Before his transition to Executive Director, James Treggiari was a senior staff attorney at Legal Assistance for Seniors since 2014 and a staff attorney since 2009. His primary areas of focus were elder abuse and conservatorship. He is a 2008 graduate of Golden Gate University Law School in San Francisco and worked as a social worker in Los Angeles and New Hampshire before law school. He also holds a master’s degree in social work from UCLA.
James is excited to continue to serve the senior community in Alameda County in his new role as Executive Director of LAS.
Photo Credit: Kierra Johnson

Caitlin Chan has been with LAS since 2013 and was promoted to Associate Director in 2019. During her time at LAS, Caitlin has worked with both the HICAP and Legal teams. She looks forward to using those experiences to help shepherd LAS through our next stage of growth.

Kirsten Voyles has been with LAS since 2006 and was promoted to Managing Attorney in 2011. She spent her first three years at LAS representing seniors who were victims of elder abuse and currently represents proposed conservatees as court-appointed counsel. Kirsten manages the legal program by supervising legal work, ensuring compliance with grant and funding requirements and assisting with fundraising. She graduated from Boston College School of Law in 2003 and has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Kirsten is a board member of East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers (EBTEL).

Lenora Merlander is a graduate of Cal State Dominguez Hills. Prior to her work at Legal Assistance for Seniors, she worked at Bank of America as both a Bookkeeper and an Escrow Officer. Lenora came to LAS as Controller in 1989 and as the CFO Lenora is responsible for the agencies financial operations. In addition to her fiscal responsibilities, Lenora serves on the Management Committee at LAS and supervises administrative staff.
Lenora collects Pez. Many of them are displayed proudly in her office.

Janet Van Deusen is the Manager of the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at Legal Assistance for Seniors. In this role she oversees staff and volunteer Counselors who provide Medicare counseling throughout Alameda County and serves on local and state committees to further outreach, education and advocacy for Medicare beneficiaries. Janet graduated from the University of Santa Clara in 1981 with degrees in Spanish and Gerontology and has also provided both direct and administrative services in adult day health care, residential care, and home health care settings.

Dan became the Development Director on August 1, 2017 and is responsible for implementing the fundraising and marketing communications efforts of LAS. Since 2007, Dan has been a Senior Services Supervisor and Project Director for the City of Oakland Human Services Department, Director of Development and Aging Services for Bay Area Community Services (BACS), and the Director of Lavender Seniors of the East Bay. Dan hold a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton and his experience prior to 2007 includes developing recording artists for EMI Records North America; managing radio sales promotions for Los Angeles and Bay Area broadcasting companies; former Co-CEO of Peter Daniel Advertising in San Francisco; and San Francisco Branch Manager for Guild Mortgage Company.