ASA, the nation’s largest association of diverse professionals working in aging, has announced that its president and chief executive officer, Peter Kaldes, will be leaving at the end of August 2023 to lead the NextFifty Initiative, a Denver-based national foundation that is catalyzing innovation in aging.
“Peter has our gratitude and appreciation for his visionary efforts and hard work transforming ASA,” said Lisa Gables, ASA Board Chair. “Under his leadership, Peter successfully navigated the organization through an unprecedented pandemic, modernized ASA, reasserted ASA's equity commitments, and increased ASA's membership by 35%.”
“It has been a career highlight working to advance the mission of ASA,” said Kaldes. “I learned so much from our members who work tirelessly on behalf of older adults. Together with the hard-working ASA staff and volunteer leaders, we expanded the field to include voices that changed the discourse on aging and catalyzed innovative ideas to strengthen our aging society.”
Since joining ASA in March 2020, Kaldes led the transformation of ASA’s business operations and governance and has positioned ASA for continued growth and impact. Under his leadership, new initiatives were established, including ASA Rise, a social justice and leadership academy for leaders of color in aging and year-round educational and capacity-building efforts. Kaldes also overhauled ASA’s brand identity, digitized its publications, launched a policy and advocacy agenda, and elevated ASA’s national profile.
Board Appoints Dr. Clark-Shirley Interim, Effective 9/1
On July 27, the ASA Board of Directors appointed Dr. Leanne Clark-Shirley Interim President and CEO effective Sept. 1, 2023. Clark-Shirley currently serves as ASA’s first Chief Gerontology Officer and has been with ASA since June 2020.
