NAELA Office and Staff

Our offices are located at 1577 Spring Hill Road, Suite 220, Vienna, Virginia 22182 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, except holidays. Our telephone number is (703) 942-5711, and our fax number is (703) 563-9504. You may leave a voicemail message 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also direct general questions to us via email. Our general email inbox is monitored during business hours.

NAELA staff members can help you with any questions you might have about your NAELA membership, events, publications, public policy, etc. The key responsibilities for each staff member will help you connect with the right person quickly, but know that any staff member can assist you with your questions or get your call or email to the right person for a prompt response.

Please note that NAELA staff cannot provide any legal counseling. If you are seeking legal advice or need to find an Elder Law attorney, please see NAELA's Member Directory.

Executive

Peter G. Wacht, CAE
Executive Director
703-942-5711 #227
NAELA’s chief executive officer responsible for strategic planning, oversees day-to-day operations, and implements policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities
  • Board of Directors
  • Executive Committee
  • Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP)
  • Nominating Committee
Administrative

Ann Watkins
Operations Manager
703-942-5711 #226

Key Responsibilities
  • Accounts payable and receivable
  • Maintaining the NAELA Store and Online Education Center
  • Meeting and event registration
  • Managing day-to-day operations
Amelia (Amy) Seaton
Administrative Specialist
703-942-5711 #221

Key Responsibilities
  • Support to Board of Directors and Executive Committee
  • Administrative support to Executive Director
  • Operations, program, and database support
  • Staff liaison to the Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP)
Membership and Meetings

Lemma Ibrahim
Member Services Coordinator
703-942-5711 #223
Develop, integrate, and maintain practices that maintain NAELA member satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities
  • Membership benefits
  • Membership inquiries
  • Staff liaison to NAELA Sections
Katie Gilbert
Member Services Manager
703-942-5711 #222
Review and develop membership program support to increase member value and participation. Oversee NAELA Sections and NAELA Chapters.

Key Responsibilities
  • Membership management
  • Member directory
  • Staff liaison to NAELA Chapters
Meetings and Education

Roger Naoroji
Meetings and Education Coordinator
703-942-5711 #229
Coordinates NAELA’s meetings and continuing legal education-related activities.

Key Responsibilities
  • Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
  • Exhibits and sponsorships
  • Meetings and Education web content
Pamela (Pam) Yanni
Meetings and Education Manager
703-942-5711 #231
Manages the execution of educational programs and meetings.

Key Responsibilities
  • NAELA’s educational programming targets
  • Staff liaison to the Program and Education Committee
  • Budgets for educational and leadership programs
  • Site selection and contract negotiations
Kirsten Brown Simpson
Sr. Director, Planning and Education
703-942-5711 #224
Business planning and marketing.

Key Responsibilities
  • Strategic direction to membership and meetings
  • NAELA messaging and campaigns
  • Member demographics, trending, and analysis
Communications

Nancy M. Sween
Sr. Director, Communications and Publications
703-942-5711 #225
Directs NAELA’s external communications activities and publications.

Key Responsibilities
  • NAELA News content, planning, and advertising
  • NAELA Journal content and planning
  • Public relations
Abegail (Abby) Matienzo
Communications Specialist
703-942-5711 #230
Integral part of NAELA’s external communications activities.

Key Responsibilities
  • Media requests for interviews/information
  • NAELA’s speaker/writer bureau
  • Elder Law Month
  • Special Needs Law Month
  • eBulletin production
  • Website traffic and quality control