Strat joined AARP in April 2002 and has since worked in several positions across the Association. In 2007 Strat joined the AARP California team as a Senior Operations Administrator and has since served California in an Operations, Communications and Community capacities. Strat currently serves on the AARP California Community team as an Associate Director for Advocacy and Community Engagement, working out of the Pasadena, California office. In this role Strat works to advocate on behalf of older adults and to develop and execute strategies and programs that provide educational content, tools and resources that help communities choose how they want to live, as they age.
As an Associate Director for Advocacy and Community Engagement, Strat acts as the California state lead for The AARP Fraud Watch Network and AARP California’s technology strategy. Strat is also the lead for AARP California’s Los Angeles area African American audience work. Strat’s other work experience includes brand marketing and advertising with Pepsi-Frito-Lay and Nike, Inc. in South Africa. Strat currently holds a BS in Business Management form the University of South Africa, a Masters certificate in Project Management from the George Washington University. And a graduate degree in Communications, Marketing and New Media from the Southern New Hampshire University.
Eric Smith is SAVI iQ’s Chief Technology Officer. In this role he is responsible for product direction and architecture. SAVI iQ is a platform for managing commercial AVLC (Audio Video Lighting Control) systems, and the connected home. With a single app, consumers and installers can quickly and easily integrate, control, and manage diverse smart devices. Today’s leading in-home service providers now have a platform for selling, servicing, and delivering high-demand solutions throughout today’s connected homes.
Prior to founding SAVI iQ, Eric Smith was Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Control4. Control4 is the first company to make whole-home automation a practical option for any residence. The company makes everyday life easier by providing one-touch control of both new and existing electronic systems in the home. Control4 is a publicly traded company traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “CTRL”.
Prior to Control4, he co-founded STSN (now known as iBahn), the worldwide leader in broadband services for business travelers. Eric developed the intellectual property that made it possible to simplify Internet protocols and offer fast, convenient broadband service to travelers staying in millions of hotel rooms in almost every country around the world. Prior to STSN, Eric co-founded PHAST Corporation, which quickly became the leading control system in the residential control systems market.
Ara H. Bagdasarian is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, civic leader, and nationally recognized advocate for safer schools. In 2004, he founded Omnilert, pioneering the world’s first campus emergency notification system. Under Ara’s leadership, Omnilert continued to innovate with AI-powered visual weapons detection technology, now supporting thousands of organizations and reaching more than 15 million people.
In 2021, Ara launched ZeroNow, a national initiative uniting education leaders, public-sector officials, and safety-technology innovators to prevent violence and improve school safety outcomes. He is also the co-author of The Lemonade Stand, a Small Business Book Award winning guide that offers a modern, purpose-driven approach to entrepreneurship. Ara is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at institutions including Georgetown University, Shenandoah University, and George Mason University.
Ara is regularly featured in national media for his expertise in campus safety, technology, and public policy, with appearances and citations in CNN, ABC, CBS, USA TODAY, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Time, The Washington Post, and Harvard Business Review, among others.
A committed community leader, Ara has served in elected office on the Leesburg, Virginia, Town Council and previously chaired the town’s Economic Development Commission. He was Board President of Aurora School at The Arc of Loudoun and has advised the Congressional Bipartisan School Safety & Security Caucus on issues related to school safety, technology,
and prevention. His additional leadership roles include the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, the United Way, the VTV Outreach Foundation, and multiple founding and advisory boards focused on community development.
In 2017, Ara founded BENEFIT, a nonprofit that brings together musicians and community leaders to support charities serving children in need. BENEFIT’ssignature event, the Crossroads Music Festival, showcases original music while raising funds for impactful local causes.
Ara is a graduate of the State University of New York College at Buffalo, where he received the Young Alumnus Achievement Award.
Lisa Plaggemier is Executive Director at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. She is on a mission to empower people and organizations to stay safe online, so that everyone can experience the benefits of technology without worry. Lisa started her career in marketing with Ford Motor Company before moving into automotive technology and eventually security. Her passion is bridging the communications gap between security professionals fighting to protect us and our way of life, and the rest of us, struggling with the lingo and trying to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
Lisa has led the NCA to three CSO awards including one for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a campaign that engages millions of individuals, businesses and governments around the world annually, and one for Kubikle, a comedic YouTube series with over 19 million views.
Lisa has served on the US Secret Service Cyber Investigations Advisory Board, the board of human trafficking nonprofit Allies Against Slavery, the advisory board of the Identity Theft Resource Center, and the board of US Cyber Games. She is a University of Michigan graduate (Go Blue!) and while she wasn’t born in Austin, Texas, she got there as fast as she could.
Facebook: Staysafeonline
Instagram: @natlcybersecurityalliance
Twitter: @LisaPlaggemier
LinkedIn: Lisa Plaggemier
Professional Title: Executive Director
Website Link: https://staysafeonline.org
Stacy Gerlich is a retired Battalion Chief/Paramedic from the Los Angeles City Fire Department. (LAFD). Her career spanned 35 years in service to the citizens of Los Angeles. Chief Gerlich is a subject matter expert in Disaster Preparedness and Community preparedness and awareness.
She was also instrumental in the LAFD acquiring two therapy dogs for the department’s Behavioral Health Program. Stacy is internationally and nationally recognized for her work in disaster preparedness.
Although retired, Stacy continues to raise puppies for the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, which donates these dogs to veterans and first responders at no cost. Stacy has been married to her beautiful wife, Diane, for 16 years. They have three adult children and are expecting their first grandchild in July 2026.
Retired Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood was a solicitor in England for 13 years. After relocating to San Diego in 1991 he passed the California Bar and joined the DA’s office in 1993. For twenty two years Paul headed up the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit at the San Diego DA’s Office. In 1999 California Lawyer magazine named Paul as one of their top 20 lawyers of the year in recognition of his pioneering efforts to pursue justice on behalf of senior citizens.
He has prosecuted over 750 felony cases of both physical, sexual, emotional and financial elder abuse. He has also prosecuted ten murder cases, including one death penalty case.
In March 2018 Paul retired from the San Diego DA’s office to concentrate on sharing lessons learned from his elder abuse prosecutions with a wider audience. In October 2018 he was given a lifetime achievement award by his former office.
Paul now spends much of his post retirement time speaking on behalf of AARP nationally, consulting on elder abuse cases, testifying as an expert witness and providing trainings to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services agencies across the country and internationally. He is also involved as the criminal justice board member of National Adult Protective Services Association.