Speaker Bios

Dr. David P. Gallagher, D. Min.
Keynote Speaker

Dr. Dave Gallagher leads conferences across the country on Aging Successfully and Second Half Ministry - Reaching the 50+ Generation. He is currently on staff at Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, WI, and Pastor Emeritus at Palm West Community Church in Sun City West, AZ. Dave's recent books include: Aging Successfully (Wipf and Stock Publishers - to be released 2012), Healing Takes Time (Liturgical Press, ©2005) and Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century (Wipf and Stock Publishers ©2006; originally by Group Publishing, ©2002).

Dave and his wife, Mary Ann, reside in Phoenix, AZ. They have two adult children and two granddaughters.

• Pastor Emeritus: Palm West Community Church, Sun City West, Arizona
• Program Director: Green Lake Conference Center, Greenlake, Wisconsin
• Author and Conference Speaker, www.agingsuccessfullytoday.com

Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, MSW, MAJCS, BCC
Keynote Speaker

As a chaplain, teacher, social innovator, spiritual guide and scholar, Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman has pioneered the development of a Jewish spiritual vision for aging, healing and spiritual care. Her many publications include Jewish Visions for Aging: A Professional Guide to Fostering Wholeness and Jewish Pastoral Care: A Practical Handbook from Traditional and Contemporary Sources. She was the founding director of Hiddur: The Center for Aging and Judaism of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She currently offers training, consulting and spiritual guidance through Growing Older, her Philadelphia-based practice.

Rabbi Friedman has mentored and trained rabbis and chaplains across North America and in Israel. Her leadership has been recognized in the Forward 50 and the Sisterhood 50, listings of the most influential American Jews and women rabbis. She recently received the 2011 Religion, Spirituality and Aging Award from the American Society on Aging.

She received rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, where she also earned master’s degrees in Hebrew Literature and Jewish Communal Service. Rabbi Friedman holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and a bachelor of arts from Brandeis University.

Rabbi Friedman is currently working on her next book, Provisions for the Journey: Jewish Wisdom for the Second Half of Life. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, David Ferleger, and her three children, Anya, Anat and Avram.

• Spiritual Guide and Trainer: Growing Older (www.growingolder.co)
• Founding Director, Hiddur: The Center for Aging and Judaism of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
• Scholar, Chaplain, and Social Innovator

Dr. Ramonia Lee
Breakout Session Leader

Dr. Ramonia Lee is Minister for Congregational Life at Leisure World’s Interfaith Chapel. She is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry), T.C Williams School of Law at University of Richmond and Hampton Institute.  She was ordained as an American Baptist clergy woman in 1989.  As an Inter-Faith Chapel Minister, Ramonia preaches once a month, teaches Bible study groups, conducts worship at several local nursing homes and assisted living facilities, coordinates Christian Education events, and provides a variety of pastoral care to the Inter-Faith members.  She is on the board of several national and regional organizations that deal with older adult issues. Ramonia has served as a consultant on Older Adult Ministries for American Baptist Churches and as a Program Associate for Baptist Senior Adult Ministries.

Rev. David G. Berg
Breakout Session Leader

For the past 17 years, the Rev. David G. Berg has served as Chaplain at Fellowship Square Foundation. In that capacity he also oversees religious activities conducted by more than 30 faith groups for the 800 residents of the Fellowship Houses spread out among the four campuses in Virginia and Maryland. A graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, he has been parish pastor for 41 years and also serves as Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education for the Shore Health System, part of the University of Maryland Medical System. Pastor Berg is registered as a Diplomate with the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy, serves on its Governing Council and also as Convener of its Chesapeake Chapter. He lives in Annapolis. 

James A. Brown, Jr
Breakout Session Leader

James Brown joined Victory Housing in 1991 and has specialized in the development, operation and syndication of affordable and elderly housing projects since 1981, producing 44 communities. He attended the University of Maryland, Georgetown University and the University of Maryland School of Law. James is a member of the Maryland Bar, a former member of the Board of Directors of Mid-Atlantic Lifespan (a senior service alliance) and AEGIS Healthcare Business Solutions, Inc. He has also served as the Chairman of the Maryland Assisted Living Association from 1997-2001. James is a recipient of the Maryland Governor’s Salute to Excellence Award, a Chairman’s Award from Mid-Atlantic Lifespan, the Senator Paul Sarbanes Award for Excellence in Community Service and a “Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice” Award from Pope Benedict XVI.