RIGHTCARE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Volunteer Committee Co - Chair

As a native Arizonan, Anthony was born and raised in Tucson where he attended the University of Arizona. He started his career as a mason owning his own business for over five years and then moved on to working for the US Postal Service as a mail carrier. One of the things he enjoyed most about this carrier path was the people interaction. Over the years he found the relationships he had developed with the community he served to be the most rewarding part of his job. Over twenty years ago, Anthony started his career with the Phoenix Fire Department as a draftsman. While he enjoyed the administrative side of firefighting, his true passion was to be out in the field helping those who are in need. In fact, he stated in a quote from his letter to the Board on why he wanted to be a firefighter, "I believe there is no better way to help my city and the people who live here than to be there when they need help the most." Now, with over thirteen years of serving the public as a firefighter, his belief in this role has not wavered. Anthony's compassion toward helping others has been the common thread throughout his working career. Now, with an opportunity to help bring awareness to businesses and communities through the RightCare Foundation, his goal is to help promote RightCare's mission of ensuring that individuals in the care of health professionals receive the highest quality care possible.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Phoenix Fire Captain Retired

Dan has a great passion for both the clinical and personal aspects of healthcare. This has held true from when he first obtained his EMT-Basic certification in 1982, with the intention of following his father's footsteps and joining the Fire Department. A few years later, in 1985, he was hired by the Phoenix Fire Department and spent a 33-year career there. He received several awards for his work, including Paramedic of the Year and The Alan V. Brunacini Award. During his career in the Fire Department, he also worked as an instructor for several different EMT, CPR, and Paramedic programs, and taught within both the Maricopa College system and Phoenix Fire Department's EMS Division for over twenty years. In the later part of his career, Dan was able to focus more intensively on care for vulnerable populations and served on multiple State committees involving elderly and hospice care. He was also selected in 2018 as a part of the inaugural Hospice of the Valley's Dementia Fellowship. Dan currently lives in Camp Verde, Arizona with his significant other, two dogs, and one horse. In his spare time he goes off-roading with friends, travels with family, or heaps dad jokes upon his daughter.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors

Don began his career in the United States Army. Upon discharge he served with the California Conservation Corporation and California Department of Forestry. Don desired to explore life in a large city and wanted to increase facets of his business knowledge. He began in sales and marketing with Wells Fargo Bank and eventually transitioned to their Wholesale Secondary Market Division for mortgages. As he further developed his business expertise and learned a solid foundation in finance, he become a business owner. Upon selling his pool service and repair business in California, Don was ready to change course and pursue a career in emergency services. He served as a firefighter/paramedic for five years. During his tenure he earned two letters of commendation in his role of firefighter and received two awards for paramedic of the year. Don then moved on to pursue his interest in flight paramedicine. As a flight paramedic he received another commendation from Eurocopters for 1500 successful mission. Don was eventually promoted to manager of business development and marketing for two of the largest medical air carriers in the State of Arizona. Currently, Don is focused on occupational health and OSHA compliance for a large distribution facility and performs contract work for the U.S. Service as a field paramedic. During his multifaceted career, Don co-authored medical protocols and syllabus with Adam D. Corrado, M.D. for the Colorado Emergency Services Department as well as developing training protocols for aircraft escape and survival in multiple airframes. Further serving his community Don served as a board member for the San Jose Community Development Department and board member/presenter/lecturer for Mothers Awareness on School-Age Kids (M.A.S.K.). In his spare time, Don is raising a family and writing a children's book.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Member of the Board of Directors
• Registered Landscape Architect
• Web and Print Media Manager

