The Marion County Board of County Commissioners recently appointed the Executive Director of Marion Senior Services to serve as WellFlorida Council’s newest board member.
WellFlorida is a state designated local health council for 16 counties in North Central Florida, and it is composed of healthcare providers, purchasers, and consumers who are appointed by county commissioners in the county where they reside.
Jennifer Martinez, who has served as Executive Director of Marion Senior Services since 2015, was selected by local commissioners to represent Marion County on WellFlorida’s board.
“I am honored and privileged to join WellFlorida’s Board of Directors and look forward to leveraging my experience to provide guidance for residents to age in place with dignity for as long and as safely as possible,” said Martinez.
Martinez has a passion for serving and caring for disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals in Marion County. “Her love of service to the elderly has greatly impacted the aging network in Marion County,” stated Marion Senior Services in a press release.
Martinez has extensive experience in the health care and elder care industries. Prior to joining Marion Senior Services, she spent five years at Hospice of Marion County.
Marion Senior Services states that Martinez’s impact in the community has been significant. Notably, and most recently, she spearheaded the Ocala/Marion County AARP Age-Friendly designation and implemented the Marion County Co-Responder Program.
“Ms. Martinez’s expertise and insights into senior care issues will contribute to WellFlorida’s knowledge base, especially for the community health assessments and improvement plans we conduct for counties throughout the region,” stated Jeff Feller, CEO of WellFlorida.
WellFlorida’s mission is to forge partnerships in planning, research, and service that build healthier communities.
In addition to being the region’s health council, the private nonprofit organization manages over a dozen local, state, and federally funded programs that support WellFlorida’s causes including maternal and infant health, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and improving access to healthcare, especially in rural communities.
For more information, visit the WellFlorida Council website.
To learn more about Marion Senior Services, visit the nonprofit organization’s website or follow them on Facebook.