Leadership Team
Mike Milward
Chief Executive Officer
As Chief Executive Officer, Mike brings a wealth of experience to the CHN leadership team and continues the important work he started as one of the original founding members of the organization. An attorney since 1981, Mike began his work in end-of-life care in the mid 90’s where he served as a hospice chaplain and bereavement specialist and, later, moved into hospice executive leadership positions. As CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County from 2012 to mid-2020, Mike grew the organization’s capacity, services and offerings, and was the visionary behind of the formation of CHN. Mike has a passion for the important services the community based nonprofit hospices provide and has remained active at the national level providing strategic consultation to the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) and will continue that work in concert with his role as CEO of the California Hospice Network.
Adam Shore
Chief Financial Officer
Adam serves as Chief Financial Officer of Hospice of Santa Cruz County where he is responsible for Finance, Information Technology, and Facilities functions. He joined the organization after 20 years at a variety of financial positions in organizations in Silicon Valley. At Hospice of Santa Cruz County, he has realized his longstanding desire to use his skills and experience to make a positive difference in the community. Adam began his career as a CPA. He holds a MBA, a master’s degree in Accounting, and a bachelor’s degree in History.
Mary Matthiesen
Strategy Director
Mary serves as Chief Strategy and Integration Officer with Mission Hospice & Home Care, where she is responsible for identifying and facilitating key strategic initiatives that position the organization as a leader in end-of-life care and education. Mary joined Mission Hospice after 30 years as an executive producer, social change agent, and end-of-life educator, leading award-winning, international initiatives on end-of-life issues from sudden death to sacred dying. She has held leadership positions and consulted with dozens of regional and national non-profit organizations — including the American Heart Association, the California Transplant Donor Network, CityCares, and Companion Arts — and holds certificates from Stanford’s Executive Program in Non-Profit Leadership, The Asset Based Community Development Institute, and the Coaches Training Institute. She is the creator of Conversations for Life (UK), co-author of the Sacred Dying Volunteer Vigil training, and author of Dying to Make a Difference.
President's Council
The President’s Council is made of up California Hospice Leadership and senior leaders from each of the founding member hospices. Pictured here left to right in the front row: Dolores Gomez , Cathy Conway, Jan Jones, and Sarah McSpadden; and in the back row: Mary Matthiesen, Dan Riordan, Michael Milward, Adam Shore.
Board of Directors
Richard Clark
Board Chair
Richard Clark is a retired high-tech, corporate executive who has been an advocate for nonprofit, community-based hospice care for more than 30 years. He is currently president of the board of Hospice of Santa Cruz County and was closely involved with the creation of CHN. He volunteered for the CHN board to foster his belief of universally available community-based hospice care in today’s changing medical and end-of-life care environment.
Sally Bergman
Board Member
Sally Bergman is an attorney specializing in elder law and estate planning. Her legal career spans more than four decades, all of which has been devoted to assisting those who have fewer opportunities to receive quality professional legal services than others. She serves on the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, as well as on the board of Mission Hospice & Home Care. She also volunteers her time with patients and families, providing emotional and social support and companionship.
David Franco
Board Member
David Franco is the Board President of Hospice of the Foothills. For 32 years, he has been a resident of Nevada County, where he loves to hike the many trails of the Sierra Foothills. David is a CPA and strong advocate of local businesses, believing that they are key to the development of a vibrant and resilient local community. He has helped numerous local nonprofits over the years, including serving as a board member and Board President of KVMR.
Julie Sheehan
Board Member
Julie Sheehan is a longtime Davis resident and graduate of UC Davis, where she also enjoyed an 11-year career as a conference and event planner. She currently serves as the general manager at SwimAmerica, a learn-to-swim school in Davis. Sheehan’s interest in Citizens Who Care was sparked by her parents’ involvement; she has volunteered with the organization for multiple years.
Keith Volkerts
Board Member
Keith Volkerts brings a strong knowledge of finance and hospice operations to his leadership as Board President of YoloCares, formerly known as Yolo Hospice. He previously served as Yolo Hospice’s CFO for seven years and as Executive Director from 2013-2014. Prior to his time with Yolo Hospice, he acted as the Director of Finance for Napa Valley Hospice and Adult Day Services and was the owner of Physician Billing Specialists. Keith and his wife, Lynn, are longtime supporters of YoloCares, including as administrators of the George and Lena Valente Foundation, established by Lynn’s late parents.
Howard Wilson
Board Member
Howard Wilson is a retired attorney specializing in trusts, estates, and tax law. He moved from Southern California to Nevada County in 2004 and became involved in numerous local nonprofits, including Rotary Breakfast Club of Nevada City, Nevada County Charitable Fund (Rotary), Gold Country Estate Planning Council, Forest Knolls Homeowners Association, Gold Country Fly Fishers, Gold Country Senior Softball Association, and Airmen’s Memorial Fund of the United States (Hargesheimer Fund). He currently serves on the board of Hospice of the Foothills.