2026 Annual Spring Conference
Desert Willow Conference Center | Phoenix, AZ
Tentative Schedule of Events
March 26-27, 2026
Thursday, March 26, 2026
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Registration/Continental Breakfast/Visit with Exhibitors
9:00 am - 10:15am | Keynote
Respecting and Valuing Your Profession and Colleagues:
Communication is Key
Joyce McHugh, LCSW, Advocated Care Services
Sponsored by:
10:15 am – 10:45 am | Break/Visit with Exhibitors
10:45 am – 12:00 pm | General Session
Beyond the Diagnosis: Capacity, Autonomy, and
Clinical Insight in Fiduciary Decision-Making
Salim A. Shleef, Esq., Becker & House and
Danielle E. Eagan, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Encanto Neuropsychology, PLLC (Invited)
Sponsored by:
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Networking Lunch
Sponsored by:
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm | Breakout Sessions
Setting Boundaries to Prevent Burnout
Joyce McHugh, LCSW, Advocate Care Services
An Alzheimer's Update
From the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm | Break/Visit with Exhibitors
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Breakout Sessions
Processing Secondary Trauma
Jean Llamas, MSN, RN, NCG, Care Navigators
The Fundamentals of Special Needs Trusts (SNTS)
Jim Wolverton, TrueLink
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm | Break/Visit with Exhibitors
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | General Session
From Private to Public: Nominating Arizona’s Fiduciary of Last Resort
Deborah Primock, DPS Fiduciary Services, Martelle Olsen, Sterling Case Management, Heidi Ernst, Maricopa County Public Fiduciary, Rashida Sumihnski, Coconino Public Fiduciary and Juliann DuBerry, Maricopa County Deputy Attorney
Friday, March 27, 2026
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Registration/Continental Breakfast/Visit with Exhibitors
9:00 am - 10:15am | Keynote
Limiting Your Liability:
Legal Tools and Practical Strategies for Minimizing Exposure
Andrea Burnett O'Neil, Esq., Becker & House,PLLC
Sponsored by:
10:15 am – 10:45 am | Break/Visit with Exhibitors
10:45 am – 12:00 pm | General Session
ALTCS Planning/Miller Trust
Charlotte Johnson, Esq., Elder Law of Arizona
Sponsored by:
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm | Networking Lunch
Sponsored by:
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm | Breakout Sessions
Reducing Your Risk by Protecting Your Client in Real Estate Transactions
Chris Carter Kent
Understanding Tribal Adult Guardianship: Respecting Sovereignty and Centering Elder Protection
Peggy Jo Archer, Director of Elder Justice Projects and Judith Kozlowski
International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2)
1:45 pm – 2:15 pm | Break/Visit with Exhibitors
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm | General Session
Data-Driven Adult Guardianship:
Building a Case Acuity Scale in Maricopa County
Heidi Ernst, Esq., Maricopa County Public Fiduciary
3:15 3:30 pm | Break/Visit with Exhibitors
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm | Closing General Session
Elder and Dependent Adult Financial Abuse and Legal Remedies
Spencer M. Wilkinson, Esq.,JacksonWhite
Anticipated CEU Hours: 11 Total CEUS (5.5 Each Day( Ethics Credit Pending.
