May 22, 2025
Construction on TARCOG’s new office building is moving along. On Thursday, May 22, board members and executive staff, along with DOSTER Construction and Fuqua and Partners Architects held a Top Off Celebration for the completion of the steel framework.
May 14, 2025
About 850 seniors from northeast Alabama turned out Tuesday, May 13, to celebrate Older Americans Month at TARCOG’s Annual Senior Fun Fest in Huntsville. People got there early to participate in line dancing and Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) classes before the day’s festivities got started
During the opening ceremony, TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Jordan talked briefly about how thankful TARCOG is for the funds that have always allowed the agency to provide services to the aging community through our Area Agency on Aging (AAA). She said with potential federal budget cuts on the table, she and AAA Vice President Lane Delaney involved attendees to record a video to send to federal legislators to let them know how important the services are in their daily lives.
Then, the fun continued with the western Rodeo Roundup theme. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Alabama A&M Agribition Center in Huntsville.
The 38th Annual Senior Fun Fest featured a talent show with entries from DeKalb, Jackson, Madison and Marshall counties.
From a Western swing ballad, a country classic and a HEE-HAW blast from the past, everyone enjoyed the performers in the Western Showdown Talent Show as part of the 2025 Senior Fun Fest.
Thanks to contestants:
Mike Ball, who performed “Miles and miles of Texas,” representing the Huntsville-Madison County Council on Aging
Wilma Shortt, who sang “Hey, Good Lookin’ ” accompanied by Jimmy Ray Weatherby – representing the Jackson County Council on Aging- Alabama
Paying homage to the HEEHAW Gossip Girls was Deva Day, twins Sherry and Terri Landers and Sharon Culpepper from the Ider Senior Center representing DeKalb County Transportation and Council on Aging.
And the winners, the Guntersville Senior Center Zumba Gold Ladies representing the Marshall County Council on Aging.
There was BINGO, photo booths, music and live entertainment. Service providers from throughout the region set up in an Exhibition Area to provide information and giveaways. A Masters Games area was also available allowing attendees to play horseshoes, corn hole, Nerf ball throw, and basketball.
There was popcorn, cotton candy and lunch before the finale with door prizes. The annual is named Fun Fest for a reason, and according to several participants – it lived up to the name because it was used repeatedly to describe it.
This event would not be possible without the generous help of our sponsors AND this year’s event co-coordinators Emmitt Davis and Lydia Weeks. What an incredible job they did leading the TARCOG staff to put on this year’s Fun Fest.
Comments from Fun Fest attendees around the TARCOG Region:
Jackson County
Wilma Shortt, 87, of Scottsboro, sang a Hank Williams classic, “Hey, Good Lookin’ “
In the Western Showdown Talent Show. While she didn’t win, that didn’t bother her. She enjoyed representing Jackson County and the day to celebrate seniors.
“Just being amongst everybody has been fun,” Shortt said. “I love it.”
Mary Ruth Yon, 70, of Scottsboro, said she comes every year and loved “all of it!”
“It was very much fun. I enjoy coming to these and absolutely encourage others to come,” Yon said. “It gets you out of the house, you learn a lot of things, meet a lot of people, play games and it’s fun. It’s a lot of fun!”
Fun is also how Eddy Justice, 76, of Scottsboro, described the day.
“I enjoyed the shows and had a lot of fun,” Justice said.
DeKalb County
Patsy Griggs, 79, of Lookout Mountain, said she enjoyed everything at Senior Fun Fest.
“I really loved all of it,” Griggs said. “I came because I thought it would be a lot of fun and it was and we’re involved with Masters Games, so it was good to participate in that. Plus, she won a prize in Bingo.
It was the second time Denise Harris, 69, of Fort Payne in DeKalb County attended a Senior Fun Fest.
“We enjoy Masters Games a lot, so we got to practice our cornhole and nerf today and we played Bingo,” Harris said. “It has been a fun day.”
Lynn King, who is the manager of the Fort Payne Senior Center said it was good to see all of the seniors having a great time at the event.
