MCHHS Advisory Board

Nominated member and Academic Unit	Bio
Rich Havens, CRNA School of anesthesia	Richard Havens was employed at Mercy Hospital for over 27 years and has served in his current role as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists since 2001. Richard began his education at Drury University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1992, before he received an RN degree in 1994 from St. John’s School of Nursing. Richard received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Drury University in 1996. In 2001, Richard received his Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from Missouri State University (SMSU). Richard has served on the Anesthesia Operational Committee for Mercy Hospital, Clinical Practice Committee for Mercy Hospital, Fundraising Events Committee for Developmental Center of the Ozarks. Currently, Richard is serving on the Board of Directors for Fremont Hills Country Club and the Signature Oak Fund Committee Chairman at Fremont Hills Country Club.
Tylane Garrett, MS, RDN, CSOWM, LD Biomedical sciences	Tylane works as an adviser to clients across industries and employer sizes to help develop positive culture, identify health and productivity opportunities, implement initiatives, and measure and evaluate results. Recent solutions have focused on diabetes, obesity management, social determinants of health, member engagement, and care management. She evaluates program effectiveness and enhances employee engagement in an effort to improve population health for the client. Prior to Mercer, Tylane managed Bass Pro Shops corporate wellbeing program for 7 ½ years and prior to that she worked with Mercy Hospital’s Healthification program. In 2016, she received the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year award and the Public Affairs Preceptor award from Missouri State University. Recently, she consulted for a CDC grant focused on national food guidelines and corporate food system assessment. She studied Exercise Science at Missouri State University and graduated with her first bachelor’s in 2005. Passionate about nutrition, Tylane reentered school and graduated in 2010 with her second bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and soon became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She is one of the ten dietitians in Missouri that also hold the credential of Board-Certified Obesity Specialist. Within her community, Tylane is an active member of CPO’s Food Collaborative and Junior League. In 2017, she led the SW Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics group as President and presented at the Academy’s national conference in Chicago on the topic of Rethinking Quality, Outcomes and Value.
Melanie Stinnett, MS, CCC-SLP Communication sciences and disorders	Melanie Stinnett graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and then with a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology. She founded a pediatric private practice, TheraCare Outpatient Services, that has been open for seven years providing speech, occupational, physical, and music therapy in the clinic setting, school setting, and through First Steps. Over the past five years, she has been diligent in working with state legislators to increase awareness of concerns for children and adults with special needs throughout the state. She is passionate about serving others and the community.
Jodie Adams Kinesiology	Jodie Adams was born in Springfield, MO and has been a fixture in our community her entire life. Following an outstanding tennis career, which included titles won at Springfield Parkview High School, Missouri State University (SMSU), and beyond, Jodie has served as the director of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board (1980-2012). In that role, she managed 104 parks, 40 facilities, a zoo, botanical center, 2000 programs/special events and a (34) million-dollar operating budget for City/County government. She has served as the State President - Missouri Parks and Recreation Association (Board of Directors - 1996-2006) and is the Retired Director - Past National President - National Recreation and Parks Association (Board of Directors - 2002-2011). Jodie has served on the board of directors for the United States Tennis Association/US Open. A Missouri State University alumna and member of the Missouri State University Founders Club, Jodie Adams has served as the Practitioner-in-Residence in the MSU Kinesiology Department since 2012. This summer, she will be moving to Emeritus Status as she relocates to Billings, Montana.
Elisa Coonrod, RN School of Nursing	Elisa Coonrod is a Springfield native who began her distinguished career in Nursing as a graduate of the Burge School of Nursing with a Diploma in Nursing (1982) and later completed the BSN program at MSU (1999). She began her work as a staff nurse in the labor and delivery unit at Cox Health and later joined the Springfield-Greene County Health Department as a public health nurse. While at the health department, she served as founding director for the Child Advocacy Center, now a free-standing nonprofit serving abused children. She went on to work as a senior nurse and regional program coordinator for Show Me Healthy Women, a program of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services that provides free breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured women. That was followed by eight years at various Mercy clinics, landing at MSU Care in 2015. Elisa was named the 2019 Springfield Business Journal Healthcare Champion. Now retired, Elisa lives in Boise Darc, Missouri with her husband of 31 years and four dogs.
