Tracy L. Wareing is the Executive Director of American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), a bipartisan, nonprofit membership organization representing the nation's top government human service executives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the territories. Building on the expertise and experience of the APHSA membership, Wareing is leading the Association's efforts to drive transformation of the health and human services system to a more sustainable path that is both effective and cost efficient.

Wareing has a long history in high-level policy development and public administration. Prior to joining APHSA, Wareing served as a senior adviser to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Before moving to Washington D.C. in 2009, Wareing lived in Arizona and served as Director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, an integrated human service agency. In that role, she oversaw protective services for children and adults; cash assistance and supplemental nutrition assistance; Medicaid eligibility determinations; workforce and employment supports; unemployment insurance; aging and adult services as well as child care and child support enforcement. Prior to her cabinet appointment, she served as policy adviser for human services under then Arizona Gov. Napolitano and as interim deputy director of the state's child welfare division. She has also served as the lead counsel in the Arizona Attorney General's office representing child protective services. Wareing began her career in private practice at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson, LLP in Phoenix.

Anita Light is the deputy executive director of APHSA. She has oversight of the Policy and Programs Department which includes Legislative Affairs, Strategic Initiatives, Health Services, and APHSA's ten affiliates that represent a full range of health and human services. In this role she manages the day-to-day operations of the association and provides leadership for the health and human services policy agenda. She also has responsibility for developing strategic relationships on behalf of the membership. Previously, Light was the director of the Child and Family Services Department and director of Human Resources for APHSA as well as the leadership development manager with APHSA for the Excellence in Child Welfare Leadership Project sponsored by Casey Family Programs.

Light worked in public child welfare for 17 years in the areas of foster care, adoptions, juvenile delinquency, and family therapy. She also has more than 12 years' experience in human resources as a manager, trainer and consultant focusing on leadership development, strategic planning, executive coaching and organizational development. Light has a bachelor's degree in Sociology/Social Work from Longwood College and her master's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She received her Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification in May 2010 and she was also certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

E-mail: anita.light@aphsa.org

The department specializes in products and consulting services that focus on the continuous improvement of organizational performance and performance capacity.

Before joining APHSA in 2003, Basso worked for more than 16 years in the corporate sector with Citigroup, PepsiCo, LEXIS-NEXIS, Capital One and Gateway. A human resources and general management executive for eight years, he has been responsible for organizations of up to 8,000 staff and led or facilitated broad organizational and community development initiatives and major structural, cultural, and client service innovations.

Phil has developed organizational effectiveness-related tools, programs and services in a broad array of areas, including service integration, strategic partnerships, supervision and management, strategic and change planning, workforce development, HR functional transformation and trust-building. Phil and his team have developed and successfully completed over 40 significant consulting projects in over 25 states, working with member agencies at the state, regional and local levels.

Basso has a bachelor of arts in sociology from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a master’s degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University. He has also earned 18 doctoral-level credits in educational planning, policy and leadership from The College of William and Mary. E-mail: philip.basso@aphsa.org

This department is responsible for coordinating policy positions across government programs and systems and leading interaction with the Federal Administration.

Larry Goolsby is director of Strategic Initiatives with the American Public Human Services Association, where he has worked since 1987. He leads APHSA's interactions with the Federal Administration and is responsible for coordinating policy positions across government programs and systems. He staffs a number of initiatives designed to streamline program administration, reduce program differences and conflicts, enhance client access, reduce administrative burdens, and strengthen program integrity. They currently include APHSA's work with the Administration's Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation and the President's memorandum directing new approaches to state administrative flexibility. He is also responsible for coordinating APHSA's policy publications and other written policy products, and for APHSA's policy work on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In addition he staffs a number of APHSA affiliates, including the American Association of SNAP Directors, the National Association for Program Information and Performance Measurement, and IT Solutions Management for Human Services.

In his previous work with APHSA, Goolsby has served in a variety of staff and management positions, including coordinating the Association's legislative and policy development work; leading coverage of SNAP, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, other income assistance programs, state operations issues, and outcome and performance measures and other quality assurance and performance assessment issues. He has also led APHSA's work on data collection and analysis; cross-program simplification and coordination; the National Voter Registration Act ("Motor Voter"); and housing and homelessness. He has written extensively on these topics for APHSA publications and has presented on them frequently at national conferences and forums.

Goolsby formerly worked in North Carolina, where he was director of the state Food Stamp Program (now SNAP) for five years. He also worked for ten years for the Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), N.C., Department of Social Services, where he administered a variety of programs, including the Food Stamp Program, child protective services, and training and support services. He has a B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy from Mercer University and an M.S.W. from the University of Georgia. He has also completed graduate courses and certificates in public administration.

E-mail: larry.goolsby@aphsa.org

This department oversees legislative initiatives, relations, analysis, and reporting for public human service programs administered by APHSA member agencies, including child welfare, Medicaid and SCHIP, TANF, food stamps, child care and child support.

Ron Smith joined APHSA in March, 2011. He comes to APHSA from the American Dietetic Association, where he served as Director of Government Affairs. Smith has nearly three decades of experience in legislative affairs representing associations, including the United Seniors Association, the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association. He began his career as Legislative Director for Congressman Elwood Hillis (R-IN). Smith received his Master's Degree in Public Administration from American University and his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Washington State University.

E-mail: ron.smith@aphsa.org

This department handles member and partner relations, conference services, media relations, web sites and all publications including Policy & Practice magazine.

Jerome Uher joined APHSA in March, 2011 to oversee its membership and communications operations. Uher has worked in policy communications as a consultant and in director positions at a number of non-profits and associations, including the National Parks Conservation Association, Public Agenda, and most recently as Communications Director for the Corporation for Enterprise Development. He also served as Press Secretary to US Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) from 1991-1995.

Uher received his M.A.in Public Relations from Louisiana State University and a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from New Mexico State University.

E-mail: jerome.uher@aphsa.org