We would like to introduce you to the speakers that will be presenting the education sessions to attendees throughout the week. Please take some time to read about each speaker and be sure to thank them for their presentations.
Featured KeyNote Speaker
Joel Zeff creates energy. His spontaneous humor and vital messages have thrilled audiences for more than 25 years. As a national speaker, work culture expert, author, and humorist, Joel captivates audiences with a unique blend of hilarious improvisational comedy and essential ideas on work and life. He has shared his experience and insight on collaboration, leadership, change, communication, innovation, fun and passion at more than 2,500 events. His book, “Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative and Productive Work Life” is consistently listed as one of the top work/life balance books on Amazon. He has appeared on CNBC and featured in the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, The Kansas City Star, and many other media outlets. For more information, visit his web site at www.joelzeff.com.
Education Presenters
Babak Amali – Prodigy Rehabilitation Group
Babak Amali is the founder and president of Prodigy Rehabilitation Group. He is a 1994 graduate of Göteborg (Gothenburg) College of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy in Göteborg, Sweden. He practiced as the occupational therapy department leader in Sweden’s second largest acute care hospital, The Sahlgrenska University Hospital, before moving to California. Babak has spent most of his career in leadership positions for local and national contract companies, overseeing a large number of rehab programs in eight states. He has worked extensively with both for-profit and non-profit organizations with a focus on establishing and implementing systems that ensured financial viability. Babak established Prodigy with a focus on providing management and reporting tools to in-house therapy programs. His team assists in recruiting, hiring, training and mentoring therapists and managers. Babak is currently a member of the advisory board at Sacramento City College, a Board member at the National Association of Rehabilitation providers and Agencies (NARA), a member of the PAC and Government Affairs Committee for NARA, and for many years has been a member of the Service Excellence Committee at LeadingAge California, the state’s largest non-for-profit association for SNFs and CCRCs
Wendy Boren, BSN, RN, IP – QIPMO
Wendy is our QIPMO educator in the Southeast region of Missouri. She has worked as a registered nurse in LTC for 12 years. She has worked as DON, ADON, Assisted Living Coordinator, MDS Coordinator, wound nurse, and charge nurse. She currently serves as president on the board of directors for MC5. Wendy volunteers in several organizations, including as an Alzheimer’s Association Community Educator. Her clinical interests include emergency preparedness and disaster response and treatment of cognitive disability, TBI, PTSD, and functional brain decline through sensory experiences such as ecotherapy, art, music, and mindful occupation. She completed the CMS Infection Control Preventionist program in 2020. “It’s our job to bring real life to long-term care. Life should not stop just because you need a little help living it.”
Jeff Briggs
Jeff is the Earthquake Program Manager for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency
Tim Brooks, LNHA – Luther Manor Retirement & Nursing
Tim started his career working as a radiologic technologist for ten years, giving him a unique insight into direct patient care before moving up into leadership. He has been a licensed administrator for nine years, six of which have been with Luther Manor Retirement & Nursing Center in Hannibal, MO. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, earning his Master of Public Health Degree this year.
Mark Francis, MS, LNHA, IP – QIPMO
Mark Francis, MS, LNHA, is the QIPMO leadership coach for the west and southwest region of MO. He received a Master of Science degree in Psychology in 1984 and began his career as a counselor and coach working with couples and families. Mark has worked exclusively with the elderly for over 20 years. He directed a geriatric behavioral health unit for 10 years and has been a nursing home administrator since 2007. As an administrator, he built a team that worked together to receive multiple successful surveys. Mark is experienced in all aspects of long-term care leadership including building operations, financial performance, clinical outcomes, and team building. As his primary focus is taking care of people, he greatly enjoys building up the staff who work in long-term care and helping them reach their full potential as caregivers. As a QIPMO leadership coach, Mark is committed to providing the training, tools, and encouragement for all staff – from front-line to leadership – to become their best.
