Mary Beals-Luedtka, Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Area Agency on Aging director, was honored with the coveted Excellence in Leadership Award recognizing leaders in the field of aging at the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) conference in July. Every year nominations for the award are received and reviewed by a committee of esteemed colleagues across the nation to recognize outstanding leadership. The focus is demonstrated leadership capabilities at the local, state or national level in advancing the mission of the Older Americans Act and preparing communities for our nation’s rapidly aging population. Beals-Luedtka has devoted more than 25 years to the aging and disability population with NACOG, and has served as the director of the Area Agency on Aging since 2004. She served from 2006-15 on the n4a Board of Directors and during that time was elected treasurer, second vice president and first vice president. She currently serves as a board member for the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, and is part of the Arizona Age Friendly Leadership Team. She was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 2005 with both a Congressional and gubernatorial nomination. She was chosen to attend the White House Conference on Aging in 2015 by the President of the United States.