Pam Marion, LPT Occupational therapy	Pamela Marion is a respected leader who is frequently called upon for her knowledge and expertise in educationally based therapy services and related fields. As the Assistant Director of Therapy and Related Services for Springfield Public Schools, Pamela serves on the Senior Leadership Team and supervises Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists. Her responsibilities also include overseeing Related Services, Medicaid reimbursement programs, and Section 504 compliance. Pamela began her career with Springfield Public Schools in 1996 as a staff Physical Therapist. Her role in Administration began in 2006 as a Supervisor for Occupational and Physical Therapists, as well as overseeing the Medicaid Direct Services program. In 2015, she became a member of the Senior Leadership Team as an Assistant Director of Therapy and Related Services which expanded her supervisory responsibilities and oversight of numerous programs. She served as a member on the Board of Directors for Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks and is an advocate for children with special needs, routinely volunteering her time with community-based organizations. Pamela holds degrees in Psychology and Physical Therapy and is a licensed Physical Therapist in the state of Missouri. She spends numerous hours annually in professional growth activities and courses with an emphasis in organizational leadership and legal studies.
Brandi O'Reilly, DPT Physical therapy	Brandi O’Reilly was born and raised in Springfield, MO. A graduate in Cell and Molecular Biology from Southwest Missouri State in 2005, Brandi went on to receive her doctorate in Physical Therapy from Missouri State University in 2008. Brandi is married to her wonderful husband, Ryan O’Reilly and has three children: Clara, Hadley and Finnegan. Brandi began practicing physical therapy in 2008 and spent eight years working in school systems. She began volunteering at Dynamic Strides in 2011 and enjoyed seeing the positive impact of the child having therapy on a horse. She has always been interested in helping children. She was first exposed to pediatric physical therapy as a child herself and instantly fell in love with the process and change that it makes in the lives of children. Brandi worked with two colleagues to transition Dynamic Strides, a therapeutic riding center to Dynamic Strides Therapy, a full outpatient therapy facility that increases access to therapy services and provides a top-notch integrated environment for children in our community to receive much-needed therapy services. Thanks to her husband, who also has played a major role in making this dream a reality. Brandi enjoys being with her husband and children and traveling the world together. During her personal time, she loves being at the lake, doing yoga and taking in all the special moments with her children and husband. Brandi loves to be surrounded by children and animals and that further makes her career a dream come true.
Brooks Miller Physician assistant studies	Brooks Miller, President/CEO at Jordan Valley Community Health Center. Brooks received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1982 and a Master of Arts in Education Administration in 1987. Brooks' career in health care began with Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicines’ Rural Health Clinic program in 1984. He advanced to the position of CEO for the Northeast Missouri Health Council. In 2002, Brooks relocated to Springfield to serve as the President and CEO of JVCHC.
Scott Purvis, MS Psychology	Scott received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Missouri State University and his Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Kansas State University. Prior to joining IRI, Scott was with Lowe’s Companies Inc. for 15 years, filling various senior roles in human resources, including vice president of human resources for emerging businesses U.S./Canada/Mexico, vice president of talent planning and engagement and vice president of human resources for U.S. stores, supply chain, contact centers and corporate. As vice president of employee and labor relations, he formulated and executed a strategy to protect direct employee relationships with more than 275,000 employees by engaging with leaders to help create and sustain a positive work environment. Scott also served as the Vice President, Human Resources for North America at Berry Global, a Fortune 500 global supplier of a broad range of innovative nonwoven, flexible, and rigid plastic products used every day within consumer and industrial end markets. Scott holds certifications from the Society for Human Resource Certification Management (SHRM), Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR). He began his career as a human resources director and career development specialist for various pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, including Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Marion Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, and spent time as a senior human resources manager at Walmart, Inc.
