Conference Speaker Bios

Saturday Speakers

Charles Marshall

Charles Marshall is a motivational, humorous speaker with over 25 years of experience. He has spoke to audiences all over the United States. He travels over 100, 000 miles annually speaking to 100+ corporate and civic venues and over 100,000 audiences, including many Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Charles has authored several books including: The Seven Powers of Success and I’m Not Crazy But I Might Be a Carrier. 

Norrie Bradley, BSN, RN

Norrie started her career as an Emergency Trauma Nurse in 2017 at a busy Level 1 Trauma Center. She quickly found deep interest in the treatment of traumatic injuries. She has worked as an Education and Outreach Coordinator for Trauma Services at CoxHealth a Level 1 Trauma Center and is currently leading the trauma program as the Trauma Program Manager for the same organization. She oversees the trauma program's injury prevention, clinical research, process improvement, education and outreach, as well as works directly with trauma registry staff. She is also an active member of various national and regional organizations, like the TCAA education committee, STN TACTIC subcommittee and the MO-EMSC committee. At CoxHealth, she is a member of the Trauma Conference Planning Committee, Cox Air Care Conference Planning Committee, Annual Kids Safety Fair, and Fall Prevention Festival. She enjoys disseminating trauma research and process improvement projects at national conferences like STN, TCAA, TQIP, and PTS. Outside of her workplace, she enjoys farming, operating and living on her family farm. She is the president of Christian County Agriculture and Mechanical Society. 

Lindsay Turner, BSN, RN

2014 graduated from Newman University in Wichita, KS with my Bachelors in Nursing.

2014-2020 Worked at Via Christi St. Francis, a level one trauma center in Wichita, KS, as a ER nurse.

2020-2023- Trauma program manager at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison, AR.

2023-Present- Outreach and Education coordinator for Cox Health Trauma Services in Springfield, MO.

2020-Present- Stop the Bleed instructor

Breakout Session Speakers

Chris Smith, MHA

Chris A. Smith, MHA, is currently a Program Manager for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), acting as the project manager for the MO KIDS IPC Toolkit project. Ms. Smith has worked in the public health and medical fields for the last 30 years in local and state health departments and healthcare systems in Missouri and Boston, and the Missouri emergency management agency. Roles that she has held include Environmental Health Specialist, Emergency Preparedness Director, Senior Program Manager of the Boston Medical Intelligence Center, and leading training development projects for Federal Emergency Management Agency, Field Operations Directorate. Ms. Smith is also an adjunct professor for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, teaching Public Health Issues in Emergency Management. She earned her Master's in Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Missouri - Columbia.

Chris Smith, MHA

Project Manager, MO KIDS IPC Toolkit Project

APIC

Email: csmith@apic.org

Office Telephone: (202) 951-2313

Cell Phone: (573) 999-6650

Jody Hefner, MD

Dr. Jody Hefner grew up in Ozark, attended Drury University and graduated in 2000, then proceeded to medical school at Oklahoma State University. He joined the ROTC in college and used HPSP scholarship for medical school. He completed his residency at Walter Reed in DC, then spent the next 4 years as a general pediatrician at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Dr. Hafner was then deployed for 13 months to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Battalion Surgeon with an infantry unit. Upon return he began his fellowship in pediatric GI at Walter Reed. After graduation from his fellowship, Dr Hefner went to JBLM in Tacoma, WA (a Joint-Base Army Headquarters) and spent 4 years as staff pediatric gastroenterologist, spending 9 additional months in Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He has transitioned to the reserves at 14 years, and will hopefully be completing retirement in the Army Reserves. Dr Hefner began the pediatric GI program at CoxHealth in 2018, where he currently continues to practice. 

