About Us

Michael brings over 35 years healthcare management experience to ROYL. After transitioning to the civilian sector from 23 years in Navy healthcare, he has gained invaluable experience in corporate contracting, compliance, health care management in medical centers, ambulatory clinics, surgery centers and now our physician specialty practice group. Michael is driven daily to support the delivery of efficient, effective and compassionate health care.

Michael and his wife Charlene are avid UNR fans and enjoy with pride following the successes of their three sons and families who currently reside in Coronado CA, Turlock CA and Norfolk Virginia. Michael and Char also enjoy walking and exercise and frequently relax in the hot tub in the afternoons enjoying the beautiful downtown Reno view.

Philip Lisagor, MD, FACS, is a retired cardiothoracic surgeon who eventually understood that his patients needed real life information in addition to technical surgery. Dr. Lisagor is a graduate of the University of Chicago School of Medicine. He is board certified in both general surgery and thoracic surgery. He has served as Chief of Quality Management for the US Army Medical Command, has been Deputy Commander for Clinical Services for US Army in Iraq and has studied waste in the US healthcare system as an Ally Fellow of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University QA for BAMC Cardiothoracic surgery, as Chief of Surgery at the Jersey City Medical Center and as Chief of QA for US Army MEDCOM Dr. Lisagor believes that although there may be real differences between doctors in compassion and empathy that all doctors can do a better job working with their patients.

For more than 35 years, Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss has assessed and developed high quality, cost effective public and private health and human services for elders. He has served roles that encompassed health education and aging services administration, research and management, program planning and development, and process evaluation. Dr. Weiss was an Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nevada School of Medicine and School of Nursing, and Associate, School of Public Health. He was the Director of the Sanford Center for Aging at the University of Nevada, Reno for 13 years. Dr. Weiss has served on several public health and education organizational boards, including NV Public Health Foundation, Circle of Life Hospice Foundation, and National Council on Aging, Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, Native American Suicide Prevention program, and delegate to the White House Conference on Aging.

His current responsibilities include the design, development, implementation of geriatric and gerontology programming, research, and community education and service programs at the Center for Healthy Aging (CHA). The mission of the CHA is to develop innovative, effective, and efficient programs through research, education, and services designed to improve the quality of life.
Dr. Weiss received his B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Health Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Stan holds a JD from Southwestern University and a BA from UCLA. Stan has had a 30 plus year career in money management, finance, corporate startup/structure and management. Stan presently acts as COO and General Counsel to ROYL and consults to various other companies mostly in the health care field.

Mr. Little has more than 25 years senior executive experience with public and private companies in multiple industries. Selected accomplishments have included delivering 4-8X returns on shareholder investment, $1.1 billion in equity and debt financing and restructuring, 31 acquisitions and divestitures valued at $1.3 billion, and design, development and implementation of multinational, SOX compliant systems and controls. Since 2009, Mr. Little has been President of SFL3 LLC, a consulting company providing finance, information technology and human resource services to middle market companies. From 2000 to 2009, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CLP Resources, Inc., a construction staffing company, and from 1996 to 2000, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc., an industrial services company. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of two multi-national, software companies, and Vice President & Treasurer of a national hospital management company. Mr. Little received a B.S. in Economics from Texas A&M University and MBA in Finance from the Texas A&M Mays Business School. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and Financial Executives International.

With a 30-year career in the telecom and technology sectors Joanne was responsible for creating strategic partnerships for long-term business growth, negotiated government and private industry contracts, and helped establish new FCC guidelines for satellite services in the US.
With diverse experience in cross industry culture and business acumen, Joanne has the unique ability to operate successfully in multiple environments.
After relocating to Northern California, Joanne found that her passion to help family members begin and continue the conversation about end of life planning was greatly needed. Ms. Danielson is founder of Graceful Transitions Coaching.
A coaching practice designed and focused on guiding adults to be better able to manage time and energy with patience and compassion. By engaging tools and skills to adapt to the current situation, and to plan for next steps, GTC helps creates the path for confidence, peacefulness and joy in these difficult times of our lives.
Through education, life experience and research, Joanne helps bring clarity, direction and a sense of calm and acceptance to her clients.
Ms Danielson serves on the Board of Plumas County Community Hospice. Joanne is a Certified Professional Coach with Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner qualifications.

Ted is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. After assuming the role of caregiver for his grandparents, Ted realized the challenges associated with caring for elderly or disabled loved ones and works diligently to make Rest of Life Planning resources readily available to all. Ted manages the ROYL and GTC’s online Advance Directive service and provides assistance with additional online resources. An avid traveler, Ted has lived in Rome, Italy and Shanghai, China where he worked in marketing and public relations; he currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.