Gary Ward, ATC, PT Public health and sports medicine	Gary Ward, now retired, has been a member of the faculty and administration of Missouri State University since 1978. He is a founding member of the Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association and played a key role in legislative efforts to enact the Athletic Trainer Practice Act in 1981. As a leader in the Missouri Physical Therapy Association, Gary has worked hard to promote collaboration and collegiality between athletic training and physical therapy faculty and clinicians. He has been Co-director of the ATEP at MSU as well as Director of the Midwest Sports Medicine Center and has made it his mission in life to help students enter the profession of athletic training with the best possible education and experience possible. He has been a fixture at Greenwood Laboratory School athletic events, volunteering his time to care for high school and junior high school student-athletes. Gary has also served the Missouri State High School Activities Association as a member of their Sports Medicine Advisory Board since 1986, making him the longest serving member of that board and providing invaluable advice to MSHSAA. Gary has been a member of the NATA since 1972 and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Medicine Hall of Fame by the Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association in 1996.
Katy Tynes, LCSW Social work	Katy Tynes has been in practice for 35 years, following her education at Tulane University where she received a master's degree in Social Work. Katy is certified as a divorce/custody mediator and parent coordinator appointed by the family courts. She practices marital/family and individual therapy and is a licensed marital and family counselor in the state of Missouri, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri, and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor Nationally. Katy holds a certification in Auto Play with autism, has served as clinical director at St. Johns (Mercy) PSY unit for children and adolescents. Katy has also been contracted by Greene County detention center for suicide assessments. Katy has served as past-president of the Boys and Girls Club, board secretary of the Community Foundation, and Past President of Discovery Board. Katy has also served on Advisory Boards for Lost and Found, CASA, Springfield School Foundation, and Isabel's House. She is currently exploring Eagala horse therapy for veterans or individuals with PTSD or related trauma.
Dr. Fred McQueary, MD College	Fred McQueary, MD, MMM, CPE retired, has been with Mercy Clinic since its inception in 1993, serving in various operational roles and practicing as an Orthopedic Surgeon. Dr. McQueary was named the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for Mercy in July 2019. He had served as President of Ambulatory Care and Chief Clinical Officer for Mercy since the fall of 2014. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration. Prior to his ministry role, he was President of Mercy Clinic, North Central Communities. Dr. McQueary received his medical education from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine graduating Cum Laude and Alpha Omega Alpha. He holds a Master of Arts in Biology from Missouri State University, Springfield, MO as well as a Masters of Medical Management from Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA. Dr. McQueary completed his Orthopedic Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA and a Clinical Fellowship in Arthritis and Joint Reconstructive Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. During his leadership tenure at St. John’s Clinic (now Mercy-Springfield), Dr. McQueary helped develop the integrated orthopedic group that now runs one of the busiest destination total joint replacement programs in the country. He also helped develop a single-location multispecialty spine center that now runs one of the busiest destination spine surgery programs in the country. During his tenure as Clinic President, St. John’s Clinic was rated #1 in the country among large clinics by Press-Ganey for patient satisfaction. Also in that same time frame, St. John’s Health System (now Mercy-Springfield) was three times named the #1 Integrated Health System in the country by Modern Healthcare. While Dr. McQueary has been President of Ambulatory Care and Chief Clinical Officer, Mercy has been identified by IBM/Watson/Truven Health Analytics as one of the Top Five Large Health Systems in the country for four years in a row.