Rhonda Hittenberger, MS

Rhonda Hittenberger Ortiz has served in public education for 25+ years. Her various roles have had one common link; celebrating and elevating the richness of multicultural students and supporting their academic success. Rhonda has worked with students from preK-adult as a teacher of English as a Second Language, Spanish, and French. She supported students as a school counselor in Florida and Missouri. In addition, Rhonda directed the English Language Development program in Springfield Public Schools for 5 years. In her current role as MELL Instructional Specialist, Rhonda seeks to empower educators of English learners to teach from an asset-based mindset by offering training in culturally sustaining and inclusive instructional practices.

Dr. Robin Wallin, DNP, CPNP-PC, NCSN

Robin Wallin currently serves as the School Health Services Coordinator for Arlington Public Schools (APS) in Arlington, Virginia. In this role, she serves as an APS liaison to the Arlington County School Health Bureau and is also assisting the school division with developing strategies and partnerships to address the unmet health needs of students. 

Dr. Wallin received an MSN and DNP from Yale University and is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and nationally certified school nurse.  She has 27 years of experience as a school nurse and school health leader. She has previously served in school health services leadership in Alexandria City Public Schools, and the Fairfax County Health Department in Virginia, and Parkway Schools in St. Louis County, Missouri.  

Dr. Wallin spent a year at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where she contributed to two publications with colleagues and was the primary author of the CDC Food Allergy Toolkit for Schools. She has also co-authored several additional school nursing manuscripts. Her passions include supporting school nurses and school nursing leaders in their school nursing practice and designing interventions that support student health and achievement. She has a particular interest in the management of chronic health conditions in schools and bringing school-based healthcare services to students. Dr. Wallin has presented to her peers at local, state, and national venues about topics including oral health, chronic disease management, ethical decision-making, restorative practices, food allergies, school nurse evaluation, and supporting grandparenting families.  In addition to these scholarly activities, she served on the Board of Directors for the National Certification Board for School Nurses (NBCSN) from 2015-2018. She also led the Missouri School Nurse Leader COVID-19 Collaborative, which provided support, education, and resources for school nurse leaders throughout the state to prepare them to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Laura Locke Meyer DHSc, MSN, RN

I have worked in nursing education since 2007, teaching in pre and post licensure programs as well as workforce and professional development. For the past two years I have been part of the CEHP team collaborating with DHSS to build a living resource for school nurses throughout the state of Missouri to support nurses and improve school health services.

Todd Winterbower, BS

Todd Winterbower serves as the Associate Director for MU Continuing Education for Health Professions. This newly formed unit is providing a truly interprofessional continuing education experience that support people who work across the healthcare team. Todd's professional career began in the travel and tourism industry where he worked as the Assistant Director of a chamber of commerce and Director of a Missouri tourism center. He also served as the Associate Director for MU Nursing Outreach for 17 years. Here he gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in the coordination of continuing education activities. He orchestrates the logistics of these specialized activities including, marketing, budgeting, accreditation documentation, grant writing and evaluation. His extensive understanding of event planning has allowed him to plan events and experiences for Presidents and dignitaries from across the globe.

Tammy Gillespie, M.Ed.

Tammy Gillespie is an Instructional Developer IV at MU’s Continuing Education for Health Professions unit. She earned her undergraduate degree in Health Services Management and Gerontology from the University of Missouri. She earned her M.Ed. in Online Education from the University of Missouri College of Education. Tammy has a long history of working with health and human service organizations at the local, state and national level.  She enjoys working with a wide range of subject matter experts to develop accessible, evidence-based resources that address identified educational needs. 

Linda Neumann, RN

Linda Neumann has been a registered nurse for 48 years, 13 years in the pediatric hospital setting, 27 as a school nurse and currently as an Independent School Nurse Consultant. She is a graduate of Jewish Hospital School of Nursing and has completed course work at the University of Cincinnati and Grand Canyon University. Linda has a passion for advocacy, engaging stakeholders to support legislation that improves healthcare outcomes for children/youth. Linda was the lead author of the NASN Allergy and Anaphylaxis Toolkit and represented NASN on the FARE Food Allergy Management in Schools Advisory Council. She is a strong advocate for diversity, equity & inclusion and student well-being. She has served in several positions on the boards of the Missouri Association of School Nurses and is a past board member and Secretary/Treasurer of the National Association of School Nurses. Linda continues to serve NASN as an ex-officio advisor to the Finance Committee. 

