Answers For Elders Leadership Team
“Never doubt that a few committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead
Navigating the challenges of caring for an aging parent is an incredibly trying process. Our team founded AnswersforElders.com to provide a community for the millions of people who are also in that position; to no longer feel alone on this journey. We share with our AnswersForElders.com community our own insights and experiences; to become the catalyst in bringing about a greater understanding and awareness of our daily struggles. It is our hope that through Answersforelders.com, we will help bring about greater communication, resources, wisdom and experience from one another, and together, with your help and contributions from your experience, we will change the world!
Suzanne Perkins Newman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Suzanne’s commitment to changing the world has led her on a journey fueled by her passions: saving the endangered orcas in Puget Sound, personal and spiritual growth, gardening, gourmet cooking, creative & business endeavors.
Before founding AnswersForElders.com, Suzanne gained over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing management and leadership, being a national trainer in selling Google AdWords™ campaigns, and Internet Sales Leader for Yellowbook . She was always her “father’s daughter”, and grew up admiring his business success as an entrepreneur. Being the founder and principal of a successful marketing company in the Seattle area for over twelve years, she then went on to work in the Fortune 500 corporate arena with the parent company of twelve major online sites, publishing and online media, and the non-profit sector. Through her career she also has assisted literally hundreds of small business enterprises.
As her parents began to age, Suzanne’s life changed more than she had ever expected. By 2005, Suzanne’s mom who had been living alone, had a car accident, numerous health issues, and within a year suffered a major fall, resulting in a broken pelvis, rehab, and because she could no longer live independently, she had to be relocated to be near Suzanne, her only daughter. Suzanne found herself becoming her mother’s main caretaker, having to turn away from her career, and caring for her mother until she passed away on May 24, 2011.
Suzanne now says that, "caring for my mother has truly been the greatest privilege and honor of my life." The years of being a family caregiver has transformed her in numerous ways that will stay with her forever. She relates to the path of what caregivers live with and has made it her personal mission to make Answers For Elders a lifeline for support and greater awareness through its numerous experts, resources and educational information.
Michael Carrosino, Chief Financial Officer
Michael is a Seattle native. He and his wife Kimberly are both dedicated to their elderly parents who are still living independently. Michael has not only handled the financial dealings for several non profit organizations, small, medium and large businesses, but also, for family friends, as their elderly parents have passed, and thus, Michael brings not only his personal experience, but a professional perspective to what families go through with their elderly parents and estate planning issues. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with more than 25 years of business experience. Michael has a proven track record of helping companies through rapid growth, start-up operations, turn around management, SEC filings/Registration Statements (initial public offerings), mergers and acquisitions, capital formation and fundraisings, as well as other strategic events. His management and financial experience includes Cell Therapeutics (IPO), Spynet (acquisition and subsequent sale by AOL), Vacation Spot (acquired by Expedia), Classmates.com, Pacific Biometrics and Hyperion Innovations. As AnswersForElders.com's CFO, Michael has been instrumental in working with our grass roots investor base, and in key negotiations.
Advisors
Roy O. LaCroix, Acting Chairman of the Board, is Executive Director of PTSO of Washington. Roy’s background in health care technology, as well as overseeing a non-profit, provides an expansive perspective on many of the issues we face. A graduate of St. Mary’s College of California with an MBA, Roy has personally been involved with numerous startups and business ventures.
Robert L. Hagen - Bob has been a Puget Sound area entrepreneur for more than 20 years. Bob represents Series A shareholders. His background includes experience in property management, construction, technology, manufacturing and general management. He has an MBA from Seattle Pacific University and, as one of the largest investors, is an active participant in the mission of Answers for Elders.
Tom Bligh – is a well known business and strategy consultant who has recognized numerous successes in various industries. Having been a trusted advisor and friend to our founder for more than 20 years, Tom’s background includes leadership in companies Terex, Genie, Deltapoint, Alcon Surgical, The Cooper Companies, Ciico, American Hydron, PepsiCo & Xerox. Tom's insights are valuable in the development of the overall vision of the company. Personally, Tom is presently dealing with an elder parent and is facing many of the issues that we discuss on our site, thus, he recognizes first hand the need for AnswersForElders.com. He brings his wealth of knowledge in business execution, as well as exceptional acumen and vision.
Jeff Cartwright, Advisor in Directory development, Sales & Leadership- has spent more than 35 years in the local and online business directory industry. He is Google Certified in online search and presently serves as Director of Leadership Development at Yellowbook where he and our founder worked together for over three years. In addition, his 35+ year background in the yellow pages industry and its evolution to an online platform, he brings an extensive knowledge in the national development of the directory industry. Jeff is passionate about music, wines, personal growth, and has been instrumental as a trusted confidante and support to help guide our founder juggle her own career and family struggles with her mom.