Heather Picotte is a communications architect at IMPART Alliance and MSU AgeAlive. Picotte provides strategic communications support for both nonprofits, which are housed at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Department of Family and Community Medicine. In this role, she develops strategic partnerships and assists with social media, web and promotional design, as well as other communication activities for both organizations. She serves as the IMPART Alliance and AgeAlive staff lead in the upper peninsula of Michigan.
Picotte has a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Northern Michigan University. She brings to the team more than 20 years of experience in health communications specializing in aging and intergenerational programming and is the daughter of a direct-care worker.
“I was both inspired and motivated to advocate for people by watching my mother care for others and hearing about her experiences helping her clients,” Picotte said. “I learned quickly that direct care takes patience, compassion, problem solving and a unique set of skills to not only take care of people, but to work with them in a way that helps them to feel empowered regardless of their age or abilities.”
Utilizing her skills in grant development and administration, she also assists AgeAlive, IMPART Alliance and their partners with applying for and. Administering grants to support aging-related efforts. She plays an essential role in helping support outreach efforts. She plays an essential role in helping support outreach efforts to enhance recognition of direct-care workers, increase access to direct-care worker core-competency training and reduce barriers to employment success as well as health and wellbeing of individuals in rural communities.
“There are so many individuals and organizations that need support, and we need to work together to make a difference,” Picotte said.