Dustin Simmons is a Registered Landscape Architect in Arizona. Originally from the Midwest, he has lived in Phoenix now for over 20 years with his wife and two children. For many years he has designed Senior Living projects around the valley with memory care courtyards, sensory gardens, and great attention to improving the wellbeing and happiness of residents through the healing properties of nature. As a cardiac arrest survivor he is now involved on the protective side of Senior Living and has become an advocate for the policy changes RightCare is working towards to protect our most vulnerable citizens. He knows firsthand how crucial immediate-resuscitation is and how important it is to educate the public. Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States yet most people do not know what it is or what to do if someone collapses in front of them. Dustin is actively involved in the community through volunteering with RightCare, the Desert Botanical Garden, the Maricopa Master Gardener program and is the Vice President of a local Mended Hearts Chapter. Ruth Simmons has been practicing graphic and web design for over 20 years and volunteers assistance with RightCare's web site and print materials. Ruth became involved with RightCare after the founder, Steve Wagner, was the first paramedic on scene to her 911 call when her husband went into cardiac arrest. She was one of the laypeople invited to attend University of Arizona's CPR University where she learned the latest resuscitation training strategies and cutting edge technology for high performance CPR. Ruth is passionate about policy change to improve the survival rates from cardiac arrest, to honor and have available DNR orders and the training of the community in what to do in the event of a cardiac arrest. Her family's lives have been touched deeply by these issues and she will continue to work alongside RightCare until our most vulnerable citizens are protected.

Job Titles:

• Business Adviser
• Member of the Advisory Board

Geraldine Hills received a bachelor's degree in Management from Charter Oak State College and a master's degree in Nonprofit Studies (MNpS) from Arizona State University and also holds a master's certificate in Public Administration. She has started three nonprofit groups and served as a board members on several more. Her work has been recognized with various awards and honors including Injury & Violence Prevention Team Honors from Healthy Arizona 2010 Church Women United, Inc. United Nations Office, Human Rights Award for Arizona and Nu Lambda Mu Nonprofit Executive Honors Society. Her professional interests focus on public policy, advocacy, strategic partnerships and mission based fundraising.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors
• Treasurer of the Board of Directors

James Mullany is an experienced investment and management professional in public market equity, debt, and alternative asset management, including private equity real estate investment, development and construction across multiple asset classes. Early in his career, James served as a Portfolio Manager with Northern Trust Bank, a global leader in delivering innovative investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions to corporations, institutions and affluent individuals, followed by Southwest Next Capital Management and Berkana Townhomes/Old World Communities, where he was actively involved in the formation and management of both real estate related companies. Over the past 5 years, James worked with Rialto Capital Management, an international private equity and asset management real estate company. Today, James is pursuing a new entrepreneurial real estate investment and management venture, Concierge Homes. James currently serves as a Board Member for the City of Phoenix Deferred Compensation (DCP) Plan.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Social Media Manager

Jill has an extensive background in the Information Technology field where she has spent her career for the past 25 years, most recently as a Sr. Business System Analyst. She has a wealth of knowledge with business analysis, system design and operations. One of Jill's major strengths is the ability to speak the language of the business and gain their trust and provide successful solutions in a technical environment. She has a track record of brilliance in leadership skills and the ability to motivate people to stay on track and deflect negativity. Her expertise will be offered to RightCare in operations and the production system environment in paving the way to support the systems and applications needed, and keep them running consistently and smoothly for adherence to service level agreements. She can also provide skills with the flow of system and user testing necessary for changes and upgrades, and create/facilitate training as well. In addition, she will be lending her ideas and creativity in the area of social media and communications. One of Jill's hobbies is writing with a deep respect for language and the ways it can be used to build emotions and reactions. Jill's personal statement: "I am seeking to become a part of RightCare Foundation. I believe in the cause and am confident it will be a major life saving and enhancing benefit to the people it touches. It will make me happy to know that I can be a contributing part of that wonderful objective!"

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Community Advocate Adviser

Jill Ryan has always given back to her community. From 2005 to 2009, she served on The Arizona Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities began in 1978 under Governor Bruce Babbit and was established to " provide coordination and planning in the field of developmental disabilities," according to Arizona statute. To promote, through systemic change, capacity building, and advocacy activities that are consistent with the policy under section 101 (c)(2), the development of a consumer and family-centered, comprehensive system and a coordinated array of culturally competent services, supports and other assistance designed to achieve independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into the community for individuals with developmental disabilities." Ryan also served as a Board Member of Arizona Right to Life from 1995 to 1997. Jill continues to serve the people of Arizona as a current Board Member of The Arizona Consortium Council for Children with Chronic Illness. The Arizona Consortium for Children with Chronic Illness (ACCCI) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for chronically ill children and their families through advocacy and education. The principal goal of ACCCI is to achieve a coordinated, comprehensive, and responsive service delivery system that has the ability to meet the medical, educational, social, financial and emotional needs of the child and the family.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Health Care & IT Adviser

