NSCLC Board of Directors Welcomes Three New Members

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Senior Citizens Law Center has appointed Yanira Cruz, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), Richard Alexander, managing partner at Arnold and Porter and John A. Picciotto, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Care First Inc. to its Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to welcome these outstanding individuals to the NSCLC board,” said Chair Robert Johnson. “I and other board members look forward to their expert insight and leadership as the organization seeks to protect the right of low-income older Americans to quality health care and economic security.”

Ms. Cruz is the president and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA).  She also holds an adjunct faculty appointment at The George Washington University School of Public Health. Before joining NHCOA, she served as executive director and chief operating officer of the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS) in Washington.  Ms. Cruz received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Emmanuel College and holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Public Health with a specialty in global health from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. She also serves on the boards of the Consumer Health Foundation and the American Society on Aging.

Richard Alexander is managing  partner with Arnold and Porter LLP, a member of the Firm’s financial services group and is based in Washington, DC. His practice involves some of the most significant enforcement, supervisory, and governance matters affecting the financial services industry.  Alexander represents financial services companies and their officers and directors, as well as accountants, attorneys, and other professionals, in significant enforcement or investigative proceedings brought by federal or state agencies. An alumnus of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, he is a graduate of Brandeis University and received his JD from the Syracuse University College of Law. Alexander currently serves on the DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the NALP Foundation Board of Trustees.

John A. Picciotto is executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for CareFirst, Inc., CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. He directs the operations of the legal, audit and compliance divisions of the companies and their subsidiaries. An attorney for the company for 37 years, Mr. Picciotto previously served as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland, providing counsel and directing all legal activities for the organization and its subsidiaries. Mr. Picciotto received his Bachelor's degree from Loyola College in Baltimore and his JD from the University of Maryland. He has been a member of the Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission, the Governor’s Chief Executive Officer’s Council on the Handicapped, Director and Legal Counsel to Maryland Special Olympics, as well as serving on several other Governor’s commissions and in voluntary leadership positions.

Each will serve three-year terms.