Liz LaFoe Frederick – Husch Blackwell
Liz has more than 10 years of clinical experience in the healthcare field. Here healthcare experience includes working as a registered nurse in emergency medicine, intensive care, trauma and forensics. Her legal training and clinical background give her a unique advantage in advocating for healthcare providers facing a variety of legal challenges.
Shellie Goodin, RN – Missouri Health Care Association
Shellie is the new Director of Clinical and Quality Services with Missouri Health Care Association. She has practiced nursing since 1994 and has worked in the areas of long-term care, rehabilitation, surgical, dialysis, and obstetrics. Shellie has spent the last 20 years as an instructor for Nichols Career Center in Jefferson City, MO, teaching both the LPN and Health Occupations program.
Dave Goodridge, MBA – WIPFLI
Dave Goodridge is a certified executive coach and team facilitator who supports the talent development of WIPFLI’s clients. Prior to joining WIPFLI, Dave was director at Vanderbilt University’s executive education business unit where he led all efforts in the design, development and selling of custom leadership development programs. These programs included behavioral assessments, executive coaching, in-person workshops, projects and online learning. Dave is passionate about the human element of all organizations’ most precious asset: its people. He is known for his attention to detail, high energy and focus on results and behavior change.
Nate Hamme – Ceca Foundation
Nate has worked with Ceca Foundation since its inception, and currently serves as its President. Nate has extensive experience in both the for-profit and non-for-profit sectors, focusing on business strategy, development, relationship management, partnerships, operating scale and data analysis. In addition to his experience in mobile products and technology, Nate has been a consistent voice for the power of employee recognition to drive engagement and retention in the healthcare industry. As an industry leader in healthcare employee engagement, he has written and spoken extensively on staffing and retention issues facing healthcare communities, including features in McKnight’s Senior Living and Homecare Magazine, interviews on ABC News7, and presentations to AHCA state affiliates, and other national healthcare groups.
Yanick Hicks, PharmD
With his experience working as a pharmacist with Walgreens, Yanick realized his niche for recognizing strengths and equipping people to become better leaders. After experiencing the tremendous growth of people and his ability to inspire others, he became part of the John Maxwell team. Yanick ahs the ability to assess a situation, recognize the problem, and lay a solid, workable plan of action that empowers the business or individual involved. Whether it is a team of 200 health care professionals, a new business without a clear direction or an individual looking to quickly climb the corporate ladder, Yanick will get you where you want to go. His training will enrich your attitude, rekindle your determination to succeed, and expand your self-confidence.
Katey Hinz, Associate – Husch Blackwell
Katey’s interest in law stemmed from her grandparents’ difficult experiences with the healthcare system and a passion to help improve matters. She also grew up with a mother who served as a nursing home administrator, so she understands the operational challenges healthcare organizations and providers face. Katey knows most organizations care deeply about offering high-quality care, and she uses her legal skills to help deliver them. Katey focuses her practice on regulatory compliance matters, guiding clients through complex state and federal requirements, Medicaid and Medicare rules and reimbursement issues. She works with long-term providers such as assisted living and skilled nursing facilities as well as acute care providers.
Patricia Howell, RN – McKesson Medical
Patricia Howell is a highly experienced and knowledgeable Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has spent 10 years working with McKesson Medical Surgical, a leading healthcare company. Throughout her career, she held various positions in Long Term Care, including Director of Nursing, Corporate Clinical Director, and Nursing Home Consultant. Ms. Howell has developed a diverse skillset and expertise in areas such as regulatory compliance, clinical practice, quality improvement, and operational management within the nursing home industry. She also received specialized training in infection control, Skin and Wound Care Education. Ms. Howell has certifications in wound care and foot care and CDC certificate course in infection control. Overall, Patricia Howell’s extensive experience, diverse skill set, and passion for improving long term care make her a highly sought after speaker and healthcare professional in her field.
