Meet the NCCAP Board

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER and GENERAL COUNSEL: Peter J. Illig, JD LLM.  Peter is a strategic, mission-driven leader with a unique set of competencies in management, governance, and communications. He transforms mission-driven organizations for long-term sustainability. Previously, he served as General Counsel and Head of External Affairs for World Scouting, Executive Director of the foundation of the Fortune 100 med-tech leader Stryker, and a Human Rights Lawyer in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Illig graduated from SUNY Buffalo Law School, has an LLM in International Law from Notre Dame's London Law Program, and is a member of the NY Bar. He is a consultant to the WHO, serves as the US Representative for ARTDO International, and is a member of the National Eagle Scout Association.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Dawn Worsley, ADC, CDP. Dawn is the owner of Dawn on the Horizon, LLC in Baltimore, MD. She serves on a variety of boards including and is an Activity Director Certified (ADC), Certified Eden Alternative Associate, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) and Licensed Instructor. She serves as an Activity Director, Consultant for Corporate Program Development, Admissions & Marketing, Director of Alzheimer's and Gero-psych Units and Regional Clinical Specialist. She is a pioneer and expert in long-term care specializing in regulatory compliance, resident rights and culture change. A national speaker on topics for healthcare workers, she is published in both print and video working in collaboration with the University of Maryland Video Press.

PRESIDENT: Linda Redhead, MS, ACC, EDU.  Linda is the Owner of Activity Advisor. She graduated from the ‘School of Visual Arts’ with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration and Art Therapy. Linda is also a ‘College of New Rochelle’ graduate with a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy. Linda has worked with many different populations, but eventually found her passion working with the elderly. She has over 33 years of activity experience in long-term care, has worked in several long-term care facilities and is currently a director of Activities in Fishkill, NY. As a Licensed Instructor she was awarded the "Instructor of the Year" in 2013 and was a founding member of the Activity Professionals of the Hudson Valley Association. Previously, Linda served as New York State Representative, Board Member for Special Projects, Chairperson for Special Projects, and NCCAP Vice President.

   VICE PRESIDENT: Kara Reiser, ACC. Kara Reiser has been an Activity Professional for over 35 years and NCCAP certified since 1986. She has worked across senior living communities in positions of leadership, management, and compliance in regulations and safety. Using a foundation of compassion and creativity, Kara mentors other Activity Professionals and trains direct care staff to lead activities that enhance quality of life. Kara has been a proud member of the Minnesota State-Wide Activity Professional Organization (MNSwap) since 1990 and continues to serve in formal positions with MNSwap. Previously, Kara served as Chair of NCCAP’s Membership Committee, playing the valuable role of organizational liaison to our certified professionals.

SECRETARY: Penny Cook, MSW, President and CEO of the Pioneer Network. NCCAP. Given the complementary missions of NCCAP and Pioneer Network, we are pleased to have Penny Cook serve as our Secretary. Penny’s commitment to changing the culture of aging and long-term care began early in her professional career as a social worker in Rochester, New York and continued as she moved to Colorado. She strongly believes that the care we provide to elders is directly related to the way we, as a society, view aging.  She is passionate about spreading the message that we are in the midst of a revolution about how we age and where we do it. Penny comments that “no matter whether people live, in nursing homes, assisted living communities or in their family home, we all deserve and should expect respectful and dignified care and support that is centered, directed and tailored to us as individuals.

Penny previously served as the Manager of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in the Denver metropolitan region and as the Executive Director of the Colorado Culture Change Coalition. There she expanded the Coalition’s reach to look beyond nursing homes and brought the message of culture change to assisted living communities and home care organizations. Most recently she was the Director of Long Term Services and Supports for Colorado Access where she managed a state Medicaid contract to connect individuals to long-term services and supports. Penny received her Master of Social Work degree from the State University of New York at Albany and her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Binghamton University. 

TREASURER: Thomas R. Trexler. Tom brings more than 35 years of experience in financial compliance and planning as the President of Corporate Finance, Inc. in Maryland. He has worked extensively providing financial advice and counsel to start-up and small cap ventures, including valuation, structuring, liquidity and business development. He has served as CFO for a number of high tech companies including the process of going public on NASDAQ.