Who Is NCALA?
- Established in 1994 as the state partner of Argentum.
- Non-profit trade association governed by a Board of Directors and bylaws.
- Represents 350+ Provider Members, with more than 15,000 assisted living residents in Adult Care Homes and Family Care Homes across the state.
- Represents 90+ Partner Members that provide goods and services to our Provider Members.
- Our members focus on serving seniors and frail elders.
We have four primary functions:
- Political Advocacy,
- Regulatory Support,
- Communication of Issues, and
- Education and Training.
NCALA is regularly consulted by state regulators and legislators to provide expert advice and insight into policy development. NCALA continues to be at the table on behalf of our entire membership, discussing current issues such as Medicaid Transformation, Certificate of Need (CON), development and implementation of Chapter 13F/G rules, and others.
We are the largest provider of state-approved Assisted Living Administrator Certification training, and we have many talented and dynamic administrators and regional directors willing to share their time and expertise with our students.
Other relevant and diverse continuing education is offered multiple times per year, as well as our annual Fall Conference & Trade Show, giving our members the opportunity to earn continuing education credits as needed to stay in compliance.
NCALA’s Mission
The core of our mission is: To support quality assisted living by working to create a business environment that respects the needs of both assisted living providers and the consumers who utilize their services.
NCALA Board of Directors
Beverly Tuttle
Tonya Cloutier
Andy Page, CPA
Kennedy Blount
Meghan Jackson
Randy Jackson
Tyler Leonhardt
Marc Maready
Jeff Plummer
Doris Teachey
Heather Parker
NCALA Staff
NCALA staff members are listed below with background details. Please contact us to send staff members a message.
Frances Messer
Frances Messer, RN, BSN, has more than 50 years of healthcare experience. She is a graduate of Western Carolina University. Frances worked at NC DHHS, DHSR, Adult Care Licensure Section for several years as a state surveyor and trainer immediately prior to becoming the NCALA President and CEO. Additionally, she has worn many hats in the skilled nursing and assisted living industry as a former nursing home owner and Administrator and Director of Nursing. She is also a certified Assisted Living Administrator. Prior to joining NC DHHS, Frances was President of Beacon Health Care Services, Inc.
Karen Brewer
Karen has more than 25 years of diverse outreach education experience with non-profits and state/county governments. Specifically, the last 12 years have been within the assisted living industry. She is a graduate of Georgia State University and she is a Certified Assisted Living Administrator. Karen is the AIT Program Director; serves as a member services liaison between providers, partners, and NCALA; builds and maintains collaborative partnerships between local, state, and federal entities to develop, implement, and promote workforce development initiatives. She coordinates all NCALA continuing education and training events.
Stephanie Toledo
Stephanie Toledo joins NCALA as the Member Services Administrator. Born and raised in New York, Stephanie moved to North Carolina to be near her family. She attended SUNY Broome where she studied Psychology. Previously, she worked for Serco-NA, Inc., where she was contracted by the military at Fort Bragg, NC to assist with the transition of service members. She also has five years of previous luxury retail experience ranging from business office to customer service.
NCALA Office Location and Driving Directions/Maps
Here is a map of the NCALA office location. The Google Maps site also offers driving directions—just go to the map and then look for “Get Directions” at the top of that page.
The NCALA office is located at:
Park Place Professional Center
3392 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27609