We would like to introduce you to the speakers that will be presenting the education sessions to attendees during the Mid-Year Conference. Please take some time to read about each speaker and be sure to thank them for their presentations. For a quick glance at the full schedule of events, click here.
Educational Presenters
Beth Alford, RN – Mitigation Solutions
Beth is the owner and operator of Mitigation Solutions. She provides nursing homes and facility owners with help in nursing management, survey preparation, risk management and liability claims. They also provide Risk Management for Professional Liability Insurers. She states her job is even more enjoyable when she gets to make on-site visits to the nursing homes for her clients.
Liz LaFoe Frederick, Senior Counsel – Husch Blackwell
With more than 10 years of clinical experience in the healthcare field, Liz has worked as a registered nurse in emergency medicine, intensive care, trauma, and forensics. Because of her background, she truly understands the ins and outs of healthcare, both clinically and operationally. This gives her an advantage as an advocate for healthcare providers facing a variety of legal challenges, including regulatory compliance issues, audits and overpayment demands, medical malpractice claims, professional license matters, and government investigations. While Liz works with a wide variety of healthcare providers, she has a special focus on long term care providers, such as skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. After more than eight years assisting these clients, Liz understands the heavy regulatory burden in the post-acute care space and the challenges faced by facilities, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carolyn Gasser, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC, IP – MU Sinclair School of Nursing
Carolyn is currently covering regions 3 and 4. Prior to joining the team, she had various jobs in the Kansas City region, including Saint Luke’s Hospital, The Kansas City VA, and most recently, Research Medical Center. She has over 30 years of experience in infection prevention and is certified in her field and completed the CDC’s Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training course in 2022. Carolyn graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO and her masters from University of Kansas (KU) in 2002. She served in the Department of Air Force Reserve as a Flight Nurse for 20 years.
Meghan Travis Henderson, Executive Director – MHCA
Meghan joined the Missouri Health Care Association as its Executive Director on July 1, 2024, and leads the organization’s members and their residents in policy and advocacy matters impacting Missouri’s long term care facilities. For the past seven years, Meghan served as Associate General Counsel of the Missouri Hospital Association, while also serving as the organization’s Vice President of Legislative Policy during the last three legislative sessions. In that capacity, Meghan led the organization’s drafting of legislation, fostered legislative relationships and coordinated strategy within the Capitol, and was considered a tireless advocate and the go-to expert on healthcare related issues by her peers and legislators. These efforts culminated in Meghan helping to lead MHA and its allies in passing reforms to the 340B prescription drug program, ensuring rural hospitals and pharmacies can remain open and better serve their patients.
A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Meghan began her career as a Legislative Analyst with the Missouri House of Representatives, wherein she advised on legal issues, drafted legislation, researched legal and policy issues, and staffed a number of committees, including Health and Mental Health Policy, Emerging Issues in Health Care, Government Oversight and Accountability, Health Insurance, and interim committees relating to health policy and Medicaid. Meghan and her husband, Michael, reside in Jefferson City with their two sons and their rambunctious boxer, Percy. In her free time, Meghan enjoys reading, golfing, and attempting to garden.
Tim Hilton, Partner – Husch Blackwell
Tim is a comprehensive advisor and litigator for companies with labor and employment issues. He helps clients navigate the ever-changing waters of federal compliance, particularly involving the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. Tim defends state and federal employment claims at the agency, trial, and appellate levels, including claims involving race, sex, age, and disability discrimination. He also defends employers against wage and hour claims, as well as allegations of breach of contract.
Amber Jennings, EdD – COE-NF
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.
Camille Lockhart, Partner – Forvis Mazars
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.
Juli Pascoe, CPA – 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, DNS-CT, 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.
Renee Ridling, MS, LNHA – Gingerbread House
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
herri 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.
Nikki Strong, Director of Policy and Government Affairs – MHCA
A Jefferson City native, Nikki Strong’s journey into the realm of politics and government affairs was ignited by her early experiences working on campaigns. Inspired by her grandfather, Jim Strong, a dedicated public servant in the Missouri House and Senate for 18 years until his retirement in 1991, Nikki’s passion for legislative processes and public policy was nurtured from a young age. With an impressive career spanning nearly two decades, Nikki is a seasoned lobbyist recognized for her expertise in advocating for a diverse range of issues. Her areas of specialization include healthcare, education, economic development, insurance, sports, medical malpractice, local government, transportation, and construction.
Julie Tootle, MHA, BSN, RN, IP – QIPMO
Julie provides clinical education and consultative services to Region 1 Springfield/East for the QIPMO program and is a seasoned Healthcare Nurse Executive with 36 years of experience in Nursing and Management. Her background encompasses over 32 years of clinical and institutional management, complemented by 15 years in consulting roles. Throughout her career, Julie has demonstrated a strong aptitude for leading diverse organizations. She is known for her leadership in achieving mission goals, enhancing quality, promoting teamwork, achieving clinical excellence, and improving patient satisfaction. Her professional journey includes working across a spectrum of healthcare settings, from large teaching hospitals to small rural critical access hospitals and Long-Term Care Homes. She has held various roles ranging from staff nurse to Chief Nursing Officer and has served as a CMS Medicare Surveyor for Rural Health Clinics. Julie possesses comprehensive experience with State, DNV, and Joint Commission survey processes, bringing a deep understanding of regulatory requirements and compliance. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration. Her dedication to the nursing profession is evident through her commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, achieving quality outcomes, and promoting collaborative practice with a patient- and family-centered care approach.