About ACCESSMed Foundation

Our Board and Staff

The AccessMed Foundation Board of Directors and Executive Director provide the insight and oversight that guides and empowers our mission.

Nick Taylor
Chairman

Nick Taylor is the President – Chief Operating Officer of Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA.) He joined the company March of 2017.

Before joining AMBA, Mr. Taylor spent over 14 years in the insurance and financial services industry. His experience includes leading a variety of successful growth, strategic, sales, and marketing initiatives at Allstate, Bank of America and Horace Mann Insurance. He has a proven track record of delivering profitable growth, driving operational excellence, and has an innovative approach to products and distribution.

Nick earned his Economics degree from the University of Utah and an MBA from the University of Illinois. Nick enjoys spending time with his wife, Stephanie and their two daughters Addison, and Olivia.

Steve Cardinal
Vice Chairman

Mr. Cardinal serves as Chief Executive Officer of Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA), a nationwide full-service agency focused on plan design, negotiations, and implementation of benefits for associations. Under Steve’s guidance, AMBA provides turnkey benefits programs for associations and their members.

Prior to assuming leadership of AMBA, Steve served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Horace Mann, a billion dollar-plus publicly traded insurance company. Prior to Horace Mann, he served as Agency Operations Executive for Bank of America, as Regional Distribution Leader for Allstate (where he led 960 agents and drove multimillion-dollar revenue growth in a 5-state sales region and directed Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction for Allstate’s 950 agencies).

Early in his career, Steve served as an Insurance Agent for MetLife where he was recognized as Rookie of the Year and as a Top Producer Award Winner throughout his tenure with the company. He also received the Pinnacle Award, recognizing his Top 5% performance in sales nationwide.

Steve Cardinal is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois.

Gordon Shoff
Founding Member

Gordon Shoff founded Medicare Planning Solutions, the predecessor to ACCESSMed Foundation, during 2015. His goal was to provide impoverished Arizona senior citizens with access to quality healthcare.

Prior to founding Medicare Planning Solutions (now ACCESSMed), Mr. Shoff served as an insurance agent, supervisor and branch manager with Banker’s Life and Casualty in Washington State. During 2004, he relocated to Phoenix, AZ to lead the Banker’s Life Phoenix office.

Mr. Shoff founded Senior Lifestyle Solutions, a health insurance brokerage specializing in meeting the needs of Arizona’s senior, during 2006. And, it was during the development of Senior Lifestyle Solutions that he also founded nonprofit Medicare Planning Solutions as a 501(c)(3) community charity.

Robert Roth, Ph.D.
Board Member & Executive Director

During his second career in the nonprofit sector, Bob has created and marketed outreach programs that have impacted more than 100 million individuals. He has served as a board member, program V.P. or consultant for the American Humane Association, Arizona Small Business Association, City of Cripple Creek, CO., Coleville Confederated Tribes, Desert Stages Theatre, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Utah Navajo Industries and the ACCESSMed Foundation.

During his second career, Bob has established nonprofit/for-profit marketing partnerships with Walmart, Purina Pet Foods, Discovery Network’s Animal Planet Channel, canine move star Benji, and First Solar.

Prior to his second career, Bob’s first career in the for-profit sector, included positions as Chief Operating Officer and President of the Grand Canyon Railway historic restoration project, V.P. Marketing for Del Webb Recreational Properties, V.P. Marketing for Radisson Hotels, and Director of National Advertising for the Holiday Inns System, Worldwide.

Bob holds degrees from Boston University and California Coast University and is a veteran of the United States Navy.

Maria Aguilera
Program Coordinator

As Program Coordinator for ACCESSMed Foundation, Maria helps Arizona’s vulnerable and income challenged seniors access their full range of Medicare and Medicare Advantage benefits. She is a hands-on Community Assistor, enrolling individuals in Medicaid through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s state Medicaid agency. She also supports ACCESSMed’s volunteer insurance specialists as they provide Medicare and Medicaid counseling and enrollment support for vulnerable seniors.

Prior to joining ACCESSMed, Maria served as Program Coordinator and Instructor for The Tungland Corporation, training new and existing employees to work with individuals with disabilities through various classes. She worked directly and indirectly with clients, their families, and the Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Maria holds an Associates degree in Medical Specialties and has always been deeply committed to helping others. She is devoted to her ACCESSMed work because “I can make a difference in someone’s life and I really hope to continue to grow and do more for our community.”