Maribeth Bersani

Maribeth Bersani has been named chief operating officer of the Assisted Living Federation of America as part of a larger reorganization that the group says will “meet the needs of the changing senior living industry.”

The changes, announced Oct. 1, comes two days after ALFA announced a new name, Argentum, effective immediately but more formally Dec. 1, and a week after the group announced plans to offer memory care research and programming.

Bersani has worked at ALFA for 10 years, most recently as senior vice president of public policy. Her new position within the organization comes as the group separates into three business groups: advocacy and public policy, led by Bersani until a successor for her is found as senior vice president; programs and services, led by Nathan Nickens, vice president; and education and training, led by Paul Williams, vice president. Other members of the senior leadership team are Jaclyn Allmon, vice president of marketing, and Gina Mamone, vice president of finance.

In other news, ALFA/Argentum announced that it is launching an industry fund to support advocacy efforts in the states. The inaugural 2016 Advocacy Fund has an initial goal of $1 million.

Collectively, board members have pledged $930,000 to the fund. Companies pledging support to the fund: Atria, Belmont, Benchmark, Brandywine, Brookdale, Direct Supply, Elmcroft Senior Living, Five Star Senior Living, Genesis HealthCare, Holiday Retirement, Integral Senior Living, Kensington Senior Living, Legend Senior Living, Life Care Services, Merrill Gardens, New Perspective Senior Living, RPM Management, Silverado, Stellar Senior Living, Sunrise Senior Living, Vi Living and Welltower.

The new fund complements ALFA PAC and ALFA’s grassroots advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, the organization maintains. ALFA recently hired Neil Cohen to oversee the political action committee. He will be in charge of building the association’s PAC brand, working with member companies to conduct fundraising campaigns, collaborating with members and organizing related events, among other duties.