Rickey Garner, 68, of Ider, said he liked seeing all the people, and walking around to see everything.
Sherry Landers, 42, of Ider, also enjoyed walking around and meeting new people. She also performed in the talent show with three others from the Ider Senior Center.
Madison County
Richard Garner, 71, of Madison County, said he enjoyed festivities fellowship and all of the excitement.
“I like the Tina Turner Show, what they done, really everything has been great. The staff has been so humble and shown a whole lot of courtesy, and I’ve enjoyed it from beginning to the end.”
Carolyn Jackson, 73, of Madison County, said she and her husband truly enjoyed it.
“This is an excellent setting, there’s room to move around,” Jackson said. “I got to visit with the vendors and play some games then got in here and got my Coke, walked around and then sat down. It’s been great, I look forward to next year.”
Former State Representative Mike Ball represented the Madison County Council on Aging in the Western Showdown Talent Show playing a guitar and singing a western ballad, “Miles and miles of Texas.”
“I always enjoy playing,” Ball said. “I would’ve loved to play more.”
Carolyn Wilson, 75, of Huntsville, said it was good to see so many people truly enjoying the day.
“I worked in the Bingo game and it was sensational – I brought some of Bingo cards with me because they were just fantastic,” Wilson said. “Before I went to the Bingo Room I went to booths and got all of the wonderful things they provided to let us read and do … This is a great event and I loved this for the seniors.”
Emma Pride, 78, of Madison County, attends Senior Fun Fest every year.
“I enjoyed it,” she said. “First of all, I won tons of prizes and got great information for seniors. Overall, it’s been a great experience.”
Arlene McDonald, 67-years-young, of Madison County said she loved it.
“TARCOG put on a great show, did a great job and I thank you,” she said.
Marshall County
Joyce Davis, 76, of Boaz, was a first-time attendee.
“It has been a wonderful day,” Davis said. “I’ve enjoyed it very much and all of the fellowshipping with different people. It’s just been a great day and I look forward to the next one.”
Be sure to check out the video here!
2025 TARCOG Senior Fun Fest Co-coordinators – Community Services Coordinator Emmitt Davis and Alabama Cares Coordinator Lydia Weeks.
May 14, 2025
TARCOG now has the largest staff in the agency’s 57-year history with 104 employees.
“The need for our services, especially within the Area Agency on Aging, has grown and is continuing to grow,” said Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan. “We have close to 1,000 clients who receive Home and Community-Based Waiver Services (HCBS) through Medicaid Waivers.”
HCBS services are available to eligible Medicaid recipients who are at risk of needing care in a nursing home, hospital or other institution. Clients must meet financial, medical and program requirements and must be willing to receive services in their homes or communities. Waiver program enrollment is limited, and a waiting period may be necessary.
Michelle said TARCOG covers a large region that includes DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties with a total population of 753,418.
“With our increasing aging population, our AAA services are more important than ever,” Michelle said. “That’s why we’ve had to add to our workforce.”
Since January, TARCOG has hired 19 case managers, one nurse and two administrative assistants.
“We strategized this growth,” Michelle said. “With the help of our new Human Resources Manager Melonie Gurley, hired last fall, we’ve implemented new hiring procedures, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”
Melonie said the hiring results stem from outreach with local universities and online job boards. With multiple positions open for Medicaid Waiver Case Managers, the TARCOG Invitational Career Fair was brainstormed as an opportunity to set aside a day to invite several pre-screened candidates to the office and let them have an opportunity to learn about TARCOG and its staff, while going through the interview process.
The day starts with a warm welcome from TARCOG leadership and program managers who provide an overview of what the agency does and briefly share their personal journey with TARCOG. From there, applicants get tours of the facility, learn more about the different agency programs, and participate in up to three interviews. If an applicant makes it to the third round of interviews, he or she is usually extended a contingent offer of employment the same day.
TARCOG has held two invitational hiring events, one in December 2024, and another in April 2025. Many of the new faces at TARCOG were hired as a result of an Invitational Career Fair. Some may not have been able to attend the actual event but submitted resumes and were screened for interviews at other times.
