Janis Sparks

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EDUCATION

Sparks, Janis 645854Principal (Retired)
Napa Valley Unified School District
Industry: Education
Field: Educational Administration

Sitting at her desk in elementary school, Janis Sparks decided that she wanted to become a teacher. While learning about Albert Schweitzer, she found great inspiration in his words, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” His reverence for life as the foundation of ethics became embedded in her, along with her determination to serve others through teaching. Spending nearly 40 years in the field of education, she accomplished her goal and more. As the former principal of Donaldson Way Elementary School of the Napa Valley Unified School District, Ms. Sparks dedicated her time to developing a professional learning community, where not only the students learned, but the teachers and administrators were pupils as well as they sought out best teaching practices and then implemented these practices schoolwide.

A recent retiree, Ms. Sparks served as both an educator and an administrator during her 38-year career. She always believed that education should address not only academics, but also the development of character and wisdom. To that end, she would educate students on the required subjects, but also teach them how to become caring individuals and good citizens. In fact, she was given the Community Leadership and Service Award by the state of California. Gifted in multitasking, she managed all functions of the Donaldson Way Elementary School, which held 650 students and 60 employees. She was charged with teacher training and evaluation, program design and implementation, and curriculum development. She holds certifications in elementary education, educational administration, and leadership via the California State Leadership Academy, and Reading Recovery for students who struggle with learning how to read. Ms. Sparks viewed every day as a great gift and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, and attributes her success to her listening and conflict resolution skills, and ability to judge when to lead or follow.

Ms. Sparks earned a degree from California State University, Fresno, graduating with highest honors. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts in French and English, she holds a master’s degree in early childhood education from California State University, San Francisco. She loves to travel, and during her college years, she studied abroad at the Aix-Marseille University in France and visits the country again now that she is retired. She also aspires to become involved in consulting and professional writing as time progresses. Continue reading →

Susan G. Trevithick, RN, MS, NE-BC

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HEALTHCARE

Trevithick, Susan 256645Chief Compliance Officer
George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Industry: Health Care
Field: Nursing and Administrative Compliance

Susan G. Trevithick’s rule of thumb is simple and straightforward, “Come to work and do your job.” This philosophy couldn’t be more important for one employed by the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center for more than 23 years, which provides treatment for U.S. veterans. Ms. Trevithick has served as the chief compliance officer, managing staff and various departments, overseeing the critical care and specialty care units, and implementing various successful programs. Specifically, she developed an integrated health care program in collaboration with a colleague, which has become increasingly sought after by veterans and organizations funding veteran care. “It’s very effective in managing patients with PTSD and other things such as stress and anxiety that can impact mental health,” she explains.

With over 41 years of experience in both nursing and administration, it is hard to believe that health care was not Ms. Trevithick’s first career choice. In fact, all throughout high school, her goal was to become an interior designer. However, she was deterred from her former ambitions when her father was involved in a car accident that nearly killed him. After his car was broadsided by a drunk driver, a nurse who saw the crash rushed to take action that saved her father’s life. It was this experience that made Ms. Trevithick think twice about her chosen career path. She ultimately earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah College of Nursing in 1971, followed by a Master of Science in Cardiovascular Nursing 10 years later from the same institution.

Ms. Trevithick is a member of the Health Care Compliance Association and is certified in health care compliance. A former chairwoman of Cornerstone Counseling Services and the American Heart Association, Ms. Trevithick also served on the board of directors with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, maintaining CCRN certification from 1981 to 1991. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. She has held first line, middle management and program responsibilities in health care, and maintains certification as an NE-BC. She has written extensively on the topics of health care management, critical care nursing, and integrative health care, and is a sought-after motivational speaker for health care providers.

Ms. Trevithick attributes her success to her parents, competitive siblings, collaborative colleagues, lifelong learning and education, work ethic, and sense of humor. As the years progress, she intends to continue working in medical hypnosis for patients suffering from pain, stress and anxiety. Continue reading →

Kelly Gleadall Beach

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SOCIAL_SERVICES

Beach, Kelly Gleadall 949212Owner
KMG Consulting
North Las Vegas, NV, USA
Industry: Social Services
Field: Behavioral Health Care Consulting

 

Motivated by the faces and stories of children whose living situations are less than desirable, Kelly Gleadall Beach formed her own consulting firm, KMG Consulting, where she provides behavioral health care services and offers individual and family assessments. As the owner, Ms. Gleadall Beach oversees mental health assessments, coordinates with foster care agencies, and organizes behavioral health care with Medicaid to ensure that children receive the appropriate support. For 20 years, her main goal has been to provide what is in the best interest of the child.

