2009 KHHRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President,
President-Elect,
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,
Member at Large
PRESIDENT
Bob Brazil
Memorial Health System
Abilene, KS
W-
785-263-6611
F-
785-263-6687
rbrazil@MHSKS.org |
 |
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 a City of
Abilene Planning Commissioner.
In the past he
has also been the Abilene ROTARY
Club President, 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, three granddaughters,
and one grandson. He and his
wife Alice enjoy an excellent
quality in Abilene, Kansas!
|
PRESIDENT-ELECT
- 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.” |
TREASURER
NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT
- Nicole Nelson
Cloud County
Health Center
- W-
785-243-8522
- F-
785-243-8411
nrnelson@cchc.com
|
 |
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.” |
SECRETARY
- 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. |
PAST-PRESIDENT
|
Ken Brown
Pratt Regional
Medical Center
W- 620-450-1170
F - 620-450-1410
|
 |
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. |
- 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. |
CHAPTER MANAGEMENT CHAIR
- Margaret Kummer
Citizens Medical Center, Colby
- W- 785-460-4877
- F- 785-460-4870
mkummer@nwkshealthcare.com
|
|
Margaret Kummer is the Vice
President of Human Resources for
Citizens Medical Center, Inc.; a
position she has held since 1994.
Margaret has a Bachelor of Arts’
degree from Fort Hays State
University. She is a member of SHRM
and ASHHRA and received ASHHRA’s
Outstanding Chapter Officer Award in
2008. Margaret has enjoyed being a
part of KHHRA for fourteen years and
has been fortunate to serve the
KHHRA membership for much of that
time, as a board member and as the
Northwest District Director.
Margaret, her husband, Terry, and
their daughter, Abbie, reside in
Colby. |
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT
- Jay Tusten
Bob
Wilson Memorial
Grant County Hospital
W-
(620) 356-6073
F- (620) 356-2302
-
jtusten@bwmgch.com
|
 |
Jay Tusten, is the Vice President of
Human Resources at Bob Wilson
Memorial Grant County Hospital, in
Ulysses, Kansas. He has been with
BWMH for 4.5 years and has been a
member of KHHRA for three years. Jay
has Masters Degrees in Audiology
from Kansas University and
Management from Friends University.
He has worked in various capacities
(Audiologist to Administrator) in
the health care field over the past
18 years, and has also worked as
online faculty with the University
of Phoenix for the past five years
providing instruction in Employment
Law and introductory management
classes.
Outside of work, Jay
enjoys spending time with his wife
Jennifer and their four daughters.
He is a sports “junky”, and is a
diehard Jayhawk fan. When not
watching the “big game”, he enjoys
movies and reading. |
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
Becky Rafferty
Hiawatha Community Hospital
W
-- 785-742-6258
F -- 785-742-6559
brafferty@hch-ks.org |
 |
Becky Rafferty is the Human
Resources Director at Hiawatha
Community Hospital; a position she
has held since 2006. She graduated
from the University of Iowa in 2000
with a BBA in Management and
Organizations, and has held
progressive HR positions at the
University of Iowa Hospitals and
Clinics, Marshalltown Medical and
Surgical Center, and the U.S.
Department of State. In addition to
the HR knowledge gained in these
positions, she received front line
knowledge of the visa and
immigration process while working
for the State Department.
Becky is a member of SHRM and
received her PHR designation in
2006. She resides in Hiawatha with
her husband and daughter. She is
heavily involved in establishing a
community owned daycare center for
Hiawatha to help hospital employees
have a reliable child care option.
|
NORTHWEST DISTRICT
- Donella Belleau
Graham County Hospital
- W-
- F-
|
 |
Donella is the Director of Human
Resources at Graham County Hospital
in Hill City, a position she has
held since 2006. She has been
employed at GCH over 20 years,
starting in Medical Records and then
moving to Administrative Assistant
for ten years. She graduated from
Friends University, Wichita, in 2004
with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Organizational Management and
Leadership. Donella is a member of
SHRM and KHHRA.
“When starting my career in Human
Resources, the KHHRA group was my
most important source of practical
advice and support. I am excited
about this opportunity to serve the
group and other members as the
Northwest District Director.”
Donella has three married children
and is the proud grandma of two
granddaughters. |
MEMBER AT
LARGE
- Todd Tangeman
Newton Medical Center
W -- (316) 804-6009
F -- (316) 804-6277
todd.tangeman@newmedctr.org
|
 |
Todd is a Human
Resources professional with over 18
years of progressively-responsible
experience. Although a
generalist, areas of focus have been
Compensation, Benefits, HRIS, and
Change Management. He has
enjoyed opportunities to work at the
corporate, regional, and local
levels of small and large
organizations which have spanned
several industries including
telecommunications, technology
consulting, manufacturing, and
healthcare. Our move from
Oregon to Newton in 2006 was
intentional as we were seeking a
smaller-town, Midwest lifestyle for
our family. We love it here
and I'm enjoying being a part of
Newton Medical Center. Prior
to our move, I worked as a Human
Resources leader with Providence
Health System in Oregon. |
|
