Brown University alum Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan leads AARP, follows Jo Ann Jenkins

Published in RINewsToday on November 18, 2024

With AARP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jo Ann Jenkins announcing her decision eight months ago in a statement by Lloyd Johnson, Chair of AARP Board of Directors, he pledged that his Board would move “diligently to find the right person to lead AARP on the next leg of its journey.”  The Board supported by Heidrick and Struggles, an international executive search and management consulting company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, recruited Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan to serve as its next CEO.

Minter-Jordon, 52, a physician and former president and CEO of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a nonprofit group that promotes dental health, will oversee 21 departments at the Washington, DC-based AARP, which has state affiliates in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  According to Forbes, as of February 2024, AARP had 2,250 employees and was ranked No. 31 in its America’s Best Midsize Employers listing.  The Paddock Post reported that the organization’s total revenue in 2022 was $ 1.8 billion.

Leading AARP into the Future

“Dr. Minter-Jordan joins us with the necessary attributes to successfully guide AARP on the next leg of our journey to help people live better as they age,” says AARP’s Board Chair Johnson in a Nov. 12 statement announcing her hiring. “She is an accomplished physician and innovative business leader who brings to AARP a strong passion for our social mission, demonstrated ability to balance strategic decisions with financial discipline, build strong teams, foster collaboration and lead organizations through rapid change and growth. We’re thrilled to have her leading the fight for what matters most to older Americans during this time of increasing social and technological change,” he says.

According to AARP, prior to Minter-Jordan’s new role at AARP, she served as President and CEO (2021-2024) of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. As a physician and business executive, she played a key role in advising and shaping strategic initiatives aimed at improving dental health care outcomes through advocacy, policy development, and philanthropic efforts. In the spring of 2024, she testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) about the dental care crisis in America.

Before joining CareQuest Institute, Minter-Jordan’s bio noted that she served as chief medical officer and CEO of the Dimock Center, one of the largest community health centers in Massachusetts. During that time, Dimock was recognized as a national model for comprehensive, integrated health and human services.

AARP’s new exec was also active as a Board member to an array of nonprofits.  She served on several boards and committees at BlueShield of California, the Yawkey Foundation, Penn Dental Medicine, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and board emeritus at The Boston Foundation, and Point32 Health. Previously, she held appointed positions at agencies including the Massachusetts Health Planning Council Advisory Committee and the City of Boston Public Health Commission.

Once a Rhode Islander, Brown grad

Minter-Jordan once called Rhode Island her home. She earned both her undergrad degree and doctor of medicine degree from Brown University School of Medicine and a master of business administration degree from Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business. She also received honorary doctorates from Northeastern University and Newbury College.

“This is a pivotal moment for AARP and the nation,” says Minter-Jordan, noting that for more than 65 years, the nonprofit has been instrumental in improving the lives of older Americans by “helping people age on their own terms and live their lives to the fullest.” 

“As AARP looks ahead, we have exciting opportunities to empower, uplift and make a positive impact on the health, wealth and wellness of the more than 110 million Americans ages 50 and older and the entire country,” she says.

Jenkins’ farewell to AARP

Jo Ann Jenkins

On March 21, 2024, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins, 66, announce her decision to step down when her contract expired at the end of the year.  She began her long-time relationship with AARP in 2004 when she joined the AARP Services, Inc. (ASI) Board of Directors. She served as ASI’s Chair from 2009 to 2010.  In 2010, she became President of AARP’s Foundation, and three years later became AARP’s Executive Vice President and later its CEO.

With the announcement of her departure, AARP Board Chair Johnson recognized her “impressive record of accomplishments in advancing AARP’s mission and serving our members.”   He added, “Jo Ann has led AARP on a transformational journey to redefine the organization’s vision, challenge outdated attitudes and stereotypes about aging, and spark innovative solutions that empower people to choose how they live as they age.”

Among the accomplishments during her tenure, Jenkins championed the multi-generational workforce, healthy longevity, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. She has led through a spirit of innovation, creating AgeTech and launching a Digital First journey to help AARP better serve our members in the future.

Under Jenkins leadership, AARP has received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, has been named as one of Fast Company magazines Best Workplaces for Innovators, and for the past seven years has been named as a Washington Post Best Workplace. In 2019 and 2021, Fortune magazine named her as “One of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.” Her national best-selling book, Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age, became a signature rallying cry for revolutionizing society’s views on aging.