Amber Jennings, EdD – Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities
Amber has her bachelor’s and master’s in psychology, along with a doctorate of education in organizational leadership/development. She brings over a decade of experience as a clinician in the mental health field, serving diverse populations across various healthcare settings. Her expertise spans from children in youth homes and those affected by parental incarceration to adults with developmental disabilities, severe mental illness, and substance use disorders. Originally from Michigan (Go Green!) and Indiana, Amber now residents in St. Louis, MO. She currently serves as the Regional Behavioral Specialist – Improvement Advisor for Region 7: MO, KS, IA, NE with Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), providing technical assistance, training and resources to nursing facilities in her region.
Penny Kampeter, AD, LNHA, IP – Leadership Coach
Penny began her career in long-term care as an office manager in 1988, obtaining her administrator license in 1991. For the last 30 years she has served actively as a LNHA in both for profit as well as not-for profit facilities. Penny has volunteered for many long-term care organizations during her career such as the board of directors and advisory boards of GPN programs. She has dedicated her entire career to long-term care and enhances the motto, “Adding life to years, not years to life”.
Dennis King, CISSP, CEH, GCFA, PMP, MBA – Working Security, Inc.
Dennis is the founder and president of Working Security, Inc. With over 25 years experience in the information technology field, Dennis has designed, implemented, and managed I/T systems and teams, and developed policies and processes for U.S. and global organizations including IBM. Dennis helps clients develop risk mitigation strategies and execute cybersecurity tests to meet and exceed compliance mandates under HIPAA, PCI-DSS, NERC and other standards. He holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and B.S. of Engineering from Purdue University. He is a Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Forensics Analyst, Project Management Professional, Agile Scrumaster, and a Missouri Licensed Private Investigator. His expertise has been featured in print, online and in broadcast media including CBS/KMOX, the St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Journal, Hakin9 Magazine and Search Security. He is a member of the ISC2 (Scott AFB Chapter) and the St. Louis Chapter of InfraGard (FBI/Private Industry Working Group).
Shari Kist, PhD, RN, CNE, IP – ICAR
Shari is the ICAR Clinical Advisor for survey Regions 5 and 6. Prior to joining the ICAR team, she was the project supervisor for 16 Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs) as part of the CMS-funded Missouri Quality Initiative (MOQI) project. The aim of the MOQI initiative was to reduce avoidable hospitalizations in long term care residents. Shari has been in nursing education for over 30 years, teaching primarily undergraduate students. Many of her clinical days have been spent in long-term care facilities assisting student to understand and provide for the needs of older adults. Shari has a BSN from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) and her MSN and PhD from Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She completed the CMS Infection Control Preventionist Program in 2020.
Camille Lockhart, Partner – Forvis Mazars US
As a member of Forvis Mazars, Camille has more than 25 years of experience working with long-term care facilities, continuing care retirement centers and home health and hospice agencies providing audit and consulting services. Her experience includes Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement consulting, which entails analysis and planning of strategies to enhance reimbursement and improve operating efficiencies and profitability. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants and also an alumna of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Springfield, a member of the Drury University Breech School of Business Advisory Council Board of Directors, Ozarks Technical Community College Middle College Advisory Board of Directors, Make A Wish Foundation Board of Directors and Junior League of Springfield. Camille is also a former board member for the Girl Scouts of Dogwood Trails Council, Inc. and was selected in 2006 as one of 20 “Most Influential Women” in the business community by Springfield Business Journal and in 2004 as one of Springfield’s 40 under 40.
Nick Magers, R.D, Chief Sales Officer, Owner, and Co-Founder – Mediprocity
Nicholas Magers’ first exposure to the healthcare industry was in his father’s pioneering home healthcare company during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Nicholas Magers received a Bachelor of Science degree in clinical nutrition at California State University in Sacramento. He completed his residency for dietetics in the San Francisco Bay area and became a registered dietitian. Nicholas Magers worked at a regional medical center in Southern California as the interim manager of its clinical nutrition department before leaving in 1998 for a career in biotech and pharmaceuticals. In those industries, he held positions ranging from sales representative to business director. Nicholas Magers received his MBA from the University of Southern California. At Mediprocity, Nicholas Magers is responsible for coordinating the company’s sales pipeline and manages the retention of businesses and healthcare users. Nicholas Magers also develops marketing strategy, monitors government regulations and the competitive landscape, and oversees social networking.