A licensed marriage and family therapist, Ms. Gleadall Beach attributes her success to her hard work, perseverance, patience, and faith in others. Her desire to help others brought her into her profession and through her firm, she is determined to offer every child the behavioral health treatment they deserve. Dealing with the system designed to aid these children can be somewhat challenging, but Ms. Gleadall Beach is extremely passionate about fulfilling her responsibilities. Although there can be obstacles in her profession, facilitating a reunion with family members who have the best interest of the child at heart makes it all worthwhile.

In 2005, Ms. Gleadall Beach earned a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 1994, she received a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance from the Saint Thomas Campus at the University of the Virgin Islands, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1991 from George Mason University. To keep herself up-to-date in her field, she holds memberships with The Nevada Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. In the future, Ms. Gleadall Beach hopes to continue assisting children and adults with their behavioral health care needs. In her spare time, she enjoys vacationing with her family and husband William, scuba diving, gardening and reading. Continue reading →

Nancy Carlisle Schumacher

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HEALTHCARE

 

Schumacher, Nancy 446397Author, Artist, Beauty Consultant
Carlisle’s Classics
New Haven, CT, USA
http://www2.xlibris.com/Bookstore/author.aspx?authorid=13156
Industry: Health Care
Field: Neurological Disorders and Epilepsy Advocacy

 

As the command center of the body, a person’s brain enables them to function on even the most basic level. So when a disorder, such as epilepsy, affects that organ, a person’s life can change forever. Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes a person to have repeated seizures over time. Although symptoms vary from person to person, these episodes of disturbed brain activity can hold a person back, if they let them. As an individual who has lived with this disorder her entire life, Nancy Carlisle Schumacher has strived to overcome both the disorder and the stigma attached to it over the past 50 years.

Ms. Schumacher was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1940 and based on her experience, has become a mentor to those who encounter the same struggles she did. She has written and published five books on neurological disorders, including “Unraveling the Spider’s Net: A Family’s Struggle with Epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, and Depression,” “Epilepsy: A Personal Approach,” and “The Swallow’s Flight: Tales of Persons with Misunderstood Neurological Disorders.” She has also presented 24 medical papers in Europe and China since 1985. Ms. Schumacher earned a master’s degree in psychology in 2009 from the University of Phoenix and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology, with a concentration in health and wellness, from the University of the Rockies. An advocate for social change, she plans to focus her doctoral thesis on uncovering hidden disorders through social change.

A Texas native, Ms. Schumacher lived in many different parts of the United States while her husband served in the Navy, including Hawaii, California, Minnesota, and Connecticut. While spreading awareness of epilepsy and how to deal with it has been her main focus throughout her life, she has also served as an assistant art teacher, art teacher, and accountant. Prior to earning a master’s in psychology, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Connecticut State University. She currently uses her talents as an artist and author to benefit her business, Carlisle’s Classics, and spends her free time selling Mary Kay products. In the future, she plans to continue to write. Continue reading →

Claire Power Murphy

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HOLISTIC

Murphy, Claire 501962

Director
The Self-Rejuvenation Center, Inc.
Newberry, FL, USA
http://www.selfrej.com
http://www.preservedtoserve.com
Industry: Holistic Health Care
Field: Health, Wellness and Nutrition

“It will be very great when humanity is improving every single year of their lives,” states Claire Power Murphy, director of The Self-Rejuvenation Center, Inc., a Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce-sanctioned facility where she teaches clients to rejuvenate their lives through the maintenance of balanced blood chemistry levels. Ms. Murphy has custom-created simple yet effective recipes that can help people achieve equilibrium. Her approach is based on the tenet that humans are formed of the earth, which has 12 basic minerals that are supposed to be in balance. Due to the overuse of soil through farming, this delicate balance has become unhinged. Ms. Murphy offers a solution: a “delicious, progressive lifestyle,” where patients can reduce health expenditures while achieving maximum results.

Ms. Murphy is the author of “Preserved to Serve,” a book detailing the adversities she overcame on her way to a healthy, spiritual lifestyle. The story begins with an account of her first 25 years of life, which was plagued with illness. It continues with her encounters with a sickly husband and two sickly children. After losing custody of her daughter, Ms. Murphy challenged the court system for four months before reuniting with her. She went on to help her daughter recover from the symptoms of cerebral palsy. Through it all, Ms. Murphy forged a healthy lifestyle and became a shining beacon of hope for those in search of holistic healing. What sets Ms. Murphy apart from others is her ability to identify with people’s suffering and struggles because, in most cases, she feels she has been there herself. “There’s a compassionate link,” she says, “so they receive psychological support in addition to physical.” Clients are also drawn by her resiliency, enthusiasm, strength and courage.

