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Management Team

Nader Robert Shabahangi - President and CEO
nader@agesong.com

Nader received his Doctorate from Stanford University and is a founder of AgeSong. A passionate advocate for creating programs with the purpose of caring more comprehensively for the elderly, he is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a psychotherapist. In 1992, Nader founded a nonprofit organization that defines its mission as one of helping our elderly live meaningful lives either at home or in residential communities. Nader is a frequent guest lecturer locally and has presented at international conferences focusing on aging, mental health, and dementia. He recently authored Faces of Aging, a book challenging stereotypical views of the aging process and of growing old. When not devoting himself to his efforts with AgeSong, Nader indulges in creative writing, teaching, process-oriented psychology, and long dinners enhanced by good wine.

Paula Hertel - Chief Operating Officer
paula@agesong.com

Paula has over 18 years experience in assisted living operations and marketing throughout the country. As Vice President of Operations and Marketing for Elder Care Alliance, she participated in all phases of feasibility, development and operations for four new assisted living and dementia communities in addition to two stabilized multi-level long-term care communities. Her fiscal responsibilities included oversight of a 37 million dollar operating budget with over 500 employees. She worked for ARV Assisted Living for 11 years in various capacities including Vice President of Operations and Strategic Planning. As part of the corporate acquisition and development team, she acted as the operations and regulatory specialist that supported 15 new communities in two years. Paula is actively involved in state and national industry associations and is currently Past President and Education Co-Chair for the California Assisted Living Association (CALA). She was appointed by Governor Davis to represent long-term care on the California Health Policy and Data Advisory Commission through 2005. In addition to her enthusiasm for work and for changing the current model of care for aging adults, Paula enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and many animals. She recently moved to a home on over 7 acres to ensure that her family will always have an appreciation for open space and nature.

Ali Kia Shabahangi - Founder, Director
ali@agesong.com

Ali is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Santa Clara, School of Law. He is a founder of AgeSong and serves as General Counsel. In February 1997, he joined the law firm of Hanson Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Rudy, LLP as an associate attorney, where he represented assisted living companies in mergers and acquisitions, financing, regulatory compliance, and other business matters. In 1999, Ali became Vice President of the GMS Group, LLC, and investment banking firm specializing in tax-exempt bond financing of retirement homes. Ali is responsible for all AgeSong development activities and supervises all aspects of assisted living and senior housing development from land acquisition, zoning, design, finance and construction. In his spare time, Ali is a devoted fitness advocate, and has even competed in numerous triathlons. He additionally has a strong interest in architectural design, and also relishes the occasional relaxing escape to Harbin Hot Springs.

Amir Kia – Founder, Director
ak@agesong.com

Amir is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, where he received a dual degree in finance and international relations. He is a founder of AgeSong, helping to align the company’s values with financial realities as well as inspiring the AgeSong team to enjoy company alongside personal growth. Amir is a deeply spiritual person having completed his Masters in Religious Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Amir is an avid traveler when time allows, and especially savors his visits to the Middle East and North Africa. His other areas of interest include religious and spiritual exploration and meditation; and on the lighter side, he loves watching Candid Camera.

Elke S. Tekin – Founder, Vice President of Community Relations
elke@agesong.com

Elke is a graduate of Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, where she studied both Economics and Finance. As founder of AgeSong and President of Community Relations, Elke develops and manages the company's marketing and outreach plan. From 1990 to 1994, Elke worked in operations management for a number of fast-growing companies and was Chief Operations Officer at Stellar Associates, an international software company. In 1994, Elke worked at SAP and Allegis, gaining invaluable experience in product management, sales and marketing, business development and consulting. She is licensed by the California Department of Social Services as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Administrator, and is Vice President of the Board of the San Francisco Residential Care Association and Member of the Board of the San Francisco State University Gerontology Program. Elke has many pursuits in her free time, including horseback riding, cooking with her devoted husband Bawer, and invigorating walks on the beach with her dog Simba.

Gary Homan – Chief Financial Officer
garyh@agesong.com

Gary has more than 30 years of business experience, the last 20 of which have been in long term care and senior housing. Twelve of those years were as Vice President of Finance for The Hillsdale Group, an owner-operator of twenty-two skilled nursing facilities and senior residential communities headquartered in Burlingame. When Hillsdale was acquired by a large “chain” operator, he took a sabbatical from "bean counting". Becoming a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Certified Administrator, Gary managed several assisted living communities in the Bay Area. Most recently, he was a manager for BRIDGE Housing Corporation in San Francisco, with oversight responsibility for its assisted living communities. Gary is now applying what he learned in hands-on operations to provide more effective and efficient accounting and finance services to the communities. When he is not keeping the books in balance, Gary amuses his wife, son and daughter-in-law with riveting stories from the world of generally accepted accounting principles.

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