Hannah Levely, MS

Hannah Levely is the Youth Services Coordinator with the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She has her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and her Master’s in Criminology. She oversees state initiatives to support youth experiencing behavioral health challenges. She partners with providers and many others to ensure youth have ample support.  

Mikala Jungmeyer-Geiger, BS

Mikala Jungmeyer- Geiger is the Youth Services Manager at Missouri Behavioral Health Council. She earned her Bachelor’s in Human Services and is completing her Master’s in Community Agency Counseling. Mikala chose behavioral health due to losing loved ones to suicide and substance use. MBHC allows Mikala to break down walls surrounding behavioral health.

Amy Graham

Amy Graham has decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, with a focus on grassroots organizing and program development. She was recognized for her work at LiveFeed, where she addressed childhood hunger through the music community, receiving the Washington University Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award. Amy has also served as the national Program Director for the Coalition of Headache and Migraine Patients and currently leads as the Executive Director for Migraine at School, driven by her personal experience with migraine to ensure every child has a chance to succeed.

In addition to her roles in the nonprofit sector, Amy has contributed her leadership skills to presidential campaigns and served as a Director at St. Louis' largest food bank. She has also been involved in cause-marketing initiatives for the Department of Education, the American Healthcare Act, and renewable energy initiatives for the Obama White House.

Dr. Stephanie Tate-Patterson, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC

Dr. Stephanie Tate-Patterson is an educator and a nurse. She has worked in education for 20 years as a Science Teacher, Certified Nurse Assistant Instructor and Coordinator, and currently as the District Nurse Coordinator for Ferguson-Florissant School District. Her passion is providing equitable healthcare eliminating all barriers and disparities. Dr. Patterson partners with organizations to provide services for the students at school functioning as the bridge to healthcare. Her motto is that all services must be at no cost to the families. Dr. Patterson shares her vision of equitable and accessible healthcare with her School Nurses, and they champion the task of collaborating with partners to provide students of Ferguson-Florissant the health needs they deserve. Dr. Patterson volunteers with IFM Community Medicine as a Nurse Practitioner to assist in bridging the gap between healthcare and students while they attend school.

Dr. Patterson is a Nationally Board Certified School Nurse. She was featured on the Make the Grade A+ Campaign to encourage students, staff, and families to practice healthy behaviors to minimize the spread of respiratory illnesses. Dr. Patterson serves as a board member for Comprehensive Behavioral Health.

Lisa Dierking, LMSW

Lisa Dierking is the Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with over twenty years of experience in School Social Work and School-Based Therapy. Her latest degree is an Educational Specialist in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology (emphasis: Mental Health Practices in Schools). 

Katie Epema, M. Ed., BSW

Katie Epema supports trauma-informed schools, youth suicide awareness and prevention, and school social work as Director of School-Based Mental Health at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She holds degrees in social work and education (neuroscience and trauma emphasis), and is passionate about supporting staff and student well-being. 

Luke Gard, CIEC, CMC, BOC, HHS

Mr. Gard has nearly 30 years of experience in the field of environmental health. He began his career in environmental laboratories in 1994, performing various analyses and helping develop analytical methods. In 2005, Luke began working in the Environmental Health Program at Children’s Mercy Hospital and within a year, he developed the Healthy School Program and began working with districts to identify concerns through proactive audits of facilities, with recommendations for improvements. He also has developed numerous trainings for various school audiences to increase environmental awareness and provide staff with best practices for creating and maintaining optimal conditions for occupant health and performance.