Andrew Reid	Andrew J. Reid is a Health Care Administrator with over 40 years of experience involving practical clinical work and extensive management and leadership accomplishments. Most recently, Andrew was Vice President of the Heart, Lung & Vascular Institute with Mercy Health Youngstown. He was responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan for Mercy Health that focuses on program design, development, and growth across the entire cardiovascular and pulmonary-thoracic continuum of care. Prior to joining Mercy Health Youngstown, Andrew served as AVP of Cardiovascular Services for Virtua Health providing Corporate oversight for the strategic development of cardiovascular services (2 years) and as Vice President of Operations with Mercy - Springfield in Springfield Missouri, overseeing the operation and development of Cardiovascular, Pulmonary/Thoracic, GI Medicine, and Bariatric Services (7 years). Before his work with the Mercy System in Missouri, Andrew served as the Associate Hospital Director & Service Line Administrator of Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Pathology and Neurosciences Services with the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois (8 years) and the Executive Director/CEO of a multi-specialty physician group practice in Northwest Indiana (5 years). Additionally, he provided leadership support to help build cardiovascular programs for both the Advocate Healthcare System (Oakbrook, IL) and the University of Chicago during the mid-1990’s. Andrew received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois (High Honors) and his Master’s in Business Administration from Governors State University in University Park, Illinois. Originally trained in the allied health professions as a Medical Technologist, he also has certifications from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (MT/ASCP) and the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Personnel (CLS/NCA). In 2007, Andrew completed his Healthcare Executive Leadership Fellowship (FABC) with the Advisory Board Company in Washington, DC.
Dr. Denise Frederick Ph.D	Dr. Denise Fredrick is a retired Springfield Public Schools (SPS) high school science teacher and district administrator. She is currently serving on the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education where she has served as vice president and president. For SPS, she served as a director of quality improvement and accountability, director of accountability and related federal programs, science curriculum facilitator and 16 years as a chemistry/biology teacher. Post retirement, she served as director of secondary education at Missouri State University. Among several awards, Frederick recently won the 2017 Science Teachers of Missouri Presidential Citation Award. She stays active in the community serving on the Every Child Promise Board, the Springfield Public Schools Foundation Board of Advisors, Greene County Domestic Violence Board and has been appointed to the City of Springfield Mayors Commission on Children. A Springfield native, Frederick earned a B.S. and M.S. in secondary education at Missouri State University and her PhD in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University.
C.J. Davis	C.J. Davis is the President & CEO of Burrell Behavioral Health, with more than 25 years of experience in the mental health industry as both an executive and a clinical psychologist. Dr. Davis has attained his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology, a Master of Science in Clinical/Counseling Psychology (M.S.), and a Doctorate in Psychology. He has managed and practiced at nearly every level of behavioral healthcare, including community treatment settings, residential treatment, primary care behavioral health, inpatient hospital services, and criminal justice. C.J. previously held executive leadership positions in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, focusing on improving accessibility to care at each stop in his career. After being hired as President and CEO of Burrell Behavioral Health in 2017, he has remained committed to accessibility, mission expansion, and promoting community conversations related to behavioral health issues. With a passion for community service, C.J. serves on the boards of the Missouri Behavioral Health Council, the National Psychology Training Consortium, the Missouri Foundation for Health and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, C.J. was named one of Biz 417 Magazine’s “10 for the Next 10” as well as one of the Springfield Business Journal’s Men of the Year. In 2021, he was chosen as the SBJ’s CEO of the Year at their annual Dynamic Dozen awards.
Laurie Davis	Laurie Davis has been in both formal and informal education settings for over 30 years. She has taught 3rd and 4th grade students at the elementary level, and taught 9th grade literature at a charter school for 4 years. In 2006, Laurie transitioned to informal education as the Education Director at Discovery Center Springfield, and worked there for 11 years before being hired for her current position as Education Outreach Coordinator for City of Springfield’s Dept. of Environmental Services. Laurie has also presented numerous workshops to classroom teachers both nationally and internationally as a result of 10 years spent working as a professional development consultant with the Bureau of Education and Research. Laurie considers herself to be a life-long learner and enjoys finding ways to make abstract content and concepts accessible and understandable to learners of all ages. Laurie holds a master’s degree in Literacy Instruction. She and her husband Keith reside in Nixa, MO and share their home with two very spoiled cats. When not “talking trash” as an environmental educator, Laurie enjoys kayaking, fishing, walking, bike riding, gardening and front porch swing time.