Ms. Murphy received a master’s degree in elementary education in 1966 and a bachelor’s degree in history with minors in elementary education and psychology in 1963. In 2004, she received certification in hydrotherapy, home remedies, and grief therapy from NAD Health Ministries, and in 1974 she received a certification in administration and supervision from Richmond College. She is a member of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, a Chairman’s Circle Member of The Oxford Club, a Lifetime Member of The Sovereign Society, a Lifetime Member of the American Federation of Teachers and a member of the United Federation of Teachers, AARP and Seed-Savers Exchange. Continue reading →

Brian D. Meagher, MD

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HEALTHCARE

Meagher, Brian 1263901Diagnostic Radiologist
Jamestown Radiologists PC
Industry: Health Care
Field: Diagnostic Radiology

A respected specialist in mammography and general radiology, Dr. Brian D. Meagher has made it his life’s work to detect problems that lie just underneath the surface. As a diagnostic radiologist for Jamestown Radiologists PC, he conducts diagnostic readings of mammographies, X-rays, CAT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs, positron emission tomography, and other nuclear medicine techniques. Dr. Meagher thrives at the challenge of thwarting illness in the early stages by diagnosing symptoms that may elude others. “The most rewarding aspect of my career,” he says, “[is when I] interpret a study and see something that’s relatively subtle, but turns out to make a big difference in patient management.”

Dr. Meagher complements his precise, meticulous work as a radiologist with the easy affability of a general practitioner. Though he has focused his talents on radiology these last 20 years, he considers his first seven years in family medicine to have been invaluable. After all, his exposure to a diversity of patients has enabled him to hone the people skills that distinguish his practice today. He adds, “A sense of humor goes a long way in dealing with sick people. This also applies to interacting with staff, not just patients.”

Esteemed by his peers, Dr. Meagher has earned affiliation with the Medical Society of the State of New York, the American College of Radiology, the American Medical Association, the American Roentgen Ray Society, and the Radiological Society of North America. He previously served as president of the Chautauqua Medical Society and considers this appointment to be among the highlights of his career. He obtained an MD in 1982 from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Neurobiology and Behavior in 1978 from Cornell University. His residency in radiology was completed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Always on the lookout for the next challenge, Dr. Meagher plans to continue his education and expand his understanding of health care reforms. Continue reading →

Barbara McKinnon, Pharm.D.

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HEALTHCARE

Director of Business Development
Med Communications, Inc.
http://www.barbaramckinnon.net
http://www.barbaramckinnon.com
Industry: Health Care
Field: Medical Communications and Business Development

Everything Barbara McKinnon does is for her patients. The director of business development at Med Communications, Inc., she holds expertise in strategic planning and program development, skills she uses when working with clients to tailor programs specific to their needs. “We don’t feel like we need to do anything in a cookie cutter way,” she says of her company’s efforts to constantly innovate. “We try to customize our services around that specific client and what they need.” Developing programs in order to ultimately help patients find the information they need makes everything she does worthwhile.

Dr. McKinnon has spent the last 15 years as a clinician, both in home care and home-infusion therapy. A board-certified nutrition support pharmacist, she is charged with several responsibilities at Med Communications, such as implementing service programs for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and handling medical information and medical writing for call centers. Additionally, she manages strategies for new service programs, contracts new business, and drafts letters on scientific materials. Before becoming a member of Med Communications, she served as a writer for Infusion Magazine, published by the National Home Infusion Association. She was also a product line director for Accredo Health Group, Inc., from which she received the Pharmacy Award in 2005.

Dr. McKinnon enjoys that she is able to explore new roads as a health care worker and continually reinvent herself. “Everything I have done, I have pulled from my past experiences and used to do something new,” she explains. She graduated with both a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy from The University of Tennessee. She is a member of the Tennessee Pharmacist Association and has been a member of the Drug Information Association since 2009. She attributes her success to her education and great mentors, who helped her to reach her current level of expertise. Dr. McKinnon hopes to experience continued growth as the years progress. Continue reading →

Diana Landes

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INSURANC_2

President
D. & L. Landes Company, Inc.
New York, NY, USA
Industry: Insurance
Field: Insurance Sales and Service

Insurance has traditionally been a difficult and complex business. It deals with risk management and other complicated issues, including money, injury and death. Diana J. Landes received training when she worked for her supportive father, who owned Leo J. Landes CLU, Inc., a group insurance firm that offered health insurance, long-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance and retirement plans.

Diana Landes and Leo Landes co-founded D. & L. Landes Company, Inc. in 1991. With Leo Landes’ encouragement, Ms. Landes continued in insurance with the D. & L. Landes Company corporation when her father retired. She added property/casualty insurance services in addition to employee benefits services.

