Our Mission
To enrich the quality of life for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their care partners—celebrating and inspiring innovative practices of care and sharing these practices with the wider dementia care community.
Who We Are
Richard Ferry
Chairman
Richard and Maude Ferry are one of many couples who have lived what is often called the “American Dream”. They have walked a blessed and rewarding journey together, from their beginnings in a small, Midwestern college town, to community leaders in Los Angeles and entrepreneurs in a global business.
Richard co-founded Korn Ferry International in 1969, and for more than three decades was instrumental in establishing the firm as the world’s premier provider of executive human capital solutions. Maude was Richard’s silent partner, goodwill ambassador, corporate wife, community volunteer and dedicated mother to their six children as well as twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Throughout the years, Richard and Maude were passionately engaged in their community and have supported numerous civic and charitable causes, with a focus on the Catholic Church, education and health care.
In 2013, Maude was diagnosed with dementia and Richard has continued their shared journey as a loving caregiver and tireless advocate. Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care carries their commitment forward, encouraging, celebrating and sharing innovations that will enrich the quality of life for persons living with dementia and their caregivers for generations to follow.
Marilyn Raichle, MPA
Executive Director
Marilyn Raichle began her career in Seattle as producer at The Bathhouse and Tacoma Actors Guild and was a Theatre Communications Fellow at the Guthrie in Minneapolis. In 1987 she founded the Seattle International Children’s Festival, introducing children to world culture through the performing arts and growing to become the largest such festival in the US. In 2010, she received a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Upon returning to Seattle she became a care partner for her parents, both of whom were developing Alzheimer’s Disease. In 2015, inspired by her mother’s newfound artistic ability, she founded The Art of Alzheimer’s, celebrating the creativity of persons living with dementia and the power of the creative arts to enrich and empower their lives.
Advisory Board
Marigrace Becker, MSW
Marigrace Becker, MSW, is the Program Manager of Community Education and Impact at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC). She develops and facilitates education, support, and engagement programs that promote living well with dementia. She also produces resources like the MBWC’s patient and family handbook, Living with Memory Loss. She works closely with community partners to spearhead local initiatives that challenge stigma and build understanding. She is a member of the Momentia Seattle Stewardship Team, and leads the Dementia-Friendly Communities project team for the Dementia Action Collaborative implementing the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias.
Jim Bennet, HSE, MHA
Jim Bennett is the Vice President of Housing Operations for Transforming Age and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator with more than 40 years of experience in health care and health management services – 30 years of it in senior living and skilled nursing care. Jim has served as the Washington State Chair of the Board of Nursing Homes Administrators for 10 years, active with the National Association of Boards for Long Term Care Executives for 20 years and has served as Chair of the Nursing Home Examination Committee. He is co-author of the new on-line Study Guide for Nursing Homes, Residential Care and Assisted Living, and Home and Community Based Services.
Nancy Isenberg, MD, MPH, FAAN
Nancy Isenberg is the Medical Director of the Center for Healthy Aging at Swedish Neuroscience Institute offering comprehensive care for the evaluation, prevention and treatment of cognitive challenges. She has developed and facilitates evidence-based resiliency and compassion trainings for leaders, physicians, employees, patients and families at Virginia Mason and through the Washington Physicians Health Program. She obtained her medical degree, and Master of public health from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and School of Public Health, with residency training at the Neurological Institute, Columbia Medical Center. She has published multiple peer reviewed research articles, and book chapters on neuroimaging and neuropsychiatry, and lectured widely on the Neuroscience of Compassion and Mindfulness. She is committed to the development and implementation of renewable resilience programs which incorporate the newest evidence-based systems and neuroscience of wellbeing.
Lee Burnside, MD MBA, FACP
Bio coming soon.
Carin Mack, MSW
Carin Mack works as a geriatric social worker and support group facilitator with over 35 years of experience. She has been a Social Worker at the Greenwood Senior Center (GSC) for over 20 years. She is the founder and director of the Memory Loss Program. She started the second Alzheimer’s Café in the US and the first memory loss chorus in Seattle. Currently she supervises the Gathering Place, an Early Stage Enrichment Program, twice a week. She has extensive experience with the Parkinson’s community, leading support groups and providing individual counseling to patients and families. She won the NWPF (Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation) 2008 Eyes for the Community Award for seeing opportunities to improve quality of life. Currently she facilitates four support groups in the Memory Loss Program as well as three others for older adults.
Special thanks to Nora Gibson, MSW, Advisory Board Member Emeritus