Council on Aging (COA) is overseen by a Board of Trustees. The board establishes rules for COA’s operation and directs the organization’s affairs in keeping with Council on Aging’s mission to enhance lives by assisting people to remain independent through a range of quality services.
Board members live and work in COA’s five-county service area and bring a wealth of professional and personal experience to COA and its leadership team.
Kay Bolden is in her second term as board member, representing Butler County. She brings extensive experience in human resources leadership and serves on the board’s human resources committee. Bolden is chief human resources officer, Midwest region, for USI Insurance Services. Her other memberships and board affiliations include Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the NAACP and the Urban League of Southwestern Ohio. She is a graduate of Murray State University and earned an MBA at Xavier University.
COA: What interested you in serving on COA’s board?
Kay: I have an interest and concern for issues impacting older adults.
COA: What excites you most about COA’s future?
Kay: I am excited COA finally has its own home. I look forward to the opportunities and benefits that come with operating in a more modern facility.
COA: Thinking about your time on COA’s board, what about COA are you most proud of?
Kay: I am proud of COA’s rapid planning and response to address the COVID-19 pandemic – for both employees and clients.
COA: Which COA value speaks most to you and why?
Kay: All of them: Innovation, Teamwork, Integrity, Service, Compassion and Business Acumen. I believe it is the combination of each of these components that makes an organization most successful.
COA: What’s the most important lesson you learned from an elder in your life?
Kay: The most important older adult I know – my father – recently taught me this: Be transparent, accountable and present because I am depending on you to help me navigate this end-of-life stage of the process.
He didn’t actually say the words, but he taught me through his behavior and actions. These attributes are also critical for success in business. It has been quite a revelation to have my professional role mix with my role as a daughter and caregiver – with a lot of love throw in of course!
COA: Who (or what) inspires you?
Kay: My mother was my greatest inspiration; putting others first while also effectively managing her own affairs. She made raising her five children look very easy while also raising a number of orphaned and otherwise disadvantaged family members during the course of my life.
COA: What was the last book you read?
Kay: “The Light We Carry” by Michelle Obama