Michael Marlow, VP of Sales Education – Watercrest Senior Living Group
Michael Marlow has been involved in the Senior Living industry for over 29 years beginning his career with Hillhaven and has served in various senior level sales management and sales training roles with Brookdale Senior Living, Atria Senior Living and LCS. These roles have ranged from Regional Sales Director to National Vice President of Sales. He currently serves as the Vice President of Sales Education at Watercrest Senior Living Group. Michael also serves as the President of The Marlow Group, Inc., a sales training and consulting company. Michael is a proud graduate of the University of Kentucky and lives in Louisville, KY. He is married with two grown children; Bradley, a Physical Therapy Assistant at Beacon Orthopedic in Erlanger, KY and Jill, ODT, a Doctoral Occupational Therapist at Baptist Health Services in Louisville, KY. And even though he does not look it, he is also the proud grandfather of four and a half bundles of joy!
Amanda Marsh, RDN, LD – Martin Bros. Distributing, Co., Inc.
Amanda Marsh is the Missouri Nutrition and Dining Strategist at Martin Brothers Distributing Co., Inc. She received a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics from Illinois State University and completed her dietetic internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. After graduating her internship, Amanda stayed in New York City and worked in preventative healthcare helping clients all over the world achieve their health and wellness goals. She then moved back to the Midwest taking a role as long-term care dietitian for over 10 years in the St. Louis area before transitioning into a marketing dietitian role, working with schools, health clinics, and the local media on behalf of the agricultural industry. Amanda has been with Martin Bros. for a little over 2 years supporting healthcare customers through menu development, education, and training.
Nicky Martin, MPA, LNHA, QCP, CDP, IP – QIPMO
Nicky Martin, MPA, BS, LNHA, CDP is the QIPMO team leader and functions as our NHA Coach in southeast Missouri and several counties in the central and southwestern regions of Missouri. With over 26 years of experience in LTC, she’s seen and done it all. She began her LTC career as a business office manager in a 60-bed skilled nursing facility in 1996 and was promoted to administrator in 2001. Nicky serves as an advisor to administrators, DONs, corporate directors, CFOs, and CEOs on all facets of CMS regulations from facility assessments to operational management. Her hometown roots as administrator in a rural home are the foundation for the principles that she practices, including the belief that everything starts with the CNAs. Nicky holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting.
Ashley McBratney, Activity Director – Lake Stockton Healthcare Facility
Ashley has a great passion for producing new and innovative activities for residents of long-term care. She has been with Citizens Memorial Healthcare for a number of years and is currently the Activity Director at Lake Stockton Healthcare Facility.
Roy Pace, NR, LNHA – Colonial Springs Health Care Facility
For over 20 years, Roy Pace has been working and advocating for long-term care. Roy began his career in LTC as a CNA, moving on to LPN, RN and then a licensed nursing home administrator. He is currently the Nursing Home Administrator for Colonial Springs Health Care Center.
Tracy Niekamp – Department of Health and Senior Services
Tracy is the Assistant Administrator for the Section for Long-Term Care Regulation with the Department of Health and Senior Services. She has worked in the long-term care regulatory field for over 15 years including the Department of Mental Health.
Juli Pascoe, CPA, Partner – Forvis Mazars
Juli joined the firm in 2004. As a member of Forvis Mazars, she provides an array of audit and consulting services to long-term care organizations, continuing care retirement communities, and assisted living facilities. She also serves on the executive committee of the practice’s nursing facilities industry team. Her experience includes serving as an engagement executive on senior living audit and review engagements and audits in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and Single Audit requirements. In addition, she assists senior living providers with strategic planning, preparation of operating budgets, Medicare and Medicaid cost report preparation, and review and development of strategies to enhance reimbursement and improve operating efficiencies and profitability. Juli also is responsible for overseeing the preparation of monthly financial statements and other accounting outsourcing services provided to senior living providers. Juli is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Missouri Society of CPAs. Juli is a 2004 summa cum laude graduate of Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, with a B.A. degree in accounting and business administration.
