Board of Directors

Jeffrey Giedt

Co-Founder and Board Chairman

Since 2010, Jeff has served as founder and owner of several successful senior care organizations from home care agencies to assisted living communities. He is passionate about creating organizations that serve seniors with extraordinary care, and he is committed to providing positive solutions for low-income seniors in need.

Clayton Foutch

Board Member

From 2008 to the present, Clay has served as founder of Home Matters Caregiving. Clay has championed a teaching philosophy within home care that has not only created a culture of exceptional care but has also fostered a high retention work environment. Clay is focused on giving back to the communities he serves as a contributing board member for multiple non-profits including Stepping Stones of Hope, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Stepping Up For Seniors. Clay is passionate about mentoring entrepreneurs who lead purposeful companies and non-profit organizations.

Heidi Rowell

Board Member

Heidi Rowell brings a strong knowledge of non-profit organizational effectiveness to Stepping Up For Seniors. Heidi’s career includes servings in a full time leadership role with the Alzheimer’s Association as well as over a decade in the director role at Home Matters Caregiving in Beaverton. Currently Heidi continues to lead her Home Matters team in Beaverton and serves as Director of Operations for the Home Matters national franchising organization. Heidi has a long history of generously giving back through non-profits and is a strong advocate for the underserved senior population.

Roberta Ezratty

Director - Assistance for Seniors

Roberta Ezratty brings a rich career in serving others to her role on the board of Stepping Up for Seniors. She is currently a State Health Insurance (S.H.I.P.) Assistance Benefits Counselor and Presenter, providing individual Medicare/Medicaid counseling services at the City of Surprise Resource Center, Banner Olive Branch Senior Center and the Peoria Community Center. Ms. Ezratty facilitates group presentations for Medicare/Medicaid to seniors in healthcare environments and acts as a facilitator for Senior Medicare Fraud Patrol for the Area Agency on Aging. She assists with determining eligibility and need for applicants requesting assistance from Stepping Up for Seniors.

Sendhil Krishnan, MD

Board Member

Dr. Krishnan is a board-certified cardiologist with a subspecialty in interventional cardiology. He is the founder of Pacific Heart & Vascular of Orange County. Dr. Krishnan is also co-founder and Medical Director of MD Senior Living, an assisted living organization focused on setting new higher standards for senior care within residential assisted living communities. Dr. Krishnan has a long history of philanthropy and supporting non-profit organizations like Stepping Up For Seniors.

Rachel Ochkur

Board Member

Rachel joined the Stepping Up For Seniors Board in 2021 to assist with the growing administrative needs of our charity. Rachel balances her non-profit work with part-time work she does for Phoenix based home care and assisted living organizations. Rachel brings a variety of administrative, tech, and marketing experience allowing her to contribute in multiple areas as a board member for Stepping Up for Seniors.

Shannon Arriola

Board Member

Since 1992, Shannon has held a variety of leadership positions within the healthcare industry including several years as a consultant to leading healthcare organizations. Shannon is passionate about developing leaders who will serve families through exceptional care. She has a strong commitment to training and educational excellence in senior care. Shannon has a strong passion for giving back through non-profit work. In addition to assisting Stepping Up For Seniors, Shannon contributes significantly to other non-profit organizations doing great work in the Greater Phoenix area.

Todd Nuckols

Co-Founder & Honorary Board Member

Todd Nuckols, along with his friend and business partner, Jeff Giedt, founded Stepping Up for Seniors in 2014. For the past 27 years, Todd has proudly served as a firefighter, and currently works for the City of Scottsdale as a Fire Department Captain. In addition to his work as a first responder, Todd has helped to found and lead multiple successful senior care organizations within the Greater Phoenix area. In addition to co-founding Stepping Up For Seniors, Todd continues to have involvement with multiple non-profit organizations where he has an opportunity to engage in his passion to serve in the local community.

Kearstin Nuckols

Honorary Board Member

Kearstin Nuckols played an important role in the development of Stepping Up For Seniors since our early days in 2014. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Kearstin helped to guide our efforts as a non-profit organization serving low-income seniors.

C. Dennis Nuckols

Honorary Board Member

Dennis played a very significant role in helping Stepping Up For Seniors for more than a decade. Dennis helped to shape our organization into what it is today. His contribution to the Stepping Up For Seniors board was enhanced through involvement with an assortment of faith-based and community organizations in the Greater Phoenix Area. Currently, Dennis remains involved as a volunteer with several ministries at Scottsdale Bible Church.