Kristen Felten began working in the field of dementia care in 1996 as a direct care worker in assisted living, first as direct care staff then as a facility director, spending 10 years providing direct care. In 2006 she began working at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and in October of 2010 Kristen shifted from aging and disability resource center development to the Office on Aging, and began her focus on dementia care systems and supports in the community. In her role, Kristen created the Dementia Care Specialist program, is directing a BOLD public health award from the CDC, and provides leadership for the Wisconsin state plan for dementia.