Today’s Environment, A Leadership Challenge: Strength for the Journey

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CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Rose Rivers, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, DPNAP
Founder & Principal Consultant; Restoring Joy to Leadership, LLC

Dr. Rivers has over 28 years of leadership and management experience in nursing and healthcare including nearly 14 years in executive level leadership. She served as chief nursing officer for Shands University of Florida (academic health science center), Shands Healthcare System (8 hospital system), and St Vincent’s Medical Center (faith based community teaching medical center).

Areas of Expertise: Creating Infrastructure for Clinical & Operational Excellence, Leadership Development for Staff & Management, American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Appraiser

Leadership Tip: Keep your vision in front of you. You will move towards what you consistently see. You will become your most dominant thoughts. Operate in love and know the Joy of the Lord will strengthen you for your leadership journey.

Marcus Dietrich, MHS, LMHC, CEAP
EAP Director; UF Health

Markus is Director of the Employee Assistance Program at UF Health, the University of Florida Medical Systems. Markus has more than 25 years of experience in employee assistance and behavioral health as a clinician and administrator. He is a frequent speaker and trainer. Markus also holds degrees in Music Education & Music Therapy.

 

Areas of Expertise: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment, Employee Assistance Programs, Teaching

Leadership Tip: You can’t lead unless people trust you. Trust is earned.

Patricia Ivery, MA, BSN, RN, COHNS-S
Employee Health Supervisor; Brooks Rehabilitation

Patricia has been an RN for 33 years with experience in all areas of nursing from ICU to L&D, to home care and management. The latter half of her career has been in Occupation Health and she is a Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist. Patricia also holds a degree in Christian counseling. She is a mother of 4, and a grandmother of 7.

Areas of Expertise: Occupational Health, Behavioral Health, Christian Counseling

Leadership Tip: Always model the way. Make everyone feel valued. Develop a reputation for kindness and fairness so even unpleasant decision will go down easier. And finally, always pray for guidance.

Kaye Lunsford, MBA, SPHR
System Director for Human Resources; St. Vincent’s HealthCare

Kaye has over 30 years of leadership and management experience in healthcare human resources. She has served as System HR Director for St. Vincent’s , a member of Ascension Health, the largest Catholic health system in the nation. Most recently Kaye led the transition of Human Resources at St. Vincent’s to a national shared service center and common technology platform.

Areas of Expertise: Compensation & Benefits Administration, Employment & Employee Relations, Leadership Development

Leadership Tip: You are only as good as the people you work with. Surround yourself with positive people. Spend time developing those who have the potential to be the new leadership of tomorrow.

Skip McDonald, BSN, RN
Campus Staff Member; InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Skip has been a nurse since the early 1970s. She has witnessed many changes and has sought out maintain equilibrium and stability on the nursing continuum in a variety of work places. Skip also holds a degree in Theology.

Areas of Expertise: Psychiatric Nursing, Campus Ministry (leadership development, coaching, mentoring), Health & Fitness (Blazing the trail for Worship Fitness)

Leadership Tip: Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author & Perfecter of your faith. He will always guide you and see you through.

Mary McKinnon, DMc, MBA, RN, NEA-BC
Leadership Consultant; MJMcKinnon Associates

Since 1975, Mrs. McKinnon has served in the profession of nursing in many capacities including staff nurse, charge nurse, educator, nurse manager, and chief nursing officer. She has also served as Magnet Program Director for a large health care system leading them to the achievement of Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Mary is a mother to 8 children, and grandmother to 9.

Areas of Expertise: Leadership Skills Assessment, Leadership Education & Training, Leadership Coaching

Leadership Tip: Effective leaders must be willing to be led.

Brenda Owens, MSN, RN, IBCLC
Clinical Coordinator, UF Health Shands Hospital

Brenda Owens has over 30 years in leadership and management experience in nursing and healthcare; including 10 years as a consultant in lactation and childbirth. She serves as a Clinical Coordinator in lactation and childbirth at UF Health Shands Hospital. Brenda is also a wife and mother to three children.

Areas of Expertise: Lactation Consultation, Leadership Development for Students and Staff, Teaching & Community Education

Leadership Tip: Fear is not from God, but the evil one. Keep your eyes open, searching for the vision in front of you. Think positive thoughts at all times. Remember, God is Love, and allow His peace, which surpasses understanding, to keep you steady on your leadership journey.

Ginger Pesata, DNP, ARNP, NEA-BC, CTTS, FNAP
Administrative Director, Nursing Innovation; UF Health Shands Hospital

Dr. Pesata has over 20 years of advanced nursing practice and leadership experience. She has served as an administrative director for Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, as well as for the Shands HealthCare System. She was the president of a nurse practitioner corporation (Children’s Health Interventions, Inc.); and has completed several nursing research studies and publications.

Areas of Expertise: Leadership Development of Staff & Management, Program Development & Evaluation, Pediatric & Family Nurse Practitioner

Leadership Tip: Keep your heart open and forgive yourself and others. Only when you face and acknowledge your fears and darkest shadows can you bring in the light of forgiveness, understanding, clarity, truth, and bring forth miracles. This is true for individuals and organizations. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” -Albert Einstein

Missy Reynolds, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Nurse Manager, PICU; UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital

Missy is a nurse with over 35 years of experience in pediatrics; 29 of those as a nurse manager, responsible for pediatric general floor and intensive care units. Missy has led several research endeavors on her units with her staff, leading to her Rose Rivers’ Excellence in Staff Nurse Research Award in 2010.

Areas of Expertise: Pediatric & Pediatric Critical Care Nursing, Nursing Administration, Ethics

Leadership Tip: Feel the fear, and do it anyway!

Willie Roberts, MSH, BSN, RN, FCN
Coordinator, Faith Community Nursing; St. Vincent’s Medical Center- Riverside

Willie has more than 40 years in nursing, with 27 years experience in a variety of nursing leadership roles. She served as a Program Coordinator for HRSA-funded Ryan White Title 1 Grant for 22 years with UF&Shands Jacksonville. She has expertise in Program Development, and Community Health Education. Presently, she coordinates the Faith Community Nursing Ministry for St. Vincent’s Medical Center- Riverside, providing holistic health promotion and wellness to the faith-based community.

Areas of Expertise: Community Health Promotion & Prevention Education, Program Development and Coordination of Health Conferences & Events, HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

Leadership Tip: As a leader, be honest, show love, and be one of encouragement. Don’t just work with them, know them. Plainly lay out what expectations or wants is required from your team. Do unto other as you would have them do unto you.

 

For bookings or speaking engagements,
please contact Dr. Rivers via the Contact Page, or email us directly!