St. Johns County Council on Aging (COA) Executive Director Becky Yanni has announced plans to retire from her leadership role at the nonprofit organization in January 2026. Yanni has been serving seniors and caregivers in St. Johns County for the past 18 years. The COA Board of Directors has begun its search for her replacement.
“As a community, we are truly blessed to have such a unique and comprehensive organization to serve our seniors and caregivers,” Yanni said. “I am grateful for the honor of leading an agency so deeply committed to empowering seniors to live with independence, dignity and respect. This role has been not only a professional honor but also a profoundly personal and meaningful experience.”
Yanni began serving seniors as a COA volunteer before joining the organization’s staff in 2008. As development manager, she was instrumental in raising the funds necessary to construct River House, COA’s lifelong learning and events center on the Matanzas River in downtown St. Augustine.
In 2013, Yanni was named COA executive director. As the agency’s leader, she has overseen tremendous growth in programs and services for seniors and caregivers in St. Johns County.
Yanni led the creation of COA’s Ponte Vedra Memory Care Center and the Hastings Senior Center. Under her leadership, COA trademarked and expanded their groundbreaking Integrative Memory Enhancement Program (IMEP) to agencies that serve seniors throughout the United States. COA also created its Coastal Transportation division, which provides private transportation services while raising funds for critical services.
The agency was recently chosen by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to lead the creation of a new task force, the St. Johns County Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) aimed at building a more inclusive, kinder, respectful and aware community regarding those living with and affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Under Yanni’s leadership, COA also successfully launched the $1.28 million Shelter and Shade capital improvement campaign to construct improvements including a raised portico at COA’s 180 Marine St. facility in St. Augustine. Thanks to the financial support of donors including the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the project is set to be completed and unveiled in November.
“Our community has benefited immensely from Becky’s commitment and leadership over the past 18 years,” said COA Board President Dr. Todd Batenhorst. “Becky has created an exceptional culture of both service to our community’s elders and support and caring among staff members and volunteers. She will be greatly missed.”
The COA Board of Directors has begun its search for a new executive director and is currently seeking qualified applicants.
For information, contact COA Human Resources Manager Dianna Cottrell at dcottrell@coasjc.org or 904-209-3700.
For more information on COA’s comprehensive programs and services for older adults and caregivers in St. Johns County, go to coasjc.org.
