Agenda-At-A-Glance

Greg Burris

Founder, Give 5 Program; Fellow, Foundation for Social Connection; Certified Futurist

Greg Burris has served as Vice President at Missouri State University, City Manager of Springfield, Missouri, and President & CEO of United Way Ozarks Region. He founded the Give 5 Program, a “civic matchmaking” program for older adults implemented nationally, and has recently implemented Give 5 Academy to teach high school students about their community and the impact they can make.

Greg is a certified futurist and is wrestling with retirement. He married up, was born on Halloween, is a professional musician with limited talent, pole vaulted for a school that had neither a pole nor a pit, and enjoys French Silk Chocolate Pie (typically, alone in a dark corner).

Sandy Markwood

CEO, USAging

Sandy Markwood is a national advocate for aging issues and a champion for ensuring that older adults have the best supports to age well at home and in their communities. As the CEO of USAging since 2002, she is committed to ensuring that our society values and supports people across the lifespan.

A passionate advocate, Sandy has led numerous campaigns focused on combating social isolation, encouraging healthy aging, supporting caregivers, promoting livable communities, and preventing elder abuse. Her goal is to ensure that older adults have the ability to age with maximum independence and quality of life. According to Sandy, aging isn’t just about adding years to our lives, it’s about adding life to those years.

Sandy has more than 30 years of experience in aging, health, human services, housing, and transportation programs. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia.

Sarah Willson

Director, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Sarah Willson, MBA, BSN, RN, FACHE was appointed director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) by Governor Mike Kehoe on January 14, 2025. She brings a wealth of valuable experience to DHSS from her background as a practicing nurse and healthcare executive.

Prior to joining DHSS, Willson served as Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs for the Missouri Hospital Association for nearly a decade. She has also held leadership roles with Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care and at Capital Region Medical Center. Her career has been defined by advocating for quality care, developing efficiencies, and improving outcomes for patients.

Willson has a Master of Business Administration in health management from William Woods University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Missouri–Columbia. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.