Chris Brabant, MBA, FACHE

Chair, WHA Council on Rural Health
President and CEO, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital

Chris Brabant serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls. Chris also serves as the Executive Director for the Cardiovascular Service Line for the Eastern side of HSHS Wisconsin and Prevea Health. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital is part of the HSHS Wisconsin Division, which also includes HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay, HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan, Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. 
 
Since October 2013, Chris has served in several roles including the HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division Executive Director of Cardiovascular Services, Executive Director of Prevea Health Vascular Surgery and Executive Director of Surgical Services for the Division. Chris led the strategic planning, business operations and financial viability of the center and service lines, including the implementation of the Transcatheter Aortic Valve program, the new Prevea-HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital cardiology program in partnership with his Prevea Service Line Director counterpart, and the implementation of the Regional Outreach General and Vascular Surgical Program at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital. 
 
Prior to joining HSHS, Chris served as Manager for the Herma Heart Center at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin from 2009 to 2013. He is also a Board Certified Clinical Perfusionist and was the Chief Perfusionist at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Campus from September 2006 to October 2013. Prior to that, Chris has worked at a number of other hospitals across Wisconsin and was a surgical technician for the United States Air Force and a medical service specialist for the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
 
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Perfusion Technology from St. Louis University and a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Health Care Administration from the University Wisconsin Milwaukee. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is a Certified Surgical Technician, holds a State of Wisconsin Perfusion License and is certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion. Chris has been very active in the community, serving on numerous local boards and groups including the Northeastern Wisconsin Community Clinic, the North Eastern Wisconsin Credit Union, the Brown County Oral Health Coalition and the Wisconsin Hospital Association Special Needs Dental Work Group.
 
Chris and his bride, Kathy, have four children – Ryan, Alexander, Caroline and Jack.

Amer Kaissi

Professor Healthcare Administration 
Trinity University
 

Amer Kaissi is an award-winning Professor of Healthcare Administration at Trinity University in Texas. He teaches Leadership and Public Speaking. He is also an executive coach and author. His first book “Intangibles: The Unexpected Traits of High-Performing Healthcare Leaders” won the 2019 Healthcare book of the year award. His most recent book is “Humbitious: the power of low-ego, high-drive leadership”, which was listed on the 2022 Book Award by the Association of University Programs in Healthcare Administration. He has been featured on the Harvard Business Review podcast and numerous other podcasts and media outlets. He has spoken on leadership topics at more than 200 organizations and professional conferences. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and two teenagers.
 

Eric Borgerding

President and CEO, Wisconsin Hospital Association

Eric Borgerding is President and CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), where he previously held positions as Vice President of Government Relations, Senior Vice President, and Executive Vice President.  During Borgerding’s tenure, WHA has become one of the most influential and effective advocacy and lobbying organizations in Wisconsin.
 
Since joining WHA in 2002, Borgerding has assembled and led a highly respected policy and advocacy team while achieving several notable accomplishments, including: restoring the damage cap in medical lawsuits and preserving Wisconsin’s balanced medical malpractice system; creating Wisconsin’s Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital program; enacting legislation creating the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce and the Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program; enacting legislation creating the WHA Information Center and nationally-recognized transparency tool PricePoint; enacting the Wisconsin Quality Improvement Act; increasing state funding for graduate medical education and creating new residency programs; enacting Wisconsin’s successful hospital assessment; overhauling Wisconsin’s hospital regulations; building one of Wisconsin’s largest grassroots advocacy networks; and achieving a five-fold increase in contributions to WHA’s political action committee making it the largest in Wisconsin.  
 
Borgerding has over 30 years of Wisconsin advocacy experience and leadership, including serving as Director of Legislative Relations for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Director of State Legislative Affairs for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and previously as WHA’s Director of Legislative Relations.

Tim Size

Executive Director, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative

Tim Size is the founding executive director of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC). Begun in 1979, it has grown to be a collaborative of 43 rural hospitals and local health systems with the twin mission of shared services and advocacy. Tim has a BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University, an MBA from the University of Chicago and an Honorary Doctorate from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is President of the Wisconsin Council of Medical Education and Work Force, Vice-Chair of the Wisconsin Health & Facilities Authority and immediate past President of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. He serves on the Boards of the Wisconsin Primary Care Association, Wisconsin Partners and the advisory board for the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute. He has served twice on the DHHS National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services and as the President of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) where he continues on the Board of its Foundation.

