Julie Bell is a state leader in Iowa as president of an AFSME Local for direct care workers. Julie Bell, in her role first as vice president, and then as president of her local union, has played a key role in organizing direct care workers, developing direct care workers as leaders, and raising the profile and voice of direct care workers. Julie Bell is also a direct care worker herself and she functions as a leadership model and mentor to her colleagues.
Clari Gilbert is currently the senior vice president of operations of Beth Abraham Family of Health Services. As a licensed nursing home administrator, she is responsible for approximately 1,200 nursing home beds, 1,500 home care clients and 6 adult day care centers with a combined budget of $175m.
Ms. Gilbert obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Long Island University and a masters degree in Nursing Administration from New York University. She is the co-author of a chapter in the Journal of Social Work in Long-Term Care (2003) titled “Culture Change in an Urban Environment.” She is a change agent and has presented at workshops and seminars on relevant topics including: “Certified Nurses Aides: Working in a Culture Change Environment,” “Governance in Culture Change,” and “The Path to Change.”