“We’ve found this to be a very beneficial process for us,” Melonie said. “Our staff gets excited about the process, and we are able to interview multiple candidates in one day.”
She said that not everyone who is invited to the agency’s career fair receives an offer, however, the process has helped the agency find the highly qualified candidates it needs.
Michelle said having the largest staff in the agency’s history wasn’t necessarily a goal but a byproduct of the area’s growth. Her goal, she said, is to retain a consistent team of highly engaged employees.
“Because of the work we do here, with our AAA and Economic Development and Planning, I want TARCOG to be a place that our employees are proud to work and never want to leave,” Michelle said. “Our team is committed to their roles and to improving the quality of life in our region, and we want to retain them for the long term.”
New TARCOG staff pictured from left, Jamerson Baker, Alaceia Barber, Imani Beal, Demetrius Chatfield, DaeLauren Harrison, Vashuna Jones, Brittany Johnson, Virginia Johnson, Brittany Kelley, Jamia Kirk, Aqui Lacy, Taliaha Ladd, Vickie Lockett, Keilondria Pollard, Sarah Proctor, Markia Richardson, Jelisa Simon, Kimuel Stevenson, Kira Tolver, Deja Williams, Tabitha Whitehead, and Lameisha Wright.
May 8, 2025
On May 6, 2025, the Leadership of Greater Huntsville’s Management Academy-15 class gathered at Huntsville City Hall to conclude their journey with a day focused on strategic planning, leadership development, and celebration!
TARCOG’s Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey was among the graduates!
TARCOG staff celebrates with Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey after she graduated from the Leadership of Greater Huntsville’s Management Academy 15. From left, Communications. Coordinator Wendy Reeves, Administrative Assistant Brittany Johnson, Sheila Dessau-Ivey, Executive. Director Michelle Jordan, Human Resources Manager Melonie Gurley and Finance Director Gerald Carter.
From left, Sam Cooper, MA Program Director, TARCOG Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey and Christie Finley, Leadership Huntsville CEO.
May 1, 2025
Name: Kecia J. Jones
Job Title: Receptionist/Administrative Assistant
How long have you been at TARCOG and what do you do? I have worked here four and a half years. I receive and transfer phone calls from our main phone line. I greet and direct visitors to the appropriate personnel, receive packages, weigh and postmark mail, receive and deliver mail and other related duties as assigned.
What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was younger my mom told me I always talked about being a paralegal.
What do you hope to accomplish within the next year? To learn a new skill or try something new.
Who is your hero and why? My parents are the people who I admire the most. They raised my three brothers and me to have principles, morals and to have respect for others. They prided themselves on being educated, dependable, and hard working. Although they were sometimes stern, they still loved and provided for us. They also gave to the community by shaping young minds because they both were educators for over 30 years. They are deceased now, but I think about them often.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Go sightseeing on Rodeo Drive in California and buy anything I want.
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? My Daddy gave the best advice. He would say, “Get what you want, but want what you get!”
What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done? I went to Disney one year and rode on this ride called the “Haunted Mansion.” This ride took you way up on an elevator and then it dropped down and it scared me nearly to death.
Who knows you the best? My children Hadrian and Hadara Jones.
What would you do if you won the lottery? Pay off debt, invest and travel.
April 21, 2025
TARCOG’S Senior Planner Marley Hicks was a featured presenter on “what makes Gen Z tick” and how that impacts workplace behaviors at the National Planning Conference of the American Planning Association held in Denver on March 30.
“I truly enjoyed sharing my experiences with mental health in regard to today’s workforce,” Marley said. “I believe that we should all be more open to sharing our perspectives, thoughts, and ideas on how we can all collaborate and become more proficient in working with different generations in the workforce.”
Beyond his speaking role, he said the conference provided opportunities to connect and share career path and planning projects with like-minded individuals.
TARCOG’S Senior Planner Marley Hicks is pictured on the left at the National Planning Conference.