 and quickly advanced to the director of regulatory and program development before being promoted in 2015 to vice president of legislative affairs. She assumed a dual role as vice president of reimbursement in 2020 and was appointed to chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee in June 2020. Bethea received her law degree from Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg, PA. She earned a Master’s degree in Education from American Intercontinental University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Phoenix.

Speaking Events

Legislative Panelists

FHCA CEO & Government Affairs Team: FHCA Chief Executive Officer Emmett Reed, Lead Lobbyist Toby Philpot, Senior Director of Policy and Reimbursement Tom Parker are the lead advocates for Florida Health Care Association who lobby for the long term care priorities that will make a positive impact on resident quality care and facility operations.

Speaking Events

Kimberly Smoak

Deputy Secretary/State Survey Agency Director , Agency for Health Care Administration

Kim Smoak has been with the Agency for Health Care Administration since August 1995. She is the Deputy Secretary of the Division of Health Quality Assurance. The Division licenses and/or certifies and regulates 40 different providers, including, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies. Ms. Smoak is also the State Survey Agency Director for the State of Florida. She holds a Master of Science in Health with the program emphasis in Aging Studies and is also a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP). In 2009 and 2017, she received Survey & Certification Achievement Awards, presented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for her work in Survey and Certification.

Speaking Events

Mark Schulman

World-Renowned Drummer and Peak Performance Expert , P!NK

Drawing from his decades-long career touring with P!NK, Billy Idol, Cher, Stevie Nicks, and many others, Mark Schulman applies his “Rock Star Mentality” to the business world, sharing how companies can boost engagement, teamwork, and innovation for peak performance. As a renowned drummer who has played with some of the world’s greatest pop and rock stars in some of the world’s biggest venues, Mark Schulman takes audiences behind the curtain and reveals the secrets to rockstars’ success. Mark is the author of the books Conquering Life’s Stage Fright and The Attitude Equation (April 2024) and is also a judge and coach on an original music competition television show called BANDED on AXS TV.

Speaking Events