Nominated member and Academic Unit

Bio

Rich Havens, CRNA

School of anesthesia

Richard Havens was employed at Mercy Hospital for over 27 years and has served in his current role as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists since 2001.

Richard began his education at Drury University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1992, before he received an RN degree in 1994 from St. John’s School of Nursing. Richard received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Drury University in 1996.

In 2001, Richard received his Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from Missouri State University (SMSU).

Richard has served on the Anesthesia Operational Committee for Mercy Hospital, Clinical Practice Committee for Mercy Hospital, Fundraising Events Committee for Developmental Center of the Ozarks. Currently, Richard is serving on the Board of Directors for Fremont Hills Country Club and the Signature Oak Fund Committee Chairman at Fremont Hills Country Club.

Tylane Garrett, MS, RDN, CSOWM, LD

Biomedical sciences

Tylane works as an adviser to clients across industries and employer sizes to help develop positive culture, identify health and productivity opportunities, implement initiatives, and measure and evaluate results. Recent solutions have focused on diabetes, obesity management, social determinants of health, member engagement, and care management. She evaluates program effectiveness and enhances employee engagement in an effort to improve population health for the client.

Prior to Mercer, Tylane managed Bass Pro Shops corporate wellbeing program for 7 ½ years and prior to that she worked with Mercy Hospital’s Healthification program. In 2016, she received the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year award and the Public Affairs Preceptor award from Missouri State University. Recently, she consulted for a CDC grant focused on national food guidelines and corporate food system assessment.

She studied Exercise Science at Missouri State University and graduated with her first bachelor’s in 2005. Passionate about nutrition, Tylane reentered school and graduated in 2010 with her second bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and soon became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She is one of the ten dietitians in Missouri that also hold the credential of Board-Certified Obesity Specialist.

Within her community, Tylane is an active member of CPO’s Food Collaborative and Junior League. In 2017, she led the SW Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics group as President and presented at the Academy’s national conference in Chicago on the topic of Rethinking Quality, Outcomes and Value.

Melanie Stinnett, MS, CCC-SLP

Communication sciences and disorders

Melanie Stinnett graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and then with a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology. She founded a pediatric private practice, TheraCare Outpatient Services, that has been open for seven years providing speech, occupational, physical, and music therapy in the clinic setting, school setting, and through First Steps.

Over the past five years, she has been diligent in working with state legislators to increase awareness of concerns for children and adults with special needs throughout the state. She is passionate about serving others and the community.

Jodie Adams

Kinesiology

Jodie Adams was born in Springfield, MO and has been a fixture in our community her entire life. Following an outstanding tennis career, which included titles won at Springfield Parkview High School, Missouri State University (SMSU), and beyond, Jodie has served as the director of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board (1980-2012). In that role, she managed 104 parks, 40 facilities, a zoo, botanical center, 2000 programs/special events and a (34) million-dollar operating budget for City/County government.

She has served as the State President - Missouri Parks and Recreation Association (Board of Directors - 1996-2006) and is the Retired Director - Past National President - National Recreation and Parks Association (Board of Directors - 2002-2011). Jodie has served on the board of directors for the United States Tennis Association/US Open.

A Missouri State University alumna and member of the Missouri State University Founders Club, Jodie Adams has served as the Practitioner-in-Residence in the MSU Kinesiology Department since 2012. This summer, she will be moving to Emeritus Status as she relocates to Billings, Montana.

Elisa Coonrod, RN

School of Nursing

Elisa Coonrod is a Springfield native who began her distinguished career in Nursing as a graduate of the Burge School of Nursing with a Diploma in Nursing (1982) and later completed the BSN program at MSU (1999).

She began her work as a staff nurse in the labor and delivery unit at Cox Health and later joined the Springfield-Greene County Health Department as a public health nurse. While at the health department, she served as founding director for the Child Advocacy Center, now a free-standing nonprofit serving abused children.

She went on to work as a senior nurse and regional program coordinator for Show Me Healthy Women, a program of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services that provides free breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured women. That was followed by eight years at various Mercy clinics, landing at MSU Care in 2015.

