An Affiliate of the Kansas Hospital Association

 

 

2007 KHHRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past-President, Chapter Management, KHA-KHHRA Liaision, Northwest District Director, Southwest District Director, North Central District Director, South Central District Director, Southeast District Director, Northeast District Director


PRESIDENT

Ken Brown
Pratt Regional
Medical Center
W- 620-450-1170
F - 620-450-1410
Ken Brown Ken Brown is the V.P. Human Services with Pratt Regional Medical Center, a position he has held since 1987.  Ken has a dual BS degree in Human Resource Management and Radiologic Technology from Friends University, Wichita, KS and a Masters degree in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University. Brown is a member of ASHHRA and was awarded the Outstanding Chapter Contribution Award in 2003.  Brown has served as South Central District Director and KHHRA Board Treasurer.  Ken is the recipient of the 2008 Marilyn Gates Award.

 

VICE-PRESIDENT

Bob Brazil
Memorial Health System
Abilene, KS
W-
F-
rbrazil@MHSKS.org
COO

Bob began his career at Memorial Health System in Abilene, Kansas as the Chief Operating Officer in May 2002. His primary function is Human Resources; however, several departments also report to him. He has over 30 years in the Human Resources field. During this time he has been the President of the Oklahoma Hospital Personnel association, President of the Tulsa Personnel Association, and an officer in the Colorado Hospital Human Resources Association. He has been a member of KHHRA for 7 years and is a member in good standing of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. He earned a Master of Behavioral Science degree from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.

Bob is currently the Abilene ROTARY Club President, a City of Abilene Planning Commissioner, and an Abilene Marketing Plan Committee Member.

In the past he has also been Worshipful Master of Benevolent Masonic Lodge #98, Board of Directors of the Abilene Masonic Temple Association, Board of Director Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce, and Board of Director for the Mile High Chapter of Legal Administrators. Bob Brazil is married, has two married daughters, two granddaughters, and one grandson. He and his wife Alice enjoy an excellent quality in Abilene, Kansas!

 

SECRETARY
NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT

Nicole Nelson
Cloud County
Health Center
W- 785-243-8522
F-  785-243-8411
nrnelson@cchc.com
 
Nicole Nelson

Nicole Nelson is the Director of Human Resources at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia and has worked in the Human Resources field for 10 years with the past 4 years being at the Director level.

Nicole has been a member of KHHRA since 2003 and is currently serving as the North Central Director and Secretary.  She is also a member of ASHHRA and SHRM. 

Nicole and her husband Jeff have three daughters at home; MaKayla, Olivia and Kaitlyn.  They enjoy living and raising their family in a smaller community. 

“KHHRA and the opportunities it provides are invaluable.  I feel extremely fortunate to be part of such a knowledgeable and supportive group of people.”  

 

TREASURER

Sandy Wedel
Ellsworth County
Medical Center
W- 785-472-5028, x305
F-   785-472-5731
swedel@ewmed.com

Sandy Wedel is the Director of Systems Improvement and Rural Health Clinics at Ellsworth County Medical Center, a position held since 2001.  Sandy is a member of ASHHRA, SHRM and has been a part of KHHRA for the past 4 years.   Although she has had extensive experience in managing Physician clinics for over 15 years, human resources has always been a part of that. “I felt like I was ready to take on the responsibility of this position and so began a new career and have enjoyed it immensely. I know it sounds corny but I love helping people and the relationships developed through the KHHRA group have become invaluable. The list-serve and now our website are great tools and we do our best to help each other in any given situation.”

 

 

PAST-PRESIDENT
CHAPTER MANAGEMENT CHAIR

Margaret Kummer
Citizens Medical Center, Colby
W- 785-460-4877
F-  785-460-4895
mkummer@nwkshealthcare.com

 

Margaret Kummer Margaret Kummer is the Director of Human Resources for Citizens Medical Center, Inc., in Colby; a position she has held since 1994. Margaret has a Bachelor of Arts’ degree from Fort Hays State University. She is a member of ASHHRA and of SHRM. Margaret has been a member of KHHRA for eleven years, serving as the Northwest District Director, Board Treasurer and Secretary.