Diana Landes continued on her own only after she received extensive education and training. Upon earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, summa cum laude, with a minor in music, from the University at Buffalo, Ms. Landes went on to obtain a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University. She then gained experience in account management and marketing, including working for two years in the advertising industry and as a product director for Johnson & Johnson.

With expertise in group health and group long-term disability insurance, and experience with business owner’s insurance, co-operative apartment and apartment renters insurance, she advises clients in the purchase of policies and is available to assist them with renewals and claims. Her career highlight was representing her father’s client as a member of the Church Medical Insurance Committee, which accounted for more than 250,000 lives, and obtaining the accounts of small businesses and individuals in the Greater New York area. She attributes her success to her perseverance and devotion to clients’ interests. In order to remain abreast of current events, she reads Business Insurance and Newsweek.

Ms. Landes is a licensed property and casualty insurance broker, working as a producer in property and casualty insurance, and a licensed life and health insurance broker in the state of New York. She is a member of The Columbia Business School Alumni Club, the Alumni Association of the University at Buffalo, and the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, and watching movies. As an expert in her field, Ms. Landes has made multiple presentations to conventions of clergy, and at seminars held by a Chamber of Commerce, located in Bronx County, primarily regarding medical and disability benefits. Continue reading →

Ferol Hettick

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FINANCE

Hettick, Ferol 1440052Director of Compliance
Trustmark National Bank
Industry: Finance
Focus: Quality Compliance

Compliance is a polarizing field. Either you love it, or you can’t stand it. Fortunately, when he was tapped by his employers to become a compliance officer, Ferol Hettick found that he loved the field. Since that time, he has taken on additional responsibilities and become the director of compliance for Trustmark National Bank. Although compliance as a field has had its ups and downs over the years, Mr. Hettick stresses to newcomers that the key to success is not knowing all of the answers, but rather, knowing where to find them.

Mr. Hettick is a believer in the power of teamwork. He does not truly feel successful unless his team is successful, and his confidence in his employees is such that he would pit them against any other team in the country and be confident in their success. Mr. Hettick encourages his staff to find ways to work with the needs of the bank, rather than simply turning down every request that seems unfeasible. This requires additional diligence, to be sure, as every angle of a proposal must be carefully scrutinized in order to find the necessary leeway to implement the requested changes. Nevertheless, Mr. Hettick feels that this can-do spirit and refusal to accept what seems impossible to be one of the hallmarks of his management style, and it is one of the aspects of his personality that he feels separates him from the majority of his competitors.

Though Mr. Hettick greatly enjoys his work as a compliance director for a bank, he is also aware of a major series of changes on the horizon that may drastically impact Trustmark National Bank’s success. In January 2014, eight regulatory mortgage changes will be made to the bank’s mortgage lending policies, which could limit mortgage lending. These added requirements, Mr. Hettick explains, could drive away lenders and cause them to drop out of the market. With this in mind, Mr. Hettick is looking to ride out the changes and groom a successor so that Trustmark National Bank’s compliance staff is left in capable hands upon his retirement. Continue reading →

Sheldon Braaten, Ph.D.

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HEALTHCARE

Braaten, Sheldon 103755Executive Director
Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents
Rooseville, MN, USA
http://www.behavioralinstitute.org
Industry: Health Care
Field: Juvenile Mental Health

From middle school on, Dr. Sheldon Braaten knew that his career would entail working with children — and he has spent the last three decades doing just that. He first gained experience working as a therapist in a mental health center in South Dakota. Dr. Braaten then served the Minneapolis Public Schools as a special education teacher from 1970 to1993, and followed this with an 18-year stint as the administrator of a special school for adolescents. “I have been working with challenging kids all of my life,” he states. Now holding the position of executive director of the Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents (BICA), an institute that provides services for children with emotional and behavioral challenges, he uses his expertise in treating emotional and behavioral disorders to design and evaluate behavioral programs.

With a steadfast goal to help children, Dr. Braaten graduated from Augustana College with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and went on to earn a master’s degree in special education and a Ph.D. in Special Education and Educational Administration from the University of Minnesota. He is the co-founder of the Minnesota Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders and served as the Meeks Distinguished Professor of Special Education at Ball State University from 1997 to 2006. He continues to offer his services to BSU and St. Cloud State University as an adjunct professor. Dr. Braaten is also a member of several professional affiliations so he can keep himself fresh on the field, including the Council for Exceptional Children, the Correctional Education Association, the Association for Behavior Analysis International, and the Council for Children with Behavior Disorders.

Dr. Braaten’s motivation for the past three decades has been to improve the lives of children. The biggest lesson he has learned throughout his time working with children is that one cannot do it alone. “It’s important to develop relationships with peers in your field and maintain them,” he says. “I believe that’s the secret to a long career.” Continue reading →