Elisa was named the 2019 Springfield Business Journal Healthcare Champion. Now retired, Elisa lives in Boise Darc, Missouri with her husband of 31 years and four dogs.

Pam Marion, LPT

Occupational therapy

Pamela Marion is a respected leader who is frequently called upon for her knowledge and expertise in educationally based therapy services and related fields.

As the Assistant Director of Therapy and Related Services for Springfield Public Schools, Pamela serves on the Senior Leadership Team and supervises Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists. Her responsibilities also include overseeing Related Services, Medicaid reimbursement programs, and Section 504 compliance.

Pamela began her career with Springfield Public Schools in 1996 as a staff Physical Therapist. Her role in Administration began in 2006 as a Supervisor for Occupational and Physical Therapists, as well as overseeing the Medicaid Direct Services program. In 2015, she became a member of the Senior Leadership Team as an Assistant Director of Therapy and Related Services which expanded her supervisory responsibilities and oversight of numerous programs.

She served as a member on the Board of Directors for Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks and is an advocate for children with special needs, routinely volunteering her time with community-based organizations.

Pamela holds degrees in Psychology and Physical Therapy and is a licensed Physical Therapist in the state of Missouri. She spends numerous hours annually in professional growth activities and courses with an emphasis in organizational leadership and legal studies.

Brandi O'Reilly, DPT

Physical therapy

Brandi O’Reilly was born and raised in Springfield, MO. A graduate in Cell and Molecular Biology from Southwest Missouri State in 2005, Brandi went on to receive her doctorate in Physical Therapy from Missouri State University in 2008.

Brandi is married to her wonderful husband, Ryan O’Reilly and has three children: Clara, Hadley and Finnegan. Brandi began practicing physical therapy in 2008 and spent eight years working in school systems. She began volunteering at Dynamic Strides in 2011 and enjoyed seeing the positive impact of the child having therapy on a horse.

She has always been interested in helping children. She was first exposed to pediatric physical therapy as a child herself and instantly fell in love with the process and change that it makes in the lives of children.

Brandi worked with two colleagues to transition Dynamic Strides, a therapeutic riding center to Dynamic Strides Therapy, a full outpatient therapy facility that increases access to therapy services and provides a top-notch integrated environment for children in our community to receive much-needed therapy services. Thanks to her husband, who also has played a major role in making this dream a reality.

Brandi enjoys being with her husband and children and traveling the world together. During her personal time, she loves being at the lake, doing yoga and taking in all the special moments with her children and husband. Brandi loves to be surrounded by children and animals and that further makes her career a dream come true.

Brooks Miller

Physician assistant studies

Brooks Miller, President/CEO at Jordan Valley Community Health Center. Brooks received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1982 and a Master of Arts in Education Administration in 1987. Brooks' career in health care began with Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicines’ Rural Health Clinic program in 1984. He advanced to the position of CEO for the Northeast Missouri Health Council. In 2002, Brooks relocated to Springfield to serve as the President and CEO of JVCHC.

Scott Purvis, MS

Psychology

Scott received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Missouri State University and his Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Kansas State University.

Prior to joining IRI, Scott was with Lowe’s Companies Inc. for 15 years, filling various senior roles in human resources, including vice president of human resources for emerging businesses U.S./Canada/Mexico, vice president of talent planning and engagement and vice president of human resources for U.S. stores, supply chain, contact centers and corporate. As vice president of employee and labor relations, he formulated and executed a strategy to protect direct employee relationships with more than 275,000 employees by engaging with leaders to help create and sustain a positive work environment.

Scott also served as the Vice President, Human Resources for North America at Berry Global, a Fortune 500 global supplier of a broad range of innovative nonwoven, flexible, and rigid plastic products used every day within consumer and industrial end markets.

Scott holds certifications from the Society for Human Resource Certification Management (SHRM), Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR). He began his career as a human resources director and career development specialist for various pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, including Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Marion Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, and spent time as a senior human resources manager at Walmart, Inc.

