Board of Directors
Michelle Donahue, President
Michelle received undergraduate degrees in both Nursing and Philosophy, and has been a registered nurse for more than 20 years. Michelle was Director of Nurses for 7 of the past 12 years and is licensed as an administrator in long term care, sub-acute administration, and has also been certified as an assisted living manager. She has been an associate of Life Care Centers of America for over 15 years, and is currently the the Executive Director at Desert Cove Nursing and Rehab. She has served on the AHCA Board of Directors since 2003, and is the Chair of the Membership Committee.
Michael Morris, First Vice-President
Mike returned to the Board in 2003 and is serving his 7th term. He has previously served on AHCA committees for Bylaws, Government Relations/Legislation/Reimbursement, Public Relations, and various ad hoc committees. He has over 20 years of health care management experience and is currently the Administrator at Capri Care Center in Phoenix.
Paul Friedlan, Secretary/Treasurer
Paul has served on the AHCA board for over 25 years and was elected President in August 1996. Prior to serving as President he was the Secretary/Treasurer for 18 years and served on the Executive Board. He is a fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators, president of Management Southwest, Inc., a healthcare management/consulting firm located in Scottsdale and principal of Sunwest Choice Healthcare and Rehab Center in Sun City West. Currently he serves on the American Health Care Association’s Independent Owner’s Committee, is Chair of Arizona Health Care Association’s Budget & Finance Committee, and is President of the Arizona Health Care Foundation.
William Fay, Jr. Immediate Past President
Bill has previously served on AHCA's Board of Directors for more than 12 years. Bill has also served on the Arizona Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution & Assisted Living Managers. He has been a licensed administrator for 20 years and is Executive Director of Capri Care Center, a 133- bed facility in Phoenix.
Michael Oliver, Maricopa County Vice-President
Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Service Administration from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island and has been a licensed Administrator in the State of Arizona since 1978. He was elected President of the Arizona Health Care Association in 1990 and elected Region XI President for the American Health Care Association is 1991. Michael has also been actively involved in AHCA, serving on the Membership, Bylaws, Reimbursement and Legislative Committees. Michael is currently the Regional Vice President of Operations Arizona/New Mexico for Brookdale Senior Living.
Dale Pelton, Pima County Vice-President
Dale Pelton is currently the Administrator at Valley Healthcare & Rehab. in Tucson. He has served as Executive Director of skilled nursing facilities in Pasco, Washington and several different facilities in Colorado. He has been a faculty member at Ferris State and Penn State Universities, and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in four states.
Cindy Leach, Assisted Living Vice-President
Cindy is an RN and licensed administrator who started her career in long term care in Arizona 20 years ago. She has held various positions, such as Director of Nursing, TQM for multi-facilities, and Administrator. She began working with assisted living facilities approximately 8 years ago. Cindy is part owner and Vice-President of Operations with CopperSands Inc. which owns and manages long term care and assisted living facilities in Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, and President of Residents Firt, which provides assistance with regulatory compliance and quality improvement.
Todd Corless, Multi-Facility Vice President
Todd Corless has been working in the long term care industry for over fourteen years in Arizona. He has been a licensed Nursing Home Administrator since 1995. Todd is the Regional Vice President for Avalon Health Care, overseeing the Arizona Region.
Kathleen Langford, Rural Vice-President
Kathie has been a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and Assisted Living Manager since November of 1995. After 10 years at Brighton Gardens by Marriott in Sun City, Kathie took a short break from health care but remained on the AHCA Education Committee and the Arizona Health Care Foundation boards. Currently the Administrator of Mountain View Manor in Prescott, Kathie returned to the health care industry in May of 2005. Kathie previously served on the AHCA Board of Directors for three consecutive years.
George Jacobson, Independent Owner Vice President
George served previously on the AHCA Board for 4 terms and is the Administrator at Apache Junction Health Center. As the Independent Owner Vice President, he represents long-term care facilities which are independently owned and operated. He has been a long-term care administrator for more than nine years, and previous to that held various positions in hospital administration.
John Checkett, Business Affiliate Representative
John J. Checkett is a director and a founding member of Campbell, Yost, Clare & Norell, P.C. His practice has focused on the intricacies of the long term care and health care from all perspectives – professional liability, defense of elder abuse claims, Department of Health Service issues, contracts and other business matters. John is serving his first term on the AHCA Board of Directors.
John Ford, At Large Representative
John is the Regional Division General Manager for Southwest Ambulance, one of AHCA’s valued Business Affiliate members. He has worked in the Arizona EMS community for over 25 years, beginning his career as a Firefighter EMT with Rural/Metro Corporation before entering into the private sector ambulance service. John joined Southwest Ambulance in 1998 as Field Customer Service Advocate and has been heavily involved in Arizona Emergency Medical Systems Inc. (AEMS) for the Central Region as Co-Chair of AEMS Diversion Committee/EMSystem. The EMSystem is the Computer generated program all Fire, EMS and area Hospitals follow for diversion guidelines and direction. John was appointed to the AHCA Board of Directors in 2003.