A fond farewell

In a “Farewell to AARP” posted on the nonprofit’s Advocacy webpage on Nov. 6, 2024, Jenkins reflected on her first speech as AARP’s CEO at an AARP national member event at the San Diego Convention Center.

“That day I made a promise to AARP’s members: “As your CEO, I will be unapologetic in fighting for the wants and needs of people 50-plus. As AARP’s new CEO, I wanted to change the conversation about what it means to grow older. I said we need to “disrupt aging”—to challenge outdated stereotypes and attitudes about getting older and spark new solutions that help people live better as they age. I challenged our members to help me do that,” she recalled.

“We changed not just the conversation about aging but also what it means to grow older,” she stated in that posting. And she concluded, “As I wind up my tenure as the steward of the legacy of our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy ­Andrus, I’m proud that we have lived up to the motto she gave us more than 65 years ago — ‘To serve; not to be served.’ I leave confident that AARP is well positioned to continue building on that legacy.”

“Serving as your CEO has been a tremendous privilege and extraordinary experience. What I will miss the most is you, the members and volunteers, and the exceptional staff whose passion for our mission and commitment to service is second to none,” said in her swan song posting.

“As I bid you farewell, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, your service and all you do to disrupt aging,” she added, noting that while leaving AARP, “rest assured that I will continue to be unapologetic in fighting for the wants and needs of people 50-plus.”

Jenkins has surely made her mark as the nation’s top advocate.  She leaves AARP in Minter-Jordan’s capable hands.  Good luck to both of you.

Trump’s Campaign Pledges Could impact Social Security’s Financial Stability

Published in Blackstone Valley Call & Times on November 4, 2024

When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they should know that Social Security will only be nine years away from insolvency when the next President takes office.  According to projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the law calls for a 23 percent cut in Social Security reductions in fiscal year 2034.  Restoring solvency in the retirement program over the next 75 years would require the equivalent of reducing all future benefits by 24 percent or increasing revenue by 35 percent, says CBO.

As the presidential campaign winds down, with voting taking place on Nov. 4, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris calls for protecting and expanding Social Security while former President Trump says would “fight for and protect Social Security.” But both candidates don’t provide a specific detail plan as to how to  fix the financially ailing Social Security program, despite the looming $16,500 cut facing a typical couple retiring just before the projected insolvency.

But campaign promises, if enacted, can have a devastating impact on the Social Security Programs ability to pay all future benefits.

Analysis Shows Campaign Promises Weaken Social Security

A new report, “What Would the Trump Campaign’s Mean for Social Security,” released by US Budget Watch 2024, a project the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), details how former President Donald Trump’s proposed policies, if enacted, would advance Social Security’s insolvency by three years, from FY 2034 to FY 2031 – hastening the next President’s insolvency timeline by one-third.  CRFB is a non-partisan government watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. that analyses the fiscal impact of federal budget and fiscal issues.

According to CRFB’s new report, released on Oct. 21, 2024, Trump campaign pledges  would weaken Social Security’s financial stability by ending taxation of Social Security benefits. This would eliminate a revenue stream currently used to help finance Social Security. If enacted, the analysis notes that Trump’s plans would increase Social Security’s ten-year cash shortfall by $2.3 trillion through FY 2035. Additionally, ending all taxes on overtime pay and tips, would also reduce the payroll taxes accruing to the Social Security trust funds.

CRFB’s analysis also predicted that Trump’s policies would worsen Social Security’s finances by increasing Social Security’s annual shortfall by roughly 50 percentin FY 2035, from 3.6 to 4 percent of payroll.

Trump’s calls for large tariffs on imports, which would either increase cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) through higher inflation or reduce taxable payroll would impact the financial viability of the Social Security program.  Enhancing boarder security and deporting unauthorized immigrants would reduce the number of immigrant workers paying into the Social Security Trust funds.

CRFB also questions whether Trump’s fixes would reduce Social Security’s long-term shortfalls.

From the Sideline…

According to Aimee Picchi is associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, the personal finance website received a statement from Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt disputing the CRFB analysis: “The so-called experts at CRFB have been consistently wrong throughout the years. President Trump delivered on his promise to protect Social Security in his first term, and President Trump will continue to strongly protect Social Security in his second term,” she said.

Additionally,  Leavitt told CBS  Money Watch that Trump’s plans for “unleashing American energy, slashing job-killing regulations, and adopting pro-growth America First tax and trade policies” would put Social Security “on a stronger footing for generations to come.”