Gary Ward, ATC, PT

Public health and sports medicine

Gary Ward, now retired, has been a member of the faculty and administration of Missouri State University since 1978. He is a founding member of the Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association and played a key role in legislative efforts to enact the Athletic Trainer Practice Act in 1981.

As a leader in the Missouri Physical Therapy Association, Gary has worked hard to promote collaboration and collegiality between athletic training and physical therapy faculty and clinicians. He has been Co-director of the ATEP at MSU as well as Director of the Midwest Sports Medicine Center and has made it his mission in life to help students enter the profession of athletic training with the best possible education and experience possible.

He has been a fixture at Greenwood Laboratory School athletic events, volunteering his time to care for high school and junior high school student-athletes. Gary has also served the Missouri State High School Activities Association as a member of their Sports Medicine Advisory Board since 1986, making him the longest serving member of that board and providing invaluable advice to MSHSAA. Gary has been a member of the NATA since 1972 and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Medicine Hall of Fame by the Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association in 1996.

Katy Tynes, LCSW

Social work

Katy Tynes has been in practice for 35 years, following her education at Tulane University where she received a master's degree in Social Work. Katy is certified as a divorce/custody mediator and parent coordinator appointed by the family courts.

She practices marital/family and individual therapy and is a licensed marital and family counselor in the state of Missouri, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri, and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor Nationally. Katy holds a certification in Auto Play with autism, has served as clinical director at St. Johns (Mercy) PSY unit for children and adolescents.

Katy has also been contracted by Greene County detention center for suicide assessments. Katy has served as past-president of the Boys and Girls Club, board secretary of the Community Foundation, and Past President of Discovery Board. Katy has also served on Advisory Boards for Lost and Found, CASA, Springfield School Foundation, and Isabel's House. She is currently exploring Eagala horse therapy for veterans or individuals with PTSD or related trauma.

Dr. Fred McQueary, MD

College

Fred McQueary, MD, MMM, CPE retired, has been with Mercy Clinic since its inception in 1993, serving in various operational roles and practicing as an Orthopedic Surgeon. Dr. McQueary was named the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for Mercy in July 2019. He had served as President of Ambulatory Care and Chief Clinical Officer for Mercy since the fall of 2014. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration. Prior to his ministry role, he was President of Mercy Clinic, North Central Communities.

Dr. McQueary received his medical education from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine graduating Cum Laude and Alpha Omega Alpha. He holds a Master of Arts in Biology from Missouri State University, Springfield, MO as well as a Masters of Medical Management from Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA.

Dr. McQueary completed his Orthopedic Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA and a Clinical Fellowship in Arthritis and Joint Reconstructive Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

During his leadership tenure at St. John’s Clinic (now Mercy-Springfield), Dr. McQueary helped develop the integrated orthopedic group that now runs one of the busiest destination total joint replacement programs in the country. He also helped develop a single-location multispecialty spine center that now runs one of the busiest destination spine surgery programs in the country.

During his tenure as Clinic President, St. John’s Clinic was rated #1 in the country among large clinics by Press-Ganey for patient satisfaction. Also in that same time frame, St. John’s Health System (now Mercy-Springfield) was three times named the #1 Integrated Health System in the country by Modern Healthcare. While Dr. McQueary has been President of Ambulatory Care and Chief Clinical Officer, Mercy has been identified by IBM/Watson/Truven Health Analytics as one of the Top Five Large Health Systems in the country for four years in a row.

Andrew Reid

Andrew J. Reid is a Health Care Administrator with over 40 years of experience involving practical clinical work and extensive management and leadership accomplishments. Most recently, Andrew was Vice President of the Heart, Lung & Vascular Institute with Mercy Health Youngstown. He was responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan for Mercy Health that focuses on program design, development, and growth across the entire cardiovascular and pulmonary-thoracic continuum of care.

