Beth Knudson is a leadership and communications strategist with nearly 15 years of experience working in community-based organizations, including extensive work in rural and member-driven environments. She specializes in helping leaders navigate the complexities of communication, generational dynamics, and workplace relationships, especially in close-knit settings where personal and professional lines often overlap.

 Throughout her career, Beth has developed and facilitated training programs for organizations across the country, equipping leaders with practical, real-world tools they can immediately apply. Her approach is grounded in experience, relatable, and focused on building confidence in everyday leadership situations.

Beth is also a certified DiSC facilitator, using behavioral insights to help teams improve their communication, strengthen collaboration, and move towards their common goals more effectively.

Cassie Beesley, CRHCP, is the Owner and CEO of EmpowerRural Health Solutions, LLC, bringing over three decades of specialized expertise to the rural health landscape. Her career spans the full spectrum of provider-based and independent Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), with a focus on regulatory compliance, operational strategy, billing, and revenue cycle analysis.

 Prior to her current role, Cassie was a Senior Rural Health Consultant working with RHCs across the nation. She previously directed the RHC program for 16 facilities across Central Illinois, honing a macro-level perspective on rural healthcare delivery. A recognized national authority, she currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) and the Illinois Rural Health Association (IRHA). Cassie remains a trusted advisor to RHCs nationwide, dedicated to ensuring the sustainability and compliance of rural healthcare.

Bethany Bunt is the Compliance Officer, Occupational Health Manager and Chair of the Rural Health Committee for Evergreen Family Medicine. Beth's expertise includes healthcare compliance, occupational health, risk management, regulatory program development, workforce well-being, and quality improvement. She is passionate about advocating for sustainable healthcare solutions and strengthening access to care in rural communities and was able to amplify her voice by attending the NARHC Policy Summit this year in Washington D.C. Offering regular employee and community discussions, Beth is known for translating complex regulations into practical, actionable strategies and simplifying legal regulations in a way that support organizational success while maintaining a patient-centered focus.

Kim Tyree serves as Chief Operating Officer of Evergreen Family Medicine, where she oversees day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and organizational growth to ensure the practice delivers high-quality, patient-centered care. Kim holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) and Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP), bringing specialized expertise in healthcare administration and rural health operations to her role. With a strong focus on operational efficiency, compliance, and team leadership, Kim is dedicated to advancing Evergreen Family Medicine's mission of providing accessible, compassionate healthcare to the communities it serves.

Nathan Baugh is the Executive Director of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC). Prior to becoming the Executive Director in July of 2022, Nathan was the Director of Government Affairs for NARHC and in this role he was instrumental in the passage of the Rural Health Clinic Medicare payment reforms signed into law as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. This legislation was the most significant overhaul to the rural health clinic program in the last twenty-five years. As Executive Director, Nathan provides strategic direction for NARHC and is still involved in RHC advocacy priorities from telehealth to Medicare Advantage.

Aubrey Haynes serves as the Finance Director at Pillow Clinic, an independent Rural Health Clinic in Helena, Arkansas, where she oversees financial operations, revenue cycle strategy, and care management program development. Since joining Pillow Clinic in 2018 as a billing clerk, she has advanced through multiple leadership roles including Billing Manager, CCM Manager, Director of Revenue Cycle & Care Management, and Finance Director.

 Aubrey became a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP) in 2018 and launched Pillow Clinic’s Chronic Care Management program in 2019, helping grow the initiative into a large-scale rural care management operation serving hundreds of patients monthly. Her work focuses on sustainable rural healthcare operations, care management implementation, reimbursement optimization, compliance strategy, and translating complex healthcare policy into practical operational systems for Rural Health Clinics.

 In addition to her work at Pillow Clinic, Aubrey has advised Rural Health Clinics and specialty practices on care management implementation and operational strategy, including projects with Rheumera, Howard Memorial Clinic, Pafford’s Community Clinic, and The Medical Center of Elberton in Georgia.

 Aubrey has been actively involved with the National Association of Rural Health Clinics since 2018 and has participated in multiple NARHC Policy Summit Fly-Ins to Washington, D.C., advocating for sustainable rural healthcare policy solutions. She was elected to the NARHC Board of Directors for the 2024–2026 term and has served as Vice President of the Board since January 2025. In this role, she also serves on the Executive Committee and Finance Committee.

She currently serves as Chair of the NARHC Conference Planning Committee, where she leads conference agenda strategy, educational planning, topic development, and speaker coordination for national rural health conferences and institutes. Her leadership has focused on building practical, operationally relevant educational programming that addresses the operational, financial, and regulatory challenges facing Rural Health Clinics nationwide.

In 2025, Aubrey was appointed to the Board of Directors for the NARHC Research and Education Foundation, supporting initiatives focused on rural health education, leadership development, and workforce advancement.

Aubrey is a national speaker on rural healthcare operations, care management strategy, reimbursement opportunities, healthcare finance, and Rural Health Clinic sustainability. Her speaking engagements have included NARHC conferences and institutes as well as the Kentucky Office of Rural Health’s Kentucky RHC Summit. Known for her practical and relatable presentation style, Aubrey specializes in helping healthcare leaders bridge the gap between policy, operations, reimbursement, and patient care realities in underserved rural communities.

Jonathan Pantenburg is a nationally recognized healthcare management consultant who advises non-profit, profit, and governmental entities through complex issues including financial analysis, provider alignment and designations, cost reduction, mergers and acquisitions, provider contracting, and operational improvement. Jonathan co-founded Wintergreen and serves as a Principal at Wintergreen, a Maine-based consulting firm focused on rural and community healthcare providers.

 Over the past eight years, Jonathan has worked directly with independent and system-based Rural Health Clinics (RHC) to identify and drive improvement efforts that improve patient care and financial performance. In addition, he regularly contributes to thought leadership to advance the agenda for rural and community healthcare providers. Recently, Jonathan has worked with several RHCs across the country to expand services to include specialty providers, behavioral health, and telehealth, while also completing financial feasibility assessments to quantify new and expanded RHCs. He also has a strong understanding of the regulatory environment and the interrelation of RHCs, provider-based rules, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) requirements, etc. 

 Prior to joining Wintergreen, Jonathan worked as a Principal at a national healthcare consulting firm and before that, as a Chief Financial and Operating Officer for a 21-bed Critical Access Hospital where he gained practical experience in the financing and operationalization of rural strategies. He holds a Master of Health Administration, a Bachelor of Business Accounting, and a Bachelor of U.S. History. 

 Jonathan’s experience as an operator coupled with his background advising entities ranging from independent clinics and hospitals through multi-state systems and healthcare entities on finances and operations positions him to make meaningful, insightful contributions to the NARHC members and leadership. He respectfully requests your support to serve on the NARHC Board of Directors.

Amanda Dennison is a Manager with the Hospital and Physician Services Team at Blue & Co. based in Louisville, Kentucky. Amanda has been with Blue since 2011, but has focused her work primarily on Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for the last 12 years. 

 Amanda is Blue’s RHC expert working with clients through the various aspects of the RHC certification process from application through implementation. Amanda is a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP) through the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) and a frequent speaker on all topics impacting RHCs at the National and State levels.

 Amanda has served on the NARHC Education Committee since 2021, and as a Board Member since 2023. She currently serves as the Chair of the Education committee. Amanda is also the current President of the Kentucky Rural Health Association, and has been involved with the Association as a Board Member, Co-Chair of the Education Committee, Chair of the Nominations Committee, and member of the Executive Committee over the last 7 years.

 Outside of work, Amanda lives in her hometown of Versailles, KY with her husband and their two kids. She enjoys cooking, reading, organizing and helping to run her parents’ Christmas tree farm!

Kim Tyree serves as Chief Operating Officer of Evergreen Family Medicine, where she oversees day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and organizational growth to ensure the practice delivers high-quality, patient-centered care. Kim holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) and Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP), bringing specialized expertise in healthcare administration and rural health operations to her role. With a strong focus on operational efficiency, compliance, and team leadership, Kim is dedicated to advancing Evergreen Family Medicine's mission of providing accessible, compassionate healthcare to the communities it serves.

Gregory Burke is a seasoned professional with an extensive background spanning multiple sectors. He became the Executive Director of Beacons of Hope in December 2023, returning to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to dedicate himself to serving and helping his community recover from the grips of addiction. His distinguished career includes a twenty-year tenure with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he retired in November 2023 as the Senior Deputy Assistant Director (SES) of Federal Prison Industries.

 Mr. Burke's journey began in 2003 at the Bureau of Prisons, where he started as a Tool Maker Supervisor at USP Big Sandy (KY). His exceptional skills and leadership propelled him through various roles, including Maintenance Supervisor and Factory Manager at the same institution. His dedication and competence earned him the position of Superintendent of Industries at FCI Safford (AZ), where he oversaw critical departments like Education, Recreation, and UNICOR.

Continuing his upward trajectory, Mr. Burke served as the Associate Warden at USP Lee (VA) before transitioning to pivotal roles within the Central Office, such as Program Manager for the Office Furniture Group. His tenure in the Central Office saw him excel as the Senior Operations Manager for the Office Furniture Group and later as the General Manager of New Business Development and the Electronics Business Group.

 In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Mr. Burke was appointed by the United States Attorney General as the Senior Deputy Assistant Director (SES) for Federal Prison Industries in May 2020. In this role, he led the nation's premier recidivism-reducing program, overseeing diverse operations ranging from Agribusiness to Electronics. With oversight of 79 UNICOR factories across 58 Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, Mr. Burke played a pivotal role in shaping the organization's trajectory, showcasing his strategic vision and operational acumen.

Before his tenure with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Mr. Burke honed his skills during a decade-long tenure in the automotive industry in Detroit, Michigan. His commitment to excellence was evident even then, as he pursued Applied Sciences at Morehead State University (KY), laying a solid foundation for his illustrious career.

 Gregory Burke's remarkable career path reflects his unwavering dedication to public service, exemplary leadership, and relentless pursuit of excellence in every endeavor he undertakes.

Tressa R. Sacrey is the Director of Compliance and Education for HSA. Her passion for education is evident in every aspect of her work.  Key areas of responsibility include creating policies, developing emergency plans, facilitating hazard training, researching CMS regulations, conducting on-site compliance mock surveys, and creating forms and tools to assist RHC’s across the nation.

Katie Jo Raebel has more than 25 years of experience in audit and accounting services, focused exclusively on healthcare industry clients. She specializes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues. Katie Jo is known nationwide for her knowledge of rural health clinic certification and reimbursement issues. In addition, she helps organizations determine the best certification options to experience the most beneficial gain from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.

 Katie Jo is a regular speaker at industry events and conferences including the Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington, the Oregon Rural Health Conference and the National Association of Rural Health Clinics Conference. She also is a featured speaker at Wipfli’s annual cost report and reimbursement seminar.

David Glickman works with healthcare organizations that want to add a combination of valuable content and comic relief to their events in order to make them really fun and memorable. 

 
David has been a professional speaker and entertainer for over 25 years and has presented over 2000 programs. Before transitioning from “show business” to “speech business,” he worked with everyone from Steve Martin to Ellen DeGeneres and appeared on “Evening At The Improv” and several other national television shows. 

In the late 1990’s, David moved full-time into professional speaking. He specializes in customized workplace humor and is able to “find what’s funny” in the many healthcare organizations to whom he has spoken. 

 
In 2011, David received the Certified Speaking Professional designation. This is the highest earned designation awarded by the National Speakers Association, achieved by less than 10% of professional speakers. 

In 2016, David was awarded the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) and inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame. This is a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. 

 
David is also the author of Speaking of Funny: 77 Ways to Add Humor to Any Presentation.

Kate Hill, RN, has devoted her career to serving others—first as an Army nurse, and now as a passionate advocate for rural healthcare across the country. With more than 15 years of experience working alongside over 2,000 Rural Health Clinics nationwide, Kate brings both deep expertise and heartfelt commitment to the communities she serves.

Since joining The Compliance Team (TCT) in 2012, Kate has led and grown its Rural Health Clinic Accreditation Program with vision and purpose. As Vice President of Rural Health, she blends clinical knowledge, practical operational insight, and a genuine love for rural America to help clinics navigate compliance while delivering the highest quality care possible. She understands not just the regulations, but the real people and communities behind them.

Kate serves on the Board of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and is a sought-after speaker at state and national conferences. Her travels across the country have given her a firsthand appreciation for the resilience, dedication, and challenges of rural providers—and she remains inspired by their work every day.

Gary Lucas, MSHI, serves as VP of Research and Development for ARCHPRO Coding & Consulting (Association for Rural and Community Health Professional Coding) and has provided more than 2,200 courses on documentation, coding, and billing in 49 states for 31+ years, with a current focus Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Gary designs and maintains the nation's only training curriculum for revenue cycle staff to become certified as a Rural/Community Health - Coding and Billing Specialist (RH-/CH-CBS). 

His career experiences include work with Booz Allen Hamilton providing change management services to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and has performed CONUS/OCONUS medical record's reviews for the Department of Defense. Gary earned a Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Health Informatics from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Michelle Boehne is driven and dedicated with over 20 years of experience coordinating, streamlining, and supporting operations in healthcare settings. She is currently the administrative director of clinics at Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Bolivar, MO. She has administrative oversight of CMH rural health clinics and specialty clinics, ensuring regulatory compliance and providing administrative support to clinic-based physicians. Prior to CMH, she worked as a Rural Health Clinic and Patient Centered Medical Home accreditation adviser for a nationally recognized health care accreditation organization.

She has a bachelor’s degree of business administration and a master’s degree in health care administration. Michelle is a member of Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics, currently serving as Treasurer. She is passionate about the details and healthcare in rural settings. Michelle enjoys her grandkids, farm life, and anything outdoors.

Sarah is the Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC). She leads both regulatory and legislative federal policy efforts for the organization and provides direct technical assistance and education to RHCs across the country. Sarah advocates for reimbursement policies that incentivize and support rural primary care and other health services. Prior to joining NARHC, Sarah worked for the Pennsylvania State Office of Rural Health. She earned her BS in Health Policy and Administration from Penn State University and her Master of Public Health from the Penn State College of Medicine. Sarah resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Sherry is an accomplished healthcare leader serving as a Practice Operations Manager for Prisma Health’s 17 Rural Health Clinics across South Carolina. She has more than 20 years of rural health experience, including 15 years in leadership. After beginning her career as a front desk team member in a small independent Rural Health Clinic, she advanced through billing and leadership roles. Her work focuses on operational excellence, patient-centered service delivery, same-day appointment access, and expanding mental health and specialty services in rural communities.

A native of the Carolinas, Sherry holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration and is nationally certified as a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP) and Rural Health Clinical Billing Specialist (RH-CBS). She is a passionate advocate for community engagement and serves with several local education, healthcare, child-services, and international missions organizations. Sherry participated in the NARHC 2024 Policy Summit and continues to support rural populations through mission-focused work both domestically and internationally.

Jacy Warrell, MPA, is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader and rural health advocate with more than 20 years of experience connecting policy, community engagement, and sustainable service delivery. As Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, she has led a period of transformational growth, increasing membership by 60% annually, securing more than $15 million in additional grant revenue, and establishing Tennessee’s first and only Rural Health Clinic Network and Rural Health Apprenticeship Programs.

Jacy has directed multiple HRSA-funded initiatives and other public and private grants while strengthening the association’s infrastructure and helping organizations successfully pursue and manage funding. Her experience spans rural and urban communities, nonprofit and academic settings, and grassroots and governmental systems. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Villanova University and two undergraduate degrees from Western Kentucky University. Jacy also serves with the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Policy Congress, the Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Board of Directors, and East Tennessee State University’s Center for Rural Research Advisory Council.

Jill Oesterle is the Director of Provider Solutions at the Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH). She currently leads programs focused on operational, financial, and clinical quality improvement in Michigan’s Rural Health Clinics, including the management of the Michigan Rural Health Clinic Network. She is a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional, a trained Practice Facilitator, and brings hands-on experience from her previous role as a Rural Health Clinic Practice Manager.

Charles is President and CEO of North American Healthcare Management Services , which has provided RHC, RCM, and EHR services for RHC and FQHCs since 1992. 

Charles is the Executive Director of The Rural Advantage ACO, approved for Medicare Shared Savings Track A. The Rural Advantage is designed specifically for RHCs and FQHCs. 

North American currently provides comprehensive RCM, EHR Hosting, RHC/FQHC compliance, RHC/FQHC Billing, 340B Management/Audit, Provider Enrollment and many other services to physicians, hospitals, RHCs, and FQHCs across the country. Charles is the immediate past-president of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, Past-

 President of the Illinois Rural Health Association. Charles represents the Illinois Rural Health Association annually at the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. Charles served on the National Association of Rural Health Clinics board for 15 years, two of those  years were as President. Charles provides educational sessions and webinars on billing and compliance to state and private organizations across the United States.

Aubrey Haynes serves as the Finance Director at Pillow Clinic, an independent Rural Health Clinic in Helena, Arkansas, where she oversees financial operations, revenue cycle strategy, and care management program development. Since joining Pillow Clinic in 2018 as a billing clerk, she has advanced through multiple leadership roles including Billing Manager, CCM Manager, Director of Revenue Cycle & Care Management, and Finance Director.

 Aubrey became a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP) in 2018 and launched Pillow Clinic’s Chronic Care Management program in 2019, helping grow the initiative into a large-scale rural care management operation serving hundreds of patients monthly. Her work focuses on sustainable rural healthcare operations, care management implementation, reimbursement optimization, compliance strategy, and translating complex healthcare policy into practical operational systems for Rural Health Clinics.

 In addition to her work at Pillow Clinic, Aubrey has advised Rural Health Clinics and specialty practices on care management implementation and operational strategy, including projects with Rheumera, Howard Memorial Clinic, Pafford’s Community Clinic, and The Medical Center of Elberton in Georgia.

 Aubrey has been actively involved with the National Association of Rural Health Clinics since 2018 and has participated in multiple NARHC Policy Summit Fly-Ins to Washington, D.C., advocating for sustainable rural healthcare policy solutions. She was elected to the NARHC Board of Directors for the 2024–2026 term and has served as Vice President of the Board since January 2025. In this role, she also serves on the Executive Committee and Finance Committee.

She currently serves as Chair of the NARHC Conference Planning Committee, where she leads conference agenda strategy, educational planning, topic development, and speaker coordination for national rural health conferences and institutes. Her leadership has focused on building practical, operationally relevant educational programming that addresses the operational, financial, and regulatory challenges facing Rural Health Clinics nationwide.

In 2025, Aubrey was appointed to the Board of Directors for the NARHC Research and Education Foundation, supporting initiatives focused on rural health education, leadership development, and workforce advancement.

Aubrey is a national speaker on rural healthcare operations, care management strategy, reimbursement opportunities, healthcare finance, and Rural Health Clinic sustainability. Her speaking engagements have included NARHC conferences and institutes as well as the Kentucky Office of Rural Health’s Kentucky RHC Summit. Known for her practical and relatable presentation style, Aubrey specializes in helping healthcare leaders bridge the gap between policy, operations, reimbursement, and patient care realities in underserved rural communities.

Kim Burlison is a seasoned healthcare leader with more than 20 years of industry experience, including 18 years managing a variety of specialty clinics. For the past nine years, she has served in a leadership role with Summit Healthcare in Northern Arizona. She manages an independent Rural Health Clinic family medicine practice and provides leadership oversight for four additional independent Rural Health Clinics. Her organization is a top performer within its ACO in reducing emergency room visits and strategically advancing quality performance.

 Kim has been a Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) for 22 years and is also a Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR). She holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration with a focus on leadership. Kim is actively involved in rural health advocacy and participated in the NARHC Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. She also serves on the board of Arizona Healthy Families and partners with local organizations to provide health fairs, sports physicals, flu clinics, blood drives, and other community outreach initiatives.

Jennifer O’Riley is a seasoned rural healthcare leader with 32 years of experience in rural healthcare. She serves as Practice Administrator for Port Lavaca Clinic Associates and Executive Director of the Texas Association of Rural Health Clinics. Jennifer oversees clinic operations while working closely with providers and staff to ensure patients in Port Lavaca and the surrounding rural communities have access to efficient, compassionate, and high-quality healthcare.

Jennifer has played an active role in expanding healthcare access for medically underserved populations. Her efforts have included meeting with state legislators and policymakers, advocating for rural healthcare providers, and helping bring visiting specialists and essential services closer to patients who face transportation barriers. Port Lavaca Clinic’s visiting services have included orthopedic, podiatry, surgical, and oncology care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also helped the clinic rapidly expand its telehealth capabilities, allowing all eight providers to continue serving patients remotely.

In 2022, Jennifer was recognized as a national rural-health Community Star for her dedication to rural healthcare advocacy and improving the well-being of medically underserved populations.

In 2025, Jennifer participated in a rural-healthcare roundtable with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other state and national healthcare leaders. The discussion focused on strengthening rural healthcare, expanding access to essential services, and supporting the long-term sustainability of rural healthcare organizations.

Through her local and statewide leadership, Jennifer remains committed to strengthening Rural Health Clinics, supporting healthcare professionals, and ensuring rural patients receive the quality care and recognition they deserve.

Liberty Pertiwi is the Director of Primary Care Services for Samaritan Health Services in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. In her role, she oversees six provider-based Rural Health Clinics, with a focus on operations and strategic planning to support rural communities. Liberty has served in various clinic operations leadership roles at Samaritan Health Services since 2016. She earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from Oregon State University. She has also been a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional since 2022.