At its June 11 annual meeting, the New Jersey PACE Association elected Mary Austin, RN, MSN, President & Board Member, BoldAge PACE; Jacqueline Roletter, MSW, LSW, Manager, Social Work, Trinity LIFE; David Chau, Regional Manager, PACE, Lutheran Senior LIFE and Marianne Stahl, Privacy and Compliance Manager, Capital Health LIFE as new trustees for a two-year term.
Mary Austin has more than 30 years of leadership experience in aging services and is nationally recognized as a leading expert in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Her leadership combines clinical excellence, operational expertise, and a commitment to person-centered care. A recognized advocate for quality and innovation, Ms. Austin serves on the Boards of Directors of the National PACE Association (NPA) and the California PACE Association (CalPACE), helping advance policy, quality, and access to care nationwide. Since 2017, she has advised PACE organizations across the country on program development, operations, compliance, and growth.
Jackie Roletter, MSW, LSW, has practiced social work in PACE since 2013, bringing a perspective shaped by years of work with older adults, families, interdisciplinary teams, and the Medicaid and long-term care systems that support community-based care. She is a NJ Choice-certified assessor and has contributed to advisory work related to caregiver support and end-of-life care for veterans. As a field instructor, Jackie mentors MSW students from Rutgers School of Social Work and helps introduce future social workers to the PACE model of care.
David Chau has more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in PACE operations and healthcare management. Before joining Lutheran Senior LIFE in May 2026, he served as the Program Director for ArchCare Senior Life PACE in the Bronx, NY, where he oversaw daily operations, led high-performing interdisciplinary teams, strengthened regulatory readiness, and supported significant program growth. His background also includes marketing, healthcare outreach, financial services, community engagement, and long-standing volunteer leadership.
Marianne Stahl, MBS has more than 20 years’ experience across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and clinical research and has built expertise in compliance program leadership, regulatory oversight, risk management, auditing, investigations, and governance. She partners with PACE leadership and the interdisciplinary team on compliance, privacy, and regulatory matters.
The Board has elected Pinni Friedman, MA, LNHA; VP of Program Development and Procurement, BoldAge PACE to a third, one-year term as President; Sandra Festa, MSW, Assistant Vice President/Executive Director FQHC & PACE, AtlantiCare to a one-year term as Vice President; Dr. Ankur Patel, Executive Director, Inspira LIFE, to a second, one-year term as Treasurer and Ms. Deanna Alvarado-Marin, Center Director, Lutheran Senior LIFE, to a second, one-year term as Secretary.
The Association extends heartfelt gratitude to trustees who are leaving the Board — Sr. Margaret Sullivan, Executive Director, Trinity LIFE; Michael Czermak, Chief Administrative Officer, BoldAge PACE; Nicole McIntyre, Manager, Benefits Eligibility, Capital Health LIFE,and Bianca Diaz, Director of Marketing, Lutheran Senior LIFE.