Meet Our Speakers
Amy Huber-Smith
"Senior Comedy Community"
Amy Huber-Smith is the Founder of Senior Comedy Community®, an organization dedicated to engaging older adults through laughter. Through live comedy shows and Find Your Funny®, its signature developmental program, Senior Comedy Community harnesses the power of laughter to reduce social isolation, strengthen social connection, and enhance overall well-being.
Amy holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources. During her 20-plus-year career with multinational Fortune 500 organizations, she served in Human Resources leadership roles spanning talent management, leadership development, learning, and organizational effectiveness. She led global initiatives that applied the principles of psychological safety to help leaders create environments where people felt connected, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Inspired by her experience as a stand-up comedian and caregiver for her 80-year-old mother, Amy recognized that the same principles that help people thrive in the workplace also help older adults thrive in their communities. She founded Senior Comedy Community and created Find Your Funny to help older adults laugh more, connect more deeply, build confidence, and discover that it's never too late to find their funny. Today, the Senior Comedy Community performs throughout Metro Detroit and across Michigan, bringing comedy shows by seniors, for seniors to senior living communities while also producing public showcases, including Age Is Just a Number at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle.
Emily Johnson
"StrongerU"
Emily is the Founder of StrongerU Senior Fitness. She is on a mission to innovate and elevate senior fitness globally by empowering recreation and fitness professionals to deliver high-quality senior fitness experiences. Emily is an international presenter known for delivering dynamic sessions that give attendees “light-bulb moments” and tangible tools to implement right away.
Jacklyn Hutchinson
"State Licensing Educator"
Jacklyn Hutchinson, RN, BSN, is a Nurse Consultant with a diverse clinical background spanning skilled nursing, outpatient specialty care, and primary care settings. Her early experience includes providing tracheostomy, wound, and memory care in skilled nursing facilities, followed by roles in a spinal pain clinic where she supported conscious sedation procedures, monitored patients in telemetry, and contributed to infection control and policy development. She later advanced into internal and family medicine, focusing on case management for chronic conditions, staff education, and the creation and refinement of clinical policies.
In 2020, Jacklyn joined the newly formed State Licensing Infection Control Section, bringing with her a strong foundation in clinical practice, regulatory awareness, and collaborative problem‑solving. In her current role with the now, State Licensing Consultative Section (SLCS), she partners closely with facilities across the state, offering guidance, education, and resources informed by rules, regulations and her extensive hands‑on experience.
Jacklyn’s favorite aspect of her work with SLCS is the opportunity to serve in a positive, supportive, and educational capacity. This consultative role allows her to blend the most meaningful elements of her previous positions—clinical insight, staff support, and policy development—while helping skilled nursing care teams balance the demands of direct resident care with the creation of strong, effective procedures. Contributing to facility success in this way has been profoundly rewarding and more fulfilling than she ever imagined.
James Cech
"State Licensing Educator"
James Cech began his career as a freelance certified ASL/English interpreter, and upon achieving his master interpreter certification became a full-time interpreter for the University of Michigan Health system.
A trainer and presenter, he works nationally to promote skill building and interpreter ethics, and specializes in medical, mental health, and DeafBlind interpreting. He also held various volunteer leadership positions within the Michigan Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf including: chair of the Professional Development Committee, Vice President, and President, and he was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the State of Michigan Board of Interpreters.
He is currently a resource developer for the State Licensing Consultative Section of the Health Facility Licensing, Permits and Support Division within the Bureau of Community and Health Systems.
Jessica Rugenstein
"Pace"
My name is Jessica Rugenstein and I graduated from Michigan State with my Master's Degree in Social Work in 2006. I started working right away in a nursing home despite always wanting to work with kids. It was then that I decided the older population was where I was meant to be. I worked for many years as a nursing home social worker, including working as part of a Quality Team traveling to several nursing homes to provide support to other social workers, activity professionals and Social Service Directors. I have been with Great Lakes PACE for just over 10 years working as part of an interdisciplinary team with participants 55 years or older. A large part of PACE is the activities and social support the participants gain while attending our center. I am married with 2 boys, 16 and 14, who keep me busy with sports and numerous outdoor activities.
Morgan Johns
"Touch2Play"
Sales Executive - Touch2Play
Morgan helps senior living and Veteran communities across the U.S. bring more joy, connection, and engagement to residents through Touch2Play interactive touch screen systems. She partners with Life Enrichment and Activities departments to provide fun, inclusive games and activities that encourage social interaction, cognitive stimulation, and lasting memories. Her passions for helping people and having fun make her role at Touch2Play a perfect fit. Outside of work, Morgan can be found playing with her 2 dogs and looking for her next travel adventure with her husband.