Gail M. Meehan, M.P.H., L.N.H.A., CSA Founder and Chairperson

Gail Meehan is the Founder and Chairperson of Senior Health Advocates Colorado. Gail founded the organization in order to advocate for older adults struggling with healthcare and social welfare issues/systems. Gail has over thirty years’ experience working nationally and internationally specializing in public health, specifically in the field of gerontology. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Vermont and received her Master’s in Public Health from Boston University School of Medicine. Gail is the Principal of AgeWise Advisors, LLC, a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, a Certified Senior Advisor, and serves on the Colorado Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging and the Board of the Colorado Center for Aging.

Duane Roy Secretary/Treasurer

Duane has held the position of Executive Director of Southern Colorado Developmental Disabilities Services, an agency that provides person centered services for Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled adults, for 40+ years. Duane graduated from Ft Hays State University with a Masters of Science degree in Psychology.

Teri Hansford Media Administrator

Teri has been a resident of Colorado for over 25 years. She has held positions related to health care for most of her adult life, having held several management positions with the Las Animas County Rehabilitation Center in Trinidad for 27 of those years. She currently holds the position of CFO. She is also the IT tech for the agency and is a Nationally Certified Investigator. For several years Teri was a Volunteer Fire Fighter, Emergency Medical Technician and First Responder.

Penny Saeedi Volunteer Coordinator, GIFTS Program

Penny is a lifelong resident of Colorado and a long-time resident of Trinidad, Colorado. Her civic involvement is extensive. She has served as a Samaritan Clinic Volunteer for the past eleven years. She is on the Board Historic Main Street in Trinidad, CO and served as their President for five years. She is a member of Rotary and served as the President. She is also founding the member of ACTS, Assisting Our Community Through Service in collaboration with Trinidad, CO Ministerial Alliance. She also assisted in establishing and managing a successful family business in Denver which was in operation for 25 years , and a has been in real estate development and management for over 25 years.

Jeff Hecht GIFTS Program Volunteer

Jeff moved to Trinidad Colorado with his family in 2021 from NJ. He is originally from Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from St. Francis College and Polytechnic Institute of New York with a bachelors degree in business. He worked for twenty six years as a teacher, four years as a director of student activities and twenty years as a camp director. He also served as a Red Cross CPR/first aide instructor for thirty eight years. He has recently been appointed as a member of the Trinidad Urban Renewal Authority. Jeff recognizes the need for the GIFTS program and is an active volunteer.

Founding Members Emeritus

John Barkley Joseph Tarabino Dave Shier Rosemary Shier