Stephanie Weatherly, DNP, PMH RN-BC, FACH

Chief Clinical Officer, Psychiatric Medical Care

Stephanie Weatherly is the Chief Clinical Officer at Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC), a nationwide behavioral health provider. She has devoted her life to providing patient-centered care and teaching others how to care for those living with mental illness. She routinely speaks to large audiences about clinical outcomes, compliance, and improving access to behavioral healthcare. Stephanie holds a doctorate in nursing from Walden University, a master’s degree in nursing leadership from Western Governors University, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina. She is a board-certified psychiatric nurse leader with experience in improving access to care, reducing the use of restraint and seclusion, and providing evidence-based care models. Stephanie has been with PMC since 2015. She was previously the administrative director at Parthenon Pavilion Mental Health Hospital in Nashville, the chief quality officer at Mary Black Hospital in South Carolina and held numerous leadership positions across multiple healthcare organizations. After years of directing clinical care in individual care settings, she gained oversight of multiple healthcare facilities. Her passion for individualized care has been instrumental in moving numerous organizations to a more patient-centered approach.

Jen Voigt, AIA, LEED AP

Senior Design Architect, EUA

Jen Voigt successfully drives healthcare projects from the design chair. An experienced architect with varied skillset encompassing architectural design, master planning, programming, and project management, she thrives on the complexity inherent in her clients’ healthcare projects. Jen seeks thoughtful solutions based on connected thinking to solve challenging problems.
 

Dave Hubka, LEED Fellow, WELL AP

Practice Leader – Sustainability, EUA

Dave Hubka oversees the firm’s sustainability, health, and wellness designs and initiatives. Co-Author of the WELL AP exam with experience on over 300 LEED projects around the globe, Dave is a proactive environmental building design expert with rich experience cultivating productive and long-term partnerships and delivering successful projects.
 

Sarah E. Coyne

Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP

Sarah Coyne is a partner in the health law group at Quarles & Brady LLP. Sarah has an active practice advising hospitals and other health care providers on legal compliance across the board, including state and federal regulatory compliance. Sarah specializes in practical proactive guidance to become and stay compliant, as well as handling citations and governmental investigations. Sarah is consistently named in Best Lawyers In America and SuperLawyers, and has won numerous other awards specific to health care law. Sarah works closely with the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative and has served on the Board of the HIPAA Collaborative of Wisconsin since 2004. Learn more about Sarah here.

Jon R. Kammerzelt

Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP

Jon Kammerzelt is a partner in the health law group at Quarles & Brady LLP. He represents hospitals and health care providers in matters spanning the full range of health care law, with emphasis on regulatory compliance, government investigations, medical staff, and transactional matters. Jon is the chair of Quarles & Brady's health law group in the Madison office and was named an "Up and Coming Lawyer" by the Wisconsin Law Journal in 2017. View Jon's detailed profile here.
 

Mary Lane-Peot, RN, BSN

DNP Student, Tomah Health

Mary Lane-Peot is a DNP student at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI and works for Tomah Health hospital as an RN on their acute care unit. She also has experience in outpatient office-based procedures and outpatient family medicine. She is currently finishing her final year of DNP school and earned both her BSN and her BA in Spanish language from Viterbo University in 2016. Mary is a four-time Daisy Award nominee, a member of Sigma Honors Nursing, and loves the inpatient realm of healthcare.

New to the research and advocacy sides of healthcare, Mary completed this program evaluation of MOVIN® and has presented it at WHA's Advocacy Day at the capitol and at Viterbo University’s Scholarship Day. She is also writing a children’s book to advocate for NP’s ability to prescribe diabetic footwear. In her free time, Mary enjoys spending time with her husband, 3-year-old son, and menagerie of pets, teaching Zumba, watching cartoons, and learning to ride her motorcycle.

Kelly Sutherland, BSN, RN

Acute Care Coordinator, Tomah Health

Kelly Sutherland is the Acute Care Coordinator at Tomah Health in Tomah, WI. She has primarily worked in rural health since graduating from Viterbo University with her BSN in 2009. She holds a wound care certification (WCC) and the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) credential. Kelly is consistently trying to find ways to improve the health of patients admitted to the hospital through implementing and consistent use of evidence-based practices. She works on many professional development projects with the Acute Care unit nursing staff. To further her education, she is currently attending Walden University for her Master of Science in Nursing, focusing on leadership. Throughout her career, she has mentored nurses, worked on various quality improvement projects, and has been a leader in the Acute Care department at Tomah Health. Kelly spends time with her husband and three kids, kayaking, gardening, and reading for enjoyment. She can also be found supporting her kids on a soccer sideline, in the stands at a goat show, or in the audience of a dance recital.

Todd Nova

Attorney; Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, P.C.

Jon Hoelter

VP of Federal and State Relations, WHA

Jon Hoelter has served as the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s Director of Federal & State Relations since February of 2018. He serves as WHA’s lead on federal lobbying and also assists on a variety of state lobbying efforts. Jon began his career in the state Legislature working for State Representative Mary Williams from Medford. He managed two of her successful re-election efforts. Jon then helped Sean Duffy get elected to Congress and worked in his D.C. office as a legislative assistant with a wide issue portfolio, including health care issues. He then worked in Governor Walker’s office as a senior policy advisor in health care, insurance, and other issues. Most recently prior to joining WHA he served as the legislative advisor to Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services. Jon is a graduate of UW-Madison.