Prior to joining Mercy Health Youngstown, Andrew served as AVP of Cardiovascular Services for Virtua Health providing Corporate oversight for the strategic development of cardiovascular services (2 years) and as Vice President of Operations with Mercy - Springfield in Springfield Missouri, overseeing the operation and development of Cardiovascular, Pulmonary/Thoracic, GI Medicine, and Bariatric Services (7 years).

Before his work with the Mercy System in Missouri, Andrew served as the Associate Hospital Director & Service Line Administrator of Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Pathology and Neurosciences Services with the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois (8 years) and the Executive Director/CEO of a multi-specialty physician group practice in Northwest Indiana (5 years). Additionally, he provided leadership support to help build cardiovascular programs for both the Advocate Healthcare System (Oakbrook, IL) and the University of Chicago during the mid-1990’s.

Andrew received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois (High Honors) and his Master’s in Business Administration from Governors State University in University Park, Illinois. Originally trained in the allied health professions as a Medical Technologist, he also has certifications from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (MT/ASCP) and the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Personnel (CLS/NCA). In 2007, Andrew completed his Healthcare Executive Leadership Fellowship (FABC) with the Advisory Board Company in Washington, DC.

Dr. Denise Frederick Ph.D

Dr. Denise Fredrick is a retired Springfield Public Schools (SPS) high school science teacher and district administrator. She is currently serving on the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education where she has served as vice president and president. For SPS, she served as a director of quality improvement and accountability, director of accountability and related federal programs, science curriculum facilitator and 16 years as a chemistry/biology teacher.

Post retirement, she served as director of secondary education at Missouri State University. Among several awards, Frederick recently won the 2017 Science Teachers of Missouri Presidential Citation Award. She stays active in the community serving on the Every Child Promise Board, the Springfield Public Schools Foundation Board of Advisors, Greene County Domestic Violence Board and has been appointed to the City of Springfield Mayors Commission on Children.

A Springfield native, Frederick earned a B.S. and M.S. in secondary education at Missouri State University and her PhD in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University.

C.J. Davis

C.J. Davis is the President & CEO of Burrell Behavioral Health, with more than 25 years of experience in the mental health industry as both an executive and a clinical psychologist. Dr. Davis has attained his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology, a Master of Science in Clinical/Counseling Psychology (M.S.), and a Doctorate in Psychology.

He has managed and practiced at nearly every level of behavioral healthcare, including community treatment settings, residential treatment, primary care behavioral health, inpatient hospital services, and criminal justice. C.J. previously held executive leadership positions in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, focusing on improving accessibility to care at each stop in his career.

After being hired as President and CEO of Burrell Behavioral Health in 2017, he has remained committed to accessibility, mission expansion, and promoting community conversations related to behavioral health issues.

With a passion for community service, C.J. serves on the boards of the Missouri Behavioral Health Council, the National Psychology Training Consortium, the Missouri Foundation for Health and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, C.J. was named one of Biz 417 Magazine’s “10 for the Next 10” as well as one of the Springfield Business Journal’s Men of the Year. In 2021, he was chosen as the SBJ’s CEO of the Year at their annual Dynamic Dozen awards.

Laurie Davis

Laurie Davis has been in both formal and informal education settings for over 30 years. She has taught 3rd and 4th grade students at the elementary level, and taught 9th grade literature at a charter school for 4 years.

In 2006, Laurie transitioned to informal education as the Education Director at Discovery Center Springfield, and worked there for 11 years before being hired for her current position as Education Outreach Coordinator for City of Springfield’s Dept. of Environmental Services.

Laurie has also presented numerous workshops to classroom teachers both nationally and internationally as a result of 10 years spent working as a professional development consultant with the Bureau of Education and Research.

Laurie considers herself to be a life-long learner and enjoys finding ways to make abstract content and concepts accessible and understandable to learners of all ages. Laurie holds a master’s degree in Literacy Instruction.

She and her husband Keith reside in Nixa, MO and share their home with two very spoiled cats. When not “talking trash” as an environmental educator, Laurie enjoys kayaking, fishing, walking, bike riding, gardening and front porch swing time.