Christian Bertel, BSN, RN, NCSN

Christian Bertel, BSN, RN, is a Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN).  She is currently in her 24th year as a Missouri school nurse and has served as the Coordinator of Health Services since 2016 in her alma mater, the Hazelwood School District. Christian has spent the majority of her nursing career advocating for school health. She has served on various St. Louis Suburban School Nurse committees throughout her school nursing career and, in 2019, was recognized as the St. Louis Suburban School Nurse Administrator of the Year. Christian has been honored as the Hazelwood School District Support Employee of the Year in 2011 and 2003 and a LifeChanger of the Year nominee in 2021. Christian is a member of the National Association of School Nurses, the Missouri Association of School Nurses, and the St. Louis Suburban School Nurse Association. 

Marjorie Cole, MSN, RN, FASHA

Marjorie Cole, MSN, RN, FASHA, has been Missouri’s State School Nurse Consultant in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services since 2001.  In the School Health Program, she has led ongoing projects collecting important data on the health and chronic conditions of the students enrolled in Missouri public schools. She also shares this data to support services for students to be safe and healthy learners.  She is a founding member of the Step Up! Be Counted Standardized School Health Services Data Set collaboration between the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), the National Association of State School Nurse Consultants (NAASNC), and ALL school nurses. She is in regular communication with over 1,800 school nurses in Missouri’s public and private schools.  Marge is the school health chronic disease lead on the CDC 2301 grant.  

Jordan Cloud, PA

Physician Assistant, CoxHealth, Springfield, MO.

Matt Kreusel

Matt Kreusel, Greene County Sheriff's Office. Mr. Kreusel received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and has been with the Greene County Sheriff's Office for 12 years. He has spent 11 years on SWAT and 9 years as an active-shooter instructor as well as a multidisciplinary firearms and tactics instructor and an ALERRT active-shooter instructor. 

Ronnie Bell

Ronnie Bell began her career with the Springfield-Greene County of Emergency Management in 2023. Ronnie works with the citizens of Greene County to bring awareness of and preparedness for any disaster that may occur. Mrs. Bell facilitates emergency preparedness education and training for local businesses, faith-based groups, schools, scouts, social and service groups, and non-government agencies. Ronnie is also the Program Manage for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and HometownREADY programs. Mrs. Bell is a veteran of the Missouri Army National Guard and Army Reserves. 

Sunday Speakers

Susan Goldammer, JD

Susan Goldammer is Chief of Law and Policy and an attorney with the Missouri School Boards’ Association. Susan has worked for MSBA for over 20 years and exclusively advises school districts in legal matters such as labor and employment law, constitutional law, and administrative law.  Her practice includes writing and reviewing legislation, writing and reviewing district policy, training board members and administrators on legal responsibilities, and writing articles to assist public school boards in understanding and implementing new laws.  She has presented at local, state-wide, and national conferences and has been published in statewide and national education law resources.  She is a member of Missouri Attorneys for Public Schools (MAPS), as well as the National Association of School Attorneys and the Council of School Attorneys.  

Lynn Nelson MSN, RN, NCSN

Lynn Nelson MSN, RN, NCSN has had a professional career spanning more than three decades, including the honor of currently serving as President Elect for the National Association of School Nurses.  She is the Senior Director of Health Services and Integrated Student Supports at Capital Area Educational Service District #113, in Tumwater, Washington, where she has practiced since 2002.  Her practice is grounded in the belief that providing quality service for children and families must include an intentional focus on equity in both the health and education arenas.  As a strong advocate for helping students succeed academically by mitigating nonacademic barriers to success, she strives to develop and administer effective programming in both school health and dropout prevention, intervention and reengagement programming arenas.   Her professional interests focus on health care policy, and in addition to currently serving as NASN President Elect, she is the immediate past NASN Director and a past Legislative Chair for the School Nurse Organization of Washington, and a former elected member of the Washington State Nurses Association Policy Council. In addition, she currently serves on the Thurston County Board of Health and is a member of the School Nurse Association of Washington, the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington Association of School Administrators, and the National Association of School Nurses.