Brion Winters

Attorney, von Briesen & Roper

Brion is a Shareholder and co-Chair of the Real Estate Section at von Briesen. He has a unique background and skillset that service the diverse needs of his clients, which come in all shapes and sizes from closely-held businesses, start-up companies and individuals to well-established financial institutions and municipalities. Brion’s commitment to customer service, attention to detail and unending desire to provide value serves his business, banking, developer, municipal and individual clients well.  Brion has leveraged his prior experience into a bourgeoning business, banking/finance, real estate and estate planning practice. Brion is well-positioned to assist his business clients in facilitating mergers and acquisitions while also understanding, negotiating and drafting the financing documents necessary to get the deal done. Brion is dedicated to helping his business owner and individual clients with their estate planning, trust administration and succession planning needs

Chris Smith

Attorney, von Briesen & Roper

Chris Smith is a Shareholder and co-Chair of the Real Estate Section. He focuses his practice on real estate development, eminent domain and property tax. He has significant experience in all phases of real estate development with a particular emphasis on drafting and negotiating development agreements, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and public-private partnerships. He represents both public and private entities on eminent domain matters and property tax assessments. Chris is a frequent presenter on land use and tax issues. Chris is also a member of the Government Law Group. In addition to working with counties and municipalities on real estate and development issues, Chris has experience conducting investigations, developing intergovernmental agreements, Police and Fire Commission hearings, and transactional matters. He currently serves as City Attorney for South Milwaukee and as Village Attorney for Mount Pleasant.

Matthew J Wolack

Crisis Prevention Institute

As an Enterprise Sales Executive for the Crisis Prevention Institute, the nation’s premier workplace violence prevention training provider, Matthew J. Wolack has worked with some of the largest health systems in the country, helping them develop their workplace violence plans and prevention programs. An accomplished speaker, his unique style and entertaining personality help engage his audiences as he speaks professionally on the “How” behind workplace safety in the most intense environment healthcare has ever known! 
 

Randy Brandt, PA-C

Primary Care Physician Assistant, Mile Bluff Medical Center (Mauston, WI)

Randall Brandt, PA-C received his Physician Assistant board certification from the University of Wisconsin Madison and specializes in Family Medicine. He has held the role of Physician Assistant at Mile Bluff Medical Center since he began working at the site in 1995. From 1998 to 2006, Brandt also held the position of Medical Center Urgent Care Director at the site, and has also held the title of Lead Advanced Practice Clinician since 2008. Through Randall's experience delivering care in multiple service areas, he has gained a deep understanding of his community's healthcare needs. He serves as a liaison between Mile Bluff's exceptional providers and the IT team, facilitating a seamless blend of medical expertise and cutting-edge technology. As a clinical champion, Randall played a pivotal role in the implementation of MEDITECH Expanse, and is the lead Project Manager for the roll out of the AI based Expanse search and summarization solution, powered by Google Health.

Christine Silva

Senior Director of Field Marketing Operations, MEDITECH

Christine Silva is the Senior Director of Field Marketing Operations within MEDITECH’s Marketing Division. Christine leads a team focused on building close connections with the sales team. The Field Marketing Operation Team performs all sales support activities including Product Demonstrations, Clinical Liaison Presentations, Requests for Proposals,and Reference Site Visits. She has been with MEDITECH for 25+ years serving in numerous capacities in the Implementation, Client Services, Marketing, and Strategy Divisions. She is a Certified Product Manager and a Certified Product Marketing Manager.

Melissa Caulum Williams

Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell, LLP

Kevin Bong

Director of Cybersecurity Consulting, Ghostscale

Brad Lutgen

Cybersecurity Leader & Partner, Ghostscale

L. Lavon Gray, PhD, MBA, CSP

CEO, Blue Hen Agency

Organizational Conflict Specialist. Award-Winning Author. Business Owner. Professor. NCAA Football Referee... These are just a few of the hats worn by Dr. Lavon Gray. From conference rooms filled with bully bosses and passive aggressive co-workers, to college football stadiums filled with screaming coaches and out of control fans, when it comes to conflict, Lavon has seen it all. More importantly, he learned to thrive in the middle of the chaos! As a result, over the past thirty years Lavon has accumulated more than 7,000 hours of platform experience helping leaders resolve conflict, gain traction, and lead their organizations to healthier futures. Lavon holds the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®) from the National Speakers Association (NSA®), which places him among the top echelon of professional speakers in the world. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.S. in political science, Lavon also holds a PhD with a specialization in administration and an MBA in entrepreneurship and family enterprise from Louisiana State University (Shreveport), as well as certificates in mediation from Northwestern University, conflict resolution from Cornell University, and leadership and persuasion from Harvard University. A certified speaker and leadership coach with The John Maxwell Team, Lavon has written five books, including Never Wrestle with Pigs: A Survival Guide for Dealing with Difficult Personalities. He is coowner and CEO of the Blue Hen Agency, an organizational health firm in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.