Crystal Plank, BSN, RN, RAC-CTA, IP – QIPMO
Crystal has worked in LTC for the past 21 years and is currently providing quality improvement consultation assistance to Skilled Nursing Facilities in the Central and Northeast regions in MO (QIPMO). Her vast experience includes being a Medicare Specialist, Denial Management Coordinator, MDS Coordinator, ADON, DON, and CPR instructor. Her in-depth knowledge is concentrated in state and federal regulations, LTC infection control practices, and all aspects of the RAI process. She has expertise in MDS 3.0, reimbursement (Medicare and Medicaid), and LTC regulatory compliance. She is certified as an Advanced Resident Assessment Coordinator (RAC-CTA). Crystal’s passion has always been supporting the elderly population and caregivers in the long-term care industry. She completed the CMS Infection Control Preventionist program in 2020.
Debbie Pool, BSN, RN, LNHA, QCP, IP – QIPMO
Debbie provides clinical education and consultative services to Region 7 St. Louis/East for the QIPMO program. She is a seasoned healthcare professional beginning her career as a nurse aide while attending nursing school. Upon receiving her RN, Debbie first worked in critical care as a staff nurse, charge nurse and unit manager. She became Director of Nursing for a small Missouri hospital leading them through a merger as the acting Administrator. Debbie completed her BSN at Drury University in Springfield and also obtained her Nursing Home Administrators license. For the past 20 plus years Debbie has served long-term care residents as a DON and Administrator in the St. Louis area and Columbia. Debbie’s clinical interests include regulatory compliance, quality improvement, infection prevention and staff development. She completed the CMS Infection Control Preventionist certification program. Debbie is a QAPI Certified Professional (QCP) through the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN).
Renee Ridling, MS, LNHA – Gingerbread House, Inc.
Renee is the current Executive Director at Gingerbread House, Inc. Renee has been passionate about long-term care since she joined the industry in 1992. Renee has managed Residential Care, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities in her career. Renee also serves as an AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Senior (Silver) and Master (Gold) Examiner. Renee and one of her previous facilities achieved AHCA’s highest level of recognition by being the first facility in Missouri to receive the Gold-Excellence Quality Award several years ago.
Sherri Robbins, RN, LNHA, RAC-CTA, CLNC – Forvis Mazars
Sherri is a member of FORVIS and has more than 20 years of experience and focuses on long-term care. She provides clinical consulting for health care providers and educates providers about Medicare reimbursement strategies. She has trained numerous skilled nursing facilities as well as swing bed and skilled nursing units about proper minimum data set completion to manage the Medicare program. She also performs comprehensive follow-up reviews focused on patient-centered care and regulation compliance to help providers obtain appropriate Medicare reimbursement. Prior to joining BKD, now known as FORVIS, Sherri had 10 years of health care experience as a director of nursing and administrator in a skilled nursing facility and also worked as a licensed practical nurse and certified nurse assistant. She is a member of the Missouri League for Nursing and serves on the League’s Scholarship and Awards committee. She is also a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC®), licensed nursing home administrator and Resident Assessment Coordinator – Certified (RAC-CT®). As a CLNC®, she assists attorneys representing health care providers.