Jim has built a dynamic career growing and improving high-caliber business organizations through service excellence, technology innovation, and operational effectiveness. With nearly 25 years of demonstrated success in driving corporate value, Jim has applied his leadership and business expertise across a wide range of organizational disciplines including customer care, product development, product management, marketing, strategic planning, information technology, finance, and core operations. In his most recent role at TriWest Healthcare Alliance, he was responsible for the development and oversight of transformational and innovative service solutions supporting the delivery of world-class health care and customer friendly programs for military services members, families, and retirees. In this capacity, his organization leveraged best of breed and emerging industry technologies as well as business process innovation to deliver the absolute highest quality of service within an optimal cost structure. His product development portfolio spans a variety of customer interaction channels & technology services including web portals, social media, mobile solutions, Short Messaging Service (SMS), email services, analytic tools, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Business Process Management (BPM), and Master Data Management (MDM). Jim also held several high-profile leadership positions with world-class corporations in start-up, rapid growth, turnaround, transitional and cultural change phases - most notably with MCI Telecommunications. Jim is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Economics. He is an active member of community and professional organizations such as Fighter Country Partnership, the Global Institute of Leadership Development, Paradise Valley High School Baseball Booster Club, Little League Baseball, and the Center for Services Leadership (W.P. Carey School of Business). Jim and his family also provide financial support to organizations such as the Ryan House, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Great Hearts Academy. He lives in Cave Creek, Arizona with his wife and 3 children. Jim enjoys golfing and snowboarding with his friends and family and is an avid sports fan.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors
• Communications Advisor

With over 15 years of diverse experience in business development, marketing, management, and building client relationships at all organizational levels, Kathleen O'Brien Thompson is a skilled developer of broad-based coalitions and networks of influence to increase credibility and visibility. Analytical and possessing critical interviewing skills developed during her tenure in market research, she specializes in strategic communication consulting and the creation of polished, relevant content. Through her company, professional PUNCH, she and her team of experts provide marketing services including; branding campaigns, websites, video production and all forms of writing. With a proven track record of reputation management, enhancing brand awareness, and increasing market share delivered via robust marketing campaigns, Kathleen relished the opportunity to work as Tour Manager for American Idol. Working in conjunction with Kellogg's, she was able to ensure plentiful, ideal and unique branding opportunities that resulted in a Silver Medal Award from Event Marketer Magazine. She has worked with AMLAW 100 firms, Fortune 500 companies, was a campaign manager for the United Way and was a volunteer for the Fresh Start Women's Foundation. Currently, she works with the numerous clients including Washington Speaker's Bureau and the Phoenix Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists on creating content and providing creative direction on their web and social media platforms. Quality patient care is an important issue that she has had to deal with personally. Her experiences with learning to become a patient advocate for family members proved important when she faced her own health concern. Her story was covered in this video. Ms. O'Brien Thompson graduated Summa Cum Laude and holds a Bachelor's degree in English & Communications. She has published numerous articles, is the contributing editor to two industry publications, and serves on the board of the Society of Professional Journalists, Phoenix Chapter.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Sales Manager

Lisa comes with over 10 years of sales experience in capital office equipment, software, and medical devices. She has achieved the designations of President's club, Rep of the Year, and Rep of the Month of numerous occasions for her outstanding performance. Lisa's diverse experience has made her a top sales person on her respective teams, with the ability to connect with prospects one-on-one, at trade shows, presenting to large groups, and through webinars and social media. She prides herself on her "whatever it takes" attitude and always strives to far any and all exceed expectations. Lisa is outgoing, open, warm and is always happy to add humor to the conversation. She rarely meets people without becoming friends and creating lasting relationships.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors
• Legal Advisor
• Member of the Phoenix Fire Department

Mark J. Robens has been a member of the Phoenix Fire Department since 1998 and is a Captain/Paramedic presently assigned to the Emergency Medical Services Division. Mr. Robens has also been an Attorney for over twenty-nine years and practices law with the firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Robens practices in the area of litigation and health care law. He consults with and lectures extensively to Fire Departments/Districts, Emergency Medical Service Agencies, Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians, Hospitals, Air Medical crews and Fire Service and Medical conferences, and on medical/legal issues, risk management, personnel management, supervisory and leadership issues, documentation/charting, Ethics and Ethical Decision-making. Mr. Robens and his law firm also provide legal advice to health care companies on a broad range of issues regarding contractual, employment/labor, corporate/business, tax and risk management issues. Mr. Robens also teaches at the University and Community College level on medical-legal, supervisory, and ethics issues. His medical-legal seminars are presented all over the country at Fire Departments, and Fire Service and Medical Conferences, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Fire Department Instructor's Conferences. He is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and is also licensed to practice in the District and Federal Appeals Courts. In his spare time, he is a Commercial Pilot and has flown as an airline, air ambulance, and corporate pilot. He has two children and resides in Phoenix, Arizona

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors

Nancy Barto served in the Legislature from 2006-2022, serving as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committees in both the House of Representatives and Senate, focused on health care and family-related issues. Nancy has been a strong voice for reform and effective independent oversight of the agencies serving Arizona's vulnerable elderly in long term care, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, foster children and those with serious mental illnesses and looks forward to an alliance with the Right Care Foundation to continue advancing effective public policy in these areas. Nancy took the lead sponsored numerous health care reforms into law, protecting patient privacy and ensuring affordable health care options can flourish in our state. Nancy has also shepherded important property tax and homeowner reforms into law. She was a member of the Education and Judiciary Committees during most of her service, and co-chaired the Joint Legislative Psychiatric Hospital Review Council and the Child Safety Oversight Committee since 2013. Prior to her Legislative service Nancy enjoyed a career as a mother, community volunteer and public policy advocate. She enjoys hiking, playing piano, games and time with her family. Joe and Nancy are members of Living Streams Church. She and her husband, Joe Barto, grew up in the Valley and are proud parents of three daughters and sons-in-law and three grandchildren. Nancy studied Vocal Performance and Elementary Education at Arizona State University and A.S.U. West.

Job Titles:

• Secretary of the Board of Directors

Nathaniel "Nat" Nickele earned his B.A. in Political Science at Grand Canyon State University in Phoenix, Arizona in 2001. Nat graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Phoenix School of Law in 2008 and was admitted to practice in Arizona Federal and State courts in 2009. Since that time, Nat has focused his practice in the areas of debt negotiation/settlement, credit repair, estate planning, and real estate matters. Nat likes to consider himself as "the unlawyer" because of his straight forward, common sense approach to practicing law. In addition to his practice, Nat serves as an "of counsel" consultant to several other law firms and "in house counsel" to Toma Partners, LLC. He has served as a board member or adviser to several charities in Arizona. When Nat is not working, he behaves even less like an attorney. He can usually be found clowning around with his wife and two young sons.

Job Titles:

• Founder
• Member of the Board
• Member of the Board of Directors
• President

Wagner is CEO and Founder of The RightCare Foundation, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation and 501(c)(3) Public Charity, founded in 2010. RightCare exists to advocate for and promote best practice care in local communities. As a career firefighter paramedic and critical-care flight paramedic with over 16 years of public safety experience, Wagner brings sincere passion to RightCare causes. His role as a first responder helped him to identify the need for improvement in quality, timeliness, and accountability of care in local communities. With a strong belief that patient outcomes will improve with Immediate Resuscitation, Wagner established The RightCare Foundation, Inc. to advocate for and promote best-practice care. His first priority in establishing a foundation for the RightCare Mission was to create a RightCare Bill of Rights www.rightcare.org/bill-of-rights. This founding document serves as a guide for all current and future RightCare causes. Wagner continues to advocate for and promote best-practice care in local communities. The support of fire chiefs, IAFF locals, city councils and physicians encourages Wagner to promote The RightCare Mission to "Save lives and inspire best practice". An active member of the community, Wagner serves as appointed Council Member of The Arizona Governor's Advisory Council on Aging (GACA), Member of The Arizona Attorney General's Taskforce Against Senior Abuse (TASA), Vice Chair of The Arizona Attorney General's Healthcare Committee and Champion Member of The Health Improvement Partnership of Maricopa County (HIPMC). He is currently employed by The City of Phoenix Fire Department and has served as a critical care flight paramedic for AirEvac Services, a service of PHI Air Medical, Inc.