Paula Hertel, MSW
Co-founder, President/Chair
Paula Hertel, MSW, is a co-founder and President of Connected Horse, and she has spent the last 25 years focused on improving service delivery systems for elders in need of care and services through consulting projects and executive management positions. She has broad experience in senior housing and assisted living operations, staff training, regulatory compliance, new program development, and family and community needs.
She is the founder of Senior Living Consult and co-founder of The ElderHub and provides consulting services to organizations and individuals in need of operational and strategic direction regarding elder care services and program development. Prior to her current work, she was Executive Operations Officer for Emeryoak, LLC and Chief Operating Officer of AgeSong Senior Communities, operators of assisted living and dementia care communities, where she oversaw operations, marketing, and new building development. Previously, she served as Vice President of Operations and Marketing for Elder Care Alliance, a nonprofit faith-based organization, where she participated in all phases of feasibility, development, and operations for its assisted-living, dementia care, and multilevel long-term care communities in California. She also worked for ARV Assisted Living for 11 years in various capacities, including as Vice President of Operations and Strategic Planning, Regional Marketing and Acquisitions. Early in her career, she served as Director for the City of Anaheim’s Adult Day Care Program and as a social work intern at Highland Hospital’s Trauma Center.
Paula holds a Master of Social Work from San Jose State University. She is involved in state and national industry associations, including past commissioner of the California Health Policy and Data Advisory Commission, past board member of Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), past board member of the Emeryville Municipal Transportation Authority, and current board member and Education Co-Chair for the California Assisted Living Association (CALA) and Chair of the Presence Care Project.