“President Trump has said he would close Social Security’s long-term shortfall by increasing drilling for oil and natural gas and by growing the economy. However, we’ve shown that increased energy exploration is unlikely to have a meaningful effect on Social Security – even if the gains were deposited into the trust fund. We’ve also shown that it would require unrealistically fast economic growth to close Social Security’s existing long-term funding gap,” says CRFB’s analysis. .

“Faster growth can reduce Social Security’s shortfall [says Trump]. But based on available analyses and understanding the effects of President Trump’s agenda on the national debt, it is unlikely his plans would significantly boost the size of the economy, and many estimates find his plans would reduce long-term out-put long-term output,” adds CRFB.

Responding to CRFB’s analysis, in a statement Harris-Walz 2024 spokesperson Joseph Costello said: “Vice President Harris is committed to protecting Social Security benefits and is the only candidate who will actually fight for seniors, not just pay them lip service on the campaign trail. 

Expand Social Security Caucus House Co-Chairs Reps. John B. Larso (D -CT), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and Debbie Dingell (D – MI) )call Trump’s campaign pledges “a no starter.”  If implemented, they would eliminate revenue streams used to help finance Social Security and accelerate the depletion of Social Security funding,” they say.

“Maintaining the solvency of Social Security is vital for promoting economic security, and a moral obligation to honor the commitments made to those who have contributed to the system throughout their working lives. To safeguard the future of Social Security, we cannot allow for Trump’s policies to gut these hard-earned benefits and instead must engage in a simple reform like the Social Security 2100 Act that fixes insolvency by having the wealthy pay into the system the same as everyone else,” note the Co-Chairs.

And Max Richtman, President and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, gives his thought’s to Trump’s campaign pledges: “We oppose his proposal to eliminate the taxes on benefits that help to fund the system, and any other measure that would deprive Social Security of much needed revenue,” he says.

“Once again, Trump postures as a friend of the working class, then puts forward plans that endanger the benefits working people have earned — and depend on in retirement. It is irresponsible for a presidential candidate to advocate plans that would hasten the depletion of the Social Security trust fund reserves, triggering an even larger automatic benefit cut if that happens,” adds Richtman.

According to Richtman, Trump’s plans reveal his “overall recklessness” with Social Security. “He suspended the payroll tax that funds the program during Covid — and hoped it would be eliminated.  His White House budgets would have slashed Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) by billions of dollars.  He said earlier this year that he was ‘open’ to ‘cutting entitlements,’ then tried to walk it back. He once called Social Security a ‘Ponzi Scheme,” he adds.

“Time and again, Trump has chosen political expediency without considering – or caring about – the consequences. Despite his posturing, Donald Trump is no friend to Social Security or American seniors,” charges Richtman.

Looking Back on Efforts to Fix Social Security

“The history and reasoning in both Congress and the White House on protecting Social Security is still important and persuasive– as it was to President Obama, and House and Senate leaders Pelosi and Reid,” says Robert Weiner, former chief of Staff of the House Aging Committee and later a  White House senior staffer

“The great Claude Pepper helped forge the Reagan-O’Neill-Pepper deal of 1983 that stopped cuts and even partial insolvency through 2034,” says Weiner, noting that he remembers Pepper saying “over my dead body” to cabinet officers and congressional leaders who wanted to impose severe cuts. 

Weiner noted that Nancy Pelosi said  “First, do no harm” to the would-be cutters right through all the years of her Speakership and leadership. “’We did that’ to stopping the Social Security cutters, she told Weiner. 

Senate Leader Harry Reid’s staff removed the term ‘reform’ from his Social Security talking points when they were given the documents and realized that the program has a surplus, not a deficit,” noted Weiner. “These great leaders knew that Social Security ‘reform’ meant cuts, breaking Social Security’s promise to American seniors, and that the deficit was a myth and excuse to take from the program and its two-trillion-plus dollar surplus,” he said. 

“And House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told me that congressional leaders knew that, if necessary, if the time comes, and it’s not now, a slight tweak by Congress to raise the income level for tax payments could fix it, if necessary, if the growing economy hadn’t already maintained full solvency,” says Weiner.

“Let’s hope this kind of sanity and sensitivity continues to prevail,” Weiner concludes.

https://www.crfb.org/blogs/what-would-trump-campaign-plans-mean-social-security