Mason Rothert, Chief Executive Office,r Owner, Co-Founder – Mediprocity
A native of St. Louis, Mason Rothert earned his BA in communications from the University of Tampa in 1992. He then went on to start his own healthcare distribution company focused on long term care supply to nursing homes. Rothert sold the company in 1996. He then moved to San Francisco where he continued to earn management and entrepreneurial experience by co-founding several start-up media and internet companies in the early 2000s. These companies would go on to work with Red Bull, Heineken, Clear Channel, XM Satellite, Infinity Broadcasting, and Mp3.com. From there, Rothert’s expertise grew from key roles with several healthcare sales teams and pharmaceutical companies such as Cardinal Health, promoting new medications in Los Angeles and excelling as the top 1% of sales in the company. In response to the innovations in communication in the mid-2000s, Rothert combined his media and healthcare experience calling on physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes and in 2008, architected an advisory board of industry leaders from the medical, long-term care, and technology sectors, and launched Mediprocity. Mediprocity continues to modernize the way long-term healthcare professionals communicate with each other by innovating communications tools for long term care, hospice, home health, skilled nursing, and LTC pharmacy. Rothert leads the management team and technology team, and oversees product development, sales, and operations. Mediprocity has tripled in size under his watch.
Sue Shumate, BS, RN, CHTS-IS, IP – ICAR
Sue is the ICAR Clinical Advisor for ALFs and RCFs for Regions 2 (Southeast MO) and 7 (St. Louis/Eastern MO). Prior to joining the ICAR team, she was the Health Information Coordinator for the CMS-funded Missouri Quality Initiative (MOQI) project. Her role focused on improving care transitions, documentation, and communication with internal and external partners using health information technology. In her work, she collaborated with all providers of care to establish best practices. Sue has a bachelor’s degree in marketing, is also an RN with acute care experience, a Certified Healthcare Information Technology-Information Specialist, and Infection Preventionist.
Brad Smith, Owner – Empower Financial Group
Brad is the Owner of Empower Financial Group. Brad is a lifetime resident of Carter County Missouri and the Current River. He and his wife Erika have two sons who love to hunt, fish, play basketball and baseball. Brad started in the insurance business at Family Heritage, now a Globe Life company. Brad has been a #1 Producer of Cigna Supplemental for 2019, 2020 and 2021. Brad’s passion is empowering new salespeople, by protecting one American family at a time!
Laura Smith – Department of Health and Senior Services
Laura is the current DHSS Assistant Administrator. She has been with DHSS for over 20 years.
Barbara Speedling
An inspirational and motivational speaker, Barbara is an author, educator and management consultant at the forefront of person-centered care. An innovator with more than 30 years of practical experience within the adult care community, she is the expert providers turn to when they want to ensure that the services they provide meet not only the physical needs of their residents, but their emotional and psycho-social needs as well. Working from a core belief in the dignity and individuality of all people, Barbara has helped countless adult care communities implement her unique training and education programs.
Stephen Taylor, Principal – CLA
Stephen is a Principal within the Health Care and Life Sciences group at CLA and serves as the leader of CLA’s Privately Held Senior Living and Care Practice. Stephen has more than 15 years of experience in public accounting with a specialized focus in serving and advising skilled nursing and senior living care operators, owners and investors in strategic, financial and operational matters. Through deep industry insight, aligned with the strength of CLA’s extensive resources and solutions capabilities; Stephen is passionate about creating opportunities to increase stakeholder value, expand industry advocacy, and helping clients thrive in a competitive health care climate. Stephen is also a frequent speaker with associations and has made contributions to a number of industry publications.
Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-CT MT – Broad River Rehab
Joel is the VP of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs with Broad River Rehab. Joel is one of a few AANAC certified Master Teaches and is at the forefront of understanding Medicare and Medicaid policymaking and how it will affect SNFs directly. Joel has also had several articles published in “McKnights Long-Term Care News”.
Libby Youse, BGS, LNHA, CDP, IP – Leadership Coach
Libby Youse, BGS, LNHA, covers the Midwest and northern areas of the state. She has over 20 years of experience as a licensed administrator of skilled nursing homes. Libby started her career as a nurse’s aide and has served in homes as an effective Administrator showing leadership in developing Quality and Performance Improvement (QAPI) teams, regulatory compliance resulting in good survey outcomes, working with staff in understanding quality measures, proficiency in management, financial accountability and has experience in implementing, encouraging, and developing Culture Change. In May 2019, she completed the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s Life Safety Code Essentials for Health Care Occupancies, is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP).