About Us

The Healthcare Council History

The history of Healthcare Council, founded in 1946 as the Hospital Council, is an association of healthcare providers, schools and health-related institutions serving the Mid-Atlantic region. The Council assists its members by promoting intelligent planning, facilitating discussion of common problems and acting as a clearinghouse for the exchange of information. We use a variety of tools to accomplish that mission.

Divisional Meetings

The Healthcare Council hosts a number of peer group meetings for professionals in Administration, Facility Managers and Engineers, Human Resources, Environmental Services, Information Technology/CIOs, Materials Management, Quality Assurance, Rehabilitation Services, Volunteers, and other areas of management. If you are interested in chairing one of our divisional groups or interested in attending please reach out to Alex Engelkemier, aengelkemier@healthcare-council.org. Please check our Events page for a listing of our Divisional Meetings and contacts.

Group Purchasing

The Healthcare Council’s wholly owned subsidiary corporation, ShareSource, saves participants millions of dollars every year.

Surveys

An annual look at regional specific pay scales for over 150 positions by title and description in the Wage & Salary Survey and over 60 positions in the Executive/Department Head Salary Survey. Please visit our Resource page to see how you can purchase this year’s Salary Surveys.

CEO/Trustee/Roundtable Meetings

Stay tuned for schedule of future CEO Coffee Chat Roundtable meetings.

Leadership Team

COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Healthcare Council and ShareSource are governed by an 22-member Board of Trustees comprised of both healthcare providers and payer leaders.

President and CEO, The Healthcare Council/ShareSource
Les Pitton

Vice Chair
Kathleen C. Gorman, M.S.N., R.N., F.A.A.N.

Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair
Conan Q. Dickson, PhD, MPH, FACHE

Ex-Officio Board Member
Dionne Dougall-Bass

Board Chair

Dean Teague, FACHE

Dean Teague, FACHE, has been President & CEO of Calvert Health System (CHS), since March 2015. CHS is the largest employer in Calvert County and has more than 1,200 employees. The system includes Calvert Memorial Hospital, an employed physician network, urgent care centers, a diagnostic imaging facility, a home health care agency and centers for radiation and physical therapy. He joined CHS in June of 2012 as chief operating officer. Before joining CHC, Teague served as vice president of operations for six years at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, MD. In 2006, he retired from the US Navy after 24 years of active duty. Prior to his retirement from the Navy, he was the senior administrator for three years of the White House Medical Unit, which provides health care for the President, Vice President and the cabinet members. In 2017 Teague was recognized as a Grassroots Champion for his exceptional leadership in generating grassroots activity in support of the hospital community. The American Hospital Association Grassroots Champions Award, which is presented each year to one person from each state, was created to recognize those hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital, and who are tireless advocates for the hospital and its patients. He has a master’s in healthcare administration from the University of New Haven, and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dean and his wife, Pam, have been married for 31 years and have a daughter, Kaitlyn.

President and CEO, The Healthcare Council/ShareSource

Les Pitton

Les Pitton is President & CEO of The Healthcare Council & ShareSource. Prior to joining the organization, he was Principal of Pitton & Associates, a transactional consulting company and co-founder and board chair of Chancellor Health Care, Inc., a senior living company. He also served as Executive Vice President for Adventist Healthcare, President of Medical Aide Training Schools in New York, and Regional Marketing Director for Manor Care, Inc. Before he started in health care he served his church as a state, regional, and lastly North American Youth Director. He currently serves as Advisory Board Member of Brothers Brother Foundation and Board Member of the Honors College Advisory Board at Washington Adventist University. He received his MDiv degree from Andrews University in Michigan and a BA from Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University).

Vice Chair

Kathleen C. Gorman, M.S.N., R.N., F.A.A.N.

Kathleen Chavanu Gorman, M.S.N., R.N., F.A.A.N., is Executive Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Operating Officer at Children’s National Hospital. Kathy is a nurse leader who has advanced patient safety, quality and clinical resource management to improve care outcomes and inform policy for children and families. She rejoined Children’s National from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where she served as Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer and Assistant Dean of Clinical Practice at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Prior to her tenure at CHOP, Kathy was at Children’s National as Vice President of Quality and Clinical Support Services until 2009. During that time, she also led the Quality Program, Clinical Resource Management Program and Family Service Department. She played a critical role in the process of achieving Magnet® status in March 2010. Kathy has presented and published extensively on quality, safety, outcomes and leadership in healthcare. In advancing the national agenda on improving child health through pediatric quality, she has led and participated in committees under the National Quality Forum, the Leapfrog Group, Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), American Board of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine and others. Ms. Gorman serves on the board of directors for the DAISY Foundation and the Quality, Safety and Performance Committee for CHA. She was the recipient of the distinguished Alumni Award for the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is a graduate from the Wharton School of Business: Johnson & Johnson Nurse Executive Fellow program. In 2017 she received the American Hospital Association’s prestigious Grassroots Champion Award for Washington, D.C., in recognition of her tireless advocacy on behalf of patients, hospitals and communities. In addition, she has been recognized as a top woman leader by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Kathy was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2014. She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree of science in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Nursing.

Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair

Conan Q. Dickson, PhD, MPH, FACHE

Conan Q. Dickson, PhD, MPH, FACHE is an Associate Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Health Policy & Management. He also serves as the Associate Director of the Johns Hopkins Master in Health Administration Program. Prior to this role, Conan served in various leadership roles at Johns Hopkins Medicine over twenty-five years including Sr. Director, Business Development & Strategy; Chief of Staff, Sibley Memorial Hospital; Administrator, JHHS Operations Support / Medical Affairs; and Assistant Administrator, JHH Ambulatory Operations. Conan also directed the prestigious JHM Administrative Fellowship for fifteen years and served on the Steering Committee of the National Council of Administrative Fellowships. Conan has a doctorate in health service research from Johns Hopkins, a master in public health from Yale, and bachelor degrees in Accounting and Health Systems Management from Auburn University.

Secretary

Louis Damiano M.D.

Lou Damiano, M.D., M.B.A., is President of Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring. He is the seventh person to serve as President since the hospitals opening in 1963. “Lou is a strong advocate for collaboration among nurses, physicians, clinical staff and colleagues in support functions. His confident, inclusive and engaging approach is what the organization needs as we move forward,” said Norvell “Van” Coots, MD, president and CEO of Holy Cross Health. Prior to becoming president, Lou joined Holy Cross Hospital as Vice President of Medical Affairs in 2015. Before joining Holy Cross Health, Dr. Damiano was the Deputy Commander of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Integration Programs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist having completed his residency in anesthesiology at Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA and receiving his medical degree from University of Maryland School of Medicine. He has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Board Chair Emeritus

Mike Barch

For more than 40 years, Mr. Barch has held senior management positions in various medical corporations representing nearly every facet of healthcare. Most recently, he is serving as Chairman of Heuro Health, a next generation engagement and wellness company. Previously, he served as Chairman of Global Pharmaceutical Sourcing, a pharmaceutical distribution company. For twenty years Mr. Barch served as CEO of The George Washington University Medical Center which at the time included direct responsibility for the hospital, faculty practice, HMO and school of Medicine. Subsequently, Mr Barch served as Assistant VP, Associate Dean at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Following his appointment at Johns Hopkins, Mr. Barch was named President and CEO of Managed Care Assistance Corporation which developed several physician networks and HMO’s. Mr. Barch subsequently served as CEO of the Public Benefits Corporation of the District of Columbia and as CEO of Columbia Hospital for Women. Mr. Barch currently sits on several high technology healthcare advisory boards. Mr. Barch holds a joint degree in economics and finance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an MHSA from The George Washington University.

Board Chair Emeritus

George Wilkes, III

A native Washingtonian holding a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia, Mr. Wilkes has a longstanding interest in community healthcare activities. He served as president of the Board of Trustees of the National Hospital for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation from 1970 to 1974, President of the Hospital Council of the National Capital Area from 1974 to 1978, and in 1993 was elected to the Board of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area and served on its Audit and Pension Committees. In 1996 he was elected to the Board of The Arlington Free Clinic, a non-profit provider of medical services to Arlington residents.& nbsp; From 1999 to 2006 he served on the Board of CareFirst, Inc., the holding company for Blue Cross of Maryland and Blue Cross of Washington, DC. Mr. Wilkes had a distinguishing career as a U.S. Government executive with a variety of appointments, primarily within the Department of the Treasury.

Trustee

Carin Bouharoun

Carin is the Director, Network Development and Strategic Planning for the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and Department of Pediatrics. In this position, she is responsible for operations of the Johns Hopkins pediatric specialty clinics and Pediatric network affiliations. Previously, Carin served as the Director, Business Development and Strategy within Healthcare Transformation and Strategic Planning responsible for developing and managing opportunities and relationships that align JHHS’ strategic needs and initiatives with cross-functional teams. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011, she was with Suburban Hospital as Corporate Director, Strategy and Business Development. Her previous positions were with Inova Health System in Virginia and CHI Systems, a consulting firm in Philadelphia, PA. Carin received a BA at Kenyon College and a Master of Health Services Administration from The George Washington University School of Business and Public Management.

Trustee

Calvin Brown

Founding owner of C. Brown & Associates, Mr. Brown, possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in financial consulting: commercial and government accounting; and government auditing experience. After serving 8 ½ years with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr. Brown developed expertise in International Tax, resolving double taxation cases under U.S. Income Tax Treaties with foreign governments. His firm provides accounting, income tax preparation, financial management and advisory services. In addition Mr. Brown offers financial oversight and audits for individuals, corporations and governments. Mr. Brown was Chair of Dimensions Health System Board after serving as chair of the Finance Committee. As a business man he is deeply involved with his community serving many business boards, religious ministry programs and youth educational projects. He is the current Chair of the Prince George’s County Revenue Authority and has earned the distinction of completing the requirements for nationally recognized accreditation in taxation from Council for Accountancy as an enrolled agent eligible to represent clients before the IRS.

Trustee

Kevin DeBruyne

Kevin DeBruyne is the Region Vice President for Premier with 30 years of healthcare experience in client management, operations, team leadership, customer success and sales. He leads the regional field service delivery team, which is charged with supporting clients’ initiatives focused on margin management, quality improvement, and value-based care transformation through the engagement with Premier’s solutions in consulting, technology and group purchasing products. During his ten years at Premier, DeBruyne has provided thought leadership and successfully partnered with staff to deploy customized and scalable solutions to help member clients meet evolving needs in a dynamic healthcare industry. DeBruyne and his staff partner with members to achieve their goals in cost savings and quality improvement. Prior to joining Premier, DeBruyne held various leadership positions with McKesson, DeRoyal, and Medtronic. At McKesson he led a team responsible for successfully managing a large multi-region integrated delivery system on the West Coast. In this role, DeBruyne worked closely with leadership to meet their strategic goals using a combination of consulting and information technology. Before working at McKesson, DeBruyne spent several years in Europe where he led sales and marketing for Joint Ventures with three European manufacturers to design custom products combined with information technology to reduce the overall cost per procedure. DeBruyne earned a B.A. in business administration from St. Michael’s College.

Ex-Officio Board Member

Dionne Dougall-Bass

Dionne Dougall-Bass joined the American Hospital Association (AHA) in December 2018 as Regional Executive for Region 3. On behalf of the AHA, she supports hospital and health system members in Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Dionne is an alum of the AHA, having spent more than two decades in between her time there providing strategic council and communications to c-suite executives and their teams in public health, health care and health policy on issues like childhood obesity, pain management, opioids, telehealth, addiction and prevention, health care disparities, social determinants of health, and integrative health and wellness. Just prior to rejoining AHA, Dionne was Director of Communications and Marketing at The Links, Incorporated, a 72-year old voluntary service organization, where she worked extensively with its board and members to offer programs to communities of color around the country in the areas of heart, oral and mental health, chronic diseases, organ donation, maternal and child health, and human trafficking, among other issues. She began her professional career at Fleishman-Hillard, an award-winning international public relations agency. Dionne is a native of Washington, DC. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Maryland, College Park and her Master of Arts degree in Health and Wellness Coaching from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with her family.

Trustee

Rolf K. Haarstad

As a Senior Vice President with CRGA Design, Mr. Haarstad is employing his design and leadership skills to strengthen and grow the firm’s regional and national presence. With a specialty in healthcare projects, he has led the design and delivery of several major projects throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Haarstad’s projects have been honored by AIA Maryland, Baltimore Chapter/AIA, ASLA Maryland and AIA Minnesota. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including: Architectural Record, Healthcare Design and Architecture Minnesota. His strong strategic planning skills led his largest client to date, Western Maryland Health System, to appoint him as the Chairman of the Board in 2016. After merging with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2019, Mr. Haarstad was appointed chairman of UPMC Western Maryland—which he has just completed and rotated back to the board as a trustee. Additionally, Mr. Haarstad was appointed in 2020 to the Executive Committee of the Maryland Hospital Association for a three-year term.

Trustee

Lawrence Hamilton

Lawrence is Chief Operating Officer at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. KP Mid Atlantic provides coverage and care for 770,000 members in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Prior to this role, Lawrence was Medical Group Administrator at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara and then the East Bay in Northern California. These service areas provide care 370,000 local members, major tertiary programs serving up to 4.3 million members, and teaching programs for many health professions. Prior to the Medical Group Administrator roles, Lawrence was Regional Director of Cardiac and Renal Services for Kaiser Permanente Northern California, leading the strategy and implementation of our delivery system for those patient populations across 19 medical centers, serving 3.4 million members, at that time. Before coming to the US, Lawrence spent five years in East Africa as Chief Executive of Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania, the country’s leading hospital and clinic network. Prior to that, Lawrence had been based in London, as Deputy Chief Executive of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust and before that as Partner of Durrow Management Services, a healthcare consulting practice. Lawrence studied Politics, Philosophy & Economics at Oxford University, followed by a healthcare leadership fellowship with the UK National Health Service, and later an executive leadership program at INSEAD business school in Paris, France.

Trustee

Gary Hibbs

Gary Hibbs has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in the senior living field. He is also a member of the John Maxwell Team as a Certified Coach and Speaker. He is currently a Vice‐President with Erickson Living, serving as the Executive Director for Riderwood Village in Silver Spring, Maryland, the largest Continuing Care Retirement Community in the nation. Additionally, Gary is an Adjunct Professor at the UMBC Erickson School of Aging, teaching in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Gary joined Erickson in 1995 where he has served as Executive Director at four of its CCRC’s, including the start‐up of a new campus and the regional executive director role overseeing eight communities. In 2016 he took on the role at Riderwood Village. Before Erickson, Gary was the administrator of Global Health Management’s Wellington Manor, a 284‐bed skilled nursing facility in Clinton, Maryland and Circle Manor, an 86‐bed skilled nursing facility. Prior to entering the senior housing and healthcare field, he practiced law with the Senior Citizen Law Project in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Gary has also worked with older adults in both the local setting and the national setting, having served with the Area Agency on Aging in both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. He worked with Congressman Claude Pepper in Washington, D.C., serving on the staff of the House Aging Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and Long Term Care. Dedicated to voluntary service at many levels, Gary has served as the chair or officer of two church boards, a private school board, and the local committee of Young Life, a ministry focusing on teenagers. Gary and his wife, Jenne have four adult children. Gary holds a B.A., Government and Politics, University of Maryland; M.S.W. and J.D. University of Maryland at Baltimore. Gary has been a certified L.G.S.W., member of the Maryland Bar Association, and held nursing home administrator licenses in the states of Maryland and Michigan.

Trustee

Joseph Lavelle

Joe Lavelle is a senior executive passionate about improving the health care delivery model. He has a proven track record leading hospitals, physician practices and provider sponsored health plans. He has demonstrated the ability to build programs, improve outcomes and reduce cost through collaborative physician-hospital relationships. Joe places a strong emphasis on patient-centered care with innovation and continuous improvement. Over his career, Joe has a proven track record with Turnarounds, New program development, Service redesign, Team building, Managed care contracting, Physician alignment, Interim leadership & consulting, Strategic planning and , Service line planning. Joe has a distinctive combination of experience with Academic, Regional quaternary/tertiary Health Systems in the for profit & not-for-profit sector, FQHC’s, Medical Groups and Specialty Hospitals. He holds a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Health Planning and Administration from the Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Business Degree in Finance & Investments from the George Washington University. He is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Fellow with the Advisory Board.

Trustee

James Lee

James G. Lee is Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer at Adventist HealthCare Inc. Having served as CFO of Washington Adventist Hospital from 2001 to 2005, James Lee was appointed CFO of Adventist HealthCare in March 2005. Adventist HealthCare is an integrated healthcare delivery system based in Rockville, Maryland, and one of the largest employers in the state. Prior to joining Adventist, James held management positions with several healthcare and consulting organizations, including Arthur Andersen, Queens Health Management, and Castle Medical Center. Supporting his 30 years of experience in healthcare are a masters degree in Public Health, and a masters degree in Health Administration, both earned at Loma Linda University.

Trustee

Douglas Leidig

Doug Leidig, was named President and CEO of Asbury Communities, Inc., June 1, 2015. Prior to that he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Asbury Communities, and has more than 25 years of experience providing services to help older adults lead fulfilling lives. He also served as President of The Asbury Group (TAG), leading the for-profit division of Asbury Communities, Inc. that provides management, marketing and integrated technology consulting services on a contract basis to for-profit and not-for-profit senior living entities. Mr. Leidig began his career with Asbury in 1994, when he was hired as an Administrator at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Md. In January 2015, Mr. Leidig was elected Board Chair of LeadingAge Maryland, a community of not-for-profit aging services organizations working together to shape the future of aging in the state of Maryland. Most recently, he was selected to join the advisory board for Senior Living 100, the premier leadership event for C-level executives from the nation’s largest, most progressive assisted living, independent living and continuing care providers dedicated to advancing the role of senior living in the continuum of care. Doug also serves on the Kairos Health Systems Board of Directors. Leidig holds a bachelor’s degree in long-term care administration from York College in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in business administration from Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland.

Trustee

Jack Lewin

Mr. Lewin is the Segment Leader for M&T’s Healthcare Banking in the Mid Atlantic. M&T’s Healthcare Banking Group is a Specialized Industry Group that provides Commercial Lending, Investment Banking, Treasury Management and other Financial Services to Health Systems, Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities and Senior Living Communities. Jack joined M&T Bank in 2003. He has held several senior positions in the commercial banking division in the Greater Washington and Greater Baltimore markets, with a focus on providing financing to the Health Care, Energy, and general business sectors. Prior to M&T Bank, Mr. Lewin worked in various corporate development roles, raising over $500MM of financing across telecom and international ventures. Jack received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Colorado College and a Masters of Business and Administration from The University of Virginia in 2002. Jack received his Certified Treasury Professional designation in 2007. He serves as a director of The Baltimore office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA); Investment Director for a location based venture capital fund in Baltimore (Propel), the Maryland Chapter of the American Heart Association (2017 Chair), and the Elewana Education Project. Mr. Lewin served as a director of TEDCO from 2006-2015 in various capacities including Chairman. Calvin Brown, HCNCA Board Treasure said, “the rich background in finance that Mr. Lewin brings to the board will be of untold value as HCNCA continues to monitor the organizations finances.”

Trustee

Tawana Nottingham

President, CEO and owner of TRA Medical Supply, Inc. (TRA), a Woman Owned Minority Company located in Prince Georges County Maryland, specializing in distribution and manufacture of disposable medical supplies, green cleaning and paper good products. The company was founded by her late visionary husband and in 2012 Tawana took over operation. Prior to becoming President & CEO of TRA, Tawana operated her own consulting company, C&N Consultants, Inc., a local company specializing in event planning for corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Before starting her own company Tawana served as assistant Controller, Systems and Control Manager and Internal Auditor for Omni Hotels. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Tawana attended Hampton University. She currently serves on the board of The Bethune-DuBois Institute, The Philadelphia Martin Luther King Association and a community partner for Prince George’s County Government.

Trustee

Kimberly Russo, MBA, MS

Before being named CEO of George Washington University Hospital, Ms. Russo was Chief Operating Officer for the hospital since April 2009. Prior to that, she was Associate Administrator at the hospital since August 2006, and was previously Executive Director of Rehabilitation Services. She holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, through a collaborative leadership program with Gallup, a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Illinois State University. Ms. Russo is a healthcare executive with 20 years of clinical and operational experience and has a proven track record of exceptional results. Ms. Russo was recognized as one of The Washington Business Journal’s 2016 “Playmakers,” a list of business leaders who made an impact on the DC area in 2016. The Washington Business Journal also named her an honoree of “Women Who Mean Business” in 2010. In addition in 2010, she was recognized as an “Up and Comer Under 40” by Modern Healthcare and Becker’s Hospital Review.

Trustee

Adrian Stanton

Adrian Stanton is Vice President, Business Development and Community Relations responsible for Virginia Hospital Center’s growth strategy and execution to advance its mission, competitive position and financial stability. He also serves as the organization’s legislative affairs lead and community relations liaison responsible for guiding the Health System through state and local regulatory rules and regulations. He oversees the organization’s growth, legislative and community affairs, marketing, communications, business development, outpatient pharmacy, executive health and health & wellness operations. Prior to Virginia Hospital Center, he was Senior Director at Inova Health System and Director of Managed Care Contracting at Suburban Hospital. Adrian received his BBA degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.

Trustee

Natalie Williamson

Natalie is Vice President, Total Cost of Care Strategy for UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic. In this role, she drives innovative solutions to reduce healthcare costs for UnitedHealthcare’s members. With deep experience in employer-sponsored benefits and a broad network and expertise in the Mid-Atlantic region, Williamson focuses on creating strategies to optimize the value of healthcare for consumers. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare, Williamson spent more than 17 years as a benefits consultant at two major firms in metro-Washington, D.C. Williamson most recently served as a Senior Vice President with Lockton, where she had accountability for client relationship management, strategic development, management of her team and was highly involved in operations of the practice as a senior leader. Prior to Lockton, Williamson previously held positions at Mercer Health & Benefits and HighRoads (now DirectPath). Williamson holds a master’s degree in Health Policy from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from James Madison University. She is currently a Group Benefits Associate (GBA) through the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP) Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) program. Williamson has a passion for health policy and is also a member of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Health Care Executive Committee. Williamson resides in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area.

Legal Counsel

Robert G. Brewer, Jr.

Robert G. Brewer, Jr. is a Lerch, Early & Brewer attorney whose practice is rooted in the firm’s Health Care and Land Use groups. Robby represents several major regional health care entities. He also serves nonprofits, trade associations, automotive clients, private schools and religious institutions. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. in 1973, Robby returned to his native Maryland to attend the University of Maryland School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor with honors in 1976. After graduation, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Richard B. Latham, 6th Judicial Circuit of Maryland. In 1977, Robby joined the firm that today bears his name. In addition to serving four times as Lerch Early’s managing partner, Robby’s service to the legal profession includes leadership roles in the Maryland State Bar Association and pro bono service to housing groups like Habitat for Humanity. Since 1991, he has been listed in Best Lawyers in America and has been listed by Chambers USA since 2007 as one of Maryland’s leading real estate and health care attorneys. Through the years, Robby has been an active leader in many of the area’s most prominent civic, community and cultural organizations, including the Music Center at Strathmore, Montgomery County Business Development Corporation, and Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.

COUNCIL STAFF

A dedicated team of talented staff are ready to better serve your needs here at Healthcare Council.

Director of Partner Development
Jami Shaffer

Member Services Manager
Member Services Manager

Director of Strategic Alliances
Jen Holloman

Marketing & Membership Director
Kerri Scriven

Project Manager and Executive Assistant

Alex Engelkemier

Southeast Sales Representative
Lewis Hendershot

Northwest Sales Representative
John Cress

President & CEO

Les Pitton

Les Pitton was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer in April 2012 and leads both The Healthcare Council and ShareSource organizations. In addition, he is a sitting Board Member of The Healthcare Council. He is responsible for oversight of all operational aspects including financial management, human resources, strategic planning, sales and marketing, contract administration, business development and maintaining strong relationships with the business community, members, and suppliers.

Email:lpitton@healthcare-council.org

Director of Partner Development

Jami Shaffer

Jami is the Director of Partner Development for ShareSource. She manages the development/growth of the ShareSource Affiliate Program and staff, serving as the strategic partner who continually looks for ways to align details to ensure our members achieve cost savings and value.

Email:jshaffer@healthcare-council.org

Member Services Manager

Teresa is Member Services Manager for ShareSource. She manages the highest quality of member services for ShareSource and publishes the ShareSource monthly newsletters. Teresa completes Premier contract activations while keeping members aware of Premier contract launches and expirations along with reporting and data analytics.

Email: thawbaker@healthcare-council.org

Director of Strategic Alliances

Jen Holloman

Jennifer Holloman was appointed as Director of Strategic Alliances for The Healthcare Council/ShareSource in May 2021. In this role, she works with member organizations to identify areas of opportunity for group purchasing orders and educational partnerships. She is responsible for managing supply chain relationships and purchasing agreements.

:jholloman@healthcare-council.org

Marketing & Membership Director

Kerri Scriven

Kerri Scriven joined The Healthcare Council in 2012 on a contractual basis providing layout and design for our quarterly newsletter and helping with social media outreach initiatives. Kerri joined our staff in January 2021 as Marketing and Membership Director assuming new responsibilities in marketing, managing the content, layout, and production of the quarterly newsletter and creating a membership drive for renewal of members, and recruiting new members.

Email:kscriven@healthcare-council.org

Controller

Jenn Johnson

Ms. Johnson is responsible for analyzing interpreting and controlling the organization’s accounting and financial records. Jenn works closely with the CEO overseeing the financial month-end close and preparation of internal reporting. She has been involved with ShareSource since November 2005.

Email:jjohnson@healthcare-council.org

Project Manager and Executive Assistant

Alex Engelkemier

Alex joined The Healthcare Council in March 2021. She assumed the role of Project Manager & Executive Assistant. Her responsibilities include administrative support, managing day-to-day operations of the corporate office and assisting in the coordination of Board Committees and Board Meetings. She leads special projects, including the 75th Anniversary year-long celebration and the coordination of the annual Employee of the Year and McNulty Awards ceremony.

Email:aengelkemier@healthcare-council.org

Southeast Sales Representative

Lewis Hendershot

Lewis represents ShareSource in the Southeast region of the United States. Lewis prospects and educates potential members on how ShareSource can benefit them financially, professionally and improve processes.

Email:lhendershot@healthcare-council.org

Northwest Sales Representative

John Cress

John represents ShareSource in the Northwest region of the United States. John prospects and educates potential members on how ShareSource can benefit them financially, professionally and improve processes.

Email:jcress@healthcare-council.org