 

KHHRA / KHA LIAISION

Steve Poage
KS Health Service Corp.
W- 785-233-7436
F- 785-233-6955
spoage@kha-net.org
Steve Poage is the liaison between the Kansas Hospital Association and KHHRA.  Steve has been the Vice President/CFO for the Kansas Hospital Association since 1997 and assumed the role of CEO for Kansas Health Service Corporation in 2005.  A 1990 graduate from Bethany College, Steve has also passed the certified public accountant exam.  Steve and his wife Tammy have four children.

 

NORTHWEST DISTRICT

Carla Sharp
Citizens Medical Center
W-  
F-   
csharp@nwkshealthcare.com

Carla has been an employee with Citizens Medical Center, Inc. since 1994 and in the Human Resources department as Benefits Coordinator since 1998.    Carla enjoys her job and loves working with her fellow employees, she considers CMCI her extended family.  Carla joined KHHRA in 1998 and has learned so much being a part of this very talented and dedicated group.   She strives to follow in the past Board of Directors footsteps and keep KHHRA always moving forward. 

Carla is a single Mom and she has two beautiful children, Desire’e, and Jordan, both in college.  Carla is involved in her community with Thomas County Relay for Life, Ambassador for American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Thomas County, and Thomas County Interagency Coalition. 

 

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT

Pam Wheeler
Scott County Hospital
W-  620-872-7796
F-   620-872-7193
pamw@scotthospital.net
Pamela has been the Human Resource Coordinator with Scott County Hospital since 1998.  She has been a KHHRA member since 2000.

 

SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT

Traci Smith
Sumner Regional
Medical Center

W-  (620) 399-1231
F-  
(620) 399-1296
tracis@srmcks.org
Traci Smith is the Human Resources Coordinator for Sumner Regional Medical Center in Wellington.  Traci has been with SRMC in the human resources department since 2002.  She graduated in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (focus in Human Resources) and a minor in management from Wichita State University.  She has been a member of KHHRA since 2003.  Outside of work, Traci enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan and their two small children, a son Laken and a daughter Olivia.  Traci is an active part of the community she lives in by volunteering with the Sumner County Relay for Life and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sumner County.

 

SOUTHEAST DISTRICT

Debbie Marr
Fredonia Regional Hospital
W -- 620-378-2121, x202
F -- 620-378-3169
dmarr@frh1.org
  Debbie Marr is the Director of Human Resources at Fredonia Regional Hospital. Debbie joined the Fredonia Regional Hospital administration staff in 2000 on a part-time basis as an administrative assistant and the job developed in to a full-time human resource position for Fredonia Regional Hospital.  Besides the Administrative duties that Debbie is responsible for, she is also responsible for the human resources management, new hire orientations, benefits administration, workers compensation, performance management, employee relations, personnel data management and credentialing of all physicians.  Debbie’s professional career started in business office management for a Physicians Office where she enjoyed a successful 19-year’s prior to coming to Fredonia Regional Hospital.  She is a member of SHRM and has been a member of KHHRA since 2000.  Debbie received the Chapter Officer Award for Outstanding Leadership in 2007.  She has previously held the board positions of secretary and VP.

 

NORTHEAST DISTRICT

Kathy Orear
 

Kathy Orear has been employed by Newman Regional Health in Emporia, Ks for fourteen years and has been the Human Resources Director for eleven years.  Kathy graduated from Emporia State University with a B.S. in Psychology and Business and followed that with a Masters Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.  Following college she started her Human Resources career working for Greenwood County Hospital in a duel role as Assistant to the Administrator and Human Resources Manager.  Kathy obtained her Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) Certification in 2002 through the Society for Human Resources Management.  Kathy is an active member of the Emporia Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Leadership, and the St. Joseph Auxiliary.  Kathy lives in Olpe, Kansas with her husband.  They have three grown children and three very active grandchildren.