Dianne M. Knettel, RN Director Of Validation Dianne has been in the nursing profession for 40 years and has an associate degree  in nursing, Bachelors in Management, and Masters in Applied Psychology. She has worked as an educator and trainer for 15 years. As she began working more and more with disoriented elderly, she felt the need to find better ways to  communicate with this special population. Participating in one of Naomi Feil's workshops in 2007 has led her on her present path. She is now a Certified Validation Teacher. Teaching others to use and understand  Validation techniques is her passion. "I teach it because I use these techniques and they work, plain and simple."  Email Dianne at dknettel@voa.org

Dave Nilson, Director of TR and Memory Care Consultant Dave Nilson graduated from St. Cloud University with an education degree and has broad experience in Therapeutic Recreation and Memory Care as an aide, director, developer of Memory Care units, and dementia trainer. He is an active member of  the Minnesota Activity Professional Association and has been awarded  Quality of Life awardsthrough MAHCF Institutes. Dave began collaborating to bring Naomi Feil and her Validation workshops to Minnesota in 2009 followed by the coordination of certification classes in Validation method both locally and nationally.  In 2010 Volunteers of America became one of only three Authorized Validation Organizations  in the U.S.  and Dave became a founding member  of the North American Validation Organization (NAVA). Dave has been employed by Volunteers of America for ten years and currently serves as Director of Therapeutic Recreation at Crystal Care Center in Crystal, Minnesota and Memory Care Consultant for the national organization. Email Dave at dnilson@voa.org

Linda M. Shell, RN, BSN, MA, Corporate Director of Education and Learning Linda is an RN with a Masters degree and serves as Corporate Director of Education and Training for Volunteers of America. She also teaches as adjunct faculty at Bethel University and speaks both locally and nationally on topics of fall prevention, aging and leadership.  Linda began to learn about Naomi Feiland Validation when she attended a workshop in 2010. Since then she has been actively involved in promoting Validation and collaborating with Dave and Dianne on workshops and training sessions. Email Linda at lshell@voa.org

Volunteers Of America - Validation Project                 info@voavalidation.org               Copyright 2012