CALA News & Views | Issue 53 | CALA at 30

“We didn’t have a lot, but we had heart,” remembers Michel Augsburger, one of CALA’s early board members and chairman and CEO of Chancellor Health Care, Inc. “We leaned on each other. We called in favors. We were determined to build something real.” “I still remember our first regional meeting,” said Joel Goldman , also a founding board member and partner at Hanson Bridgett . “It was at the Claremont Hotel, and maybe 30 or 40 people showed up. But there was energy in the room. We knew we were starting something important.” “We didn’t even have an executive director when we held our first conference,” said Sue Farrow , CALA’s first board chair and founder of Integral Senior Living/ Solstice Senior Living. “But we knew we needed CALA – and we were determined to build it. It was exciting, exhausting and worth every bit of effort.” Finding a Steady Path Forward The building began in earnest when the board hired Sally Michael as president and CEO – a decision that would shape the next three decades.

“We needed some leadership,” recalls Nancy Schier Anzelmo, principal at Alzheimer’s Care Associates LLC . “We wanted to raise the bar, align around quality, and build a better way forward – together.” Schier Anzelmo has been involved with CALA since its inception, initially supporting W. Major Chance – founding member of CALA and former CEO of Health Care Group, who is fondly remembered following his passing. Humble Roots, Determined Hearts From the beginning, CALA was fueled by passion, volunteerism and grit. It began with no staff beyond a part-time executive director, and board members often rolled up their sleeves to keep things moving. Most of the early work was carried out by providers themselves.

“That was a defining moment,” Schier Anzelmo said. “We needed someone who could lead with integrity and vision. Sally brought all of that.” “Hiring Sally was among the decisions that changed everything,” Augsburger said. Gaining Influence in the Capitol With new leadership in place and clearer direction, CALA began to evolve from a scrappy startup to a respected force. A pivotal moment came when the board decided to bring on a lobbyist – a step that helped establish CALA’s presence in the Capitol and elevated its role in policymaking. “That gave us real credibility,” Schier Anzelmo said. “We could start enacting legislation and advocating on behalf of members in a way that truly mattered.” That advocacy soon paid off. In 2014, CALA faced a wave of 14 bills – many of which would have 0 years

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