2025 Conference Speakers

From the Clinic to the Capitol: 340B Advocacy Insights for Future Change
General Session  |  Thursday, Sept. 25

Dr. Shannon Burger serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Cempa Community Care, a federally qualified health center and infectious disease specialty practice based in East Tennessee. Under her leadership, Cempa has transformed from a modest community clinic into a multi‐service health system, expanding service lines to include a full‐service community pharmacy, a dental clinic, and a mobile health unit. Dr. Burger’s strategic vision and financial acumen have guided Cempa’s expansion, simultaneously elevating clinical quality and optimizing operational efficiency.

A recognized thought leader and healthcare advocate, Dr. Burger has earned numerous accolades for her work. In 2023, she received the Kathy Wood‐Dobbins Executive Leadership Award, and in 2025, she was honored with the Silver Stevie® Award for Thought Leader of the Year in the non‐profit sector. She actively shapes policy and practice as President of the Ryan White Clinics for 340B Access and as a member of the Tennessee Primary Care Association board. Her ability to navigate complex regulatory environments has positioned Cempa as a model for other health systems nationwide.

Dr. Burger holds a Doctor of Science in Health Administration, an MBA, is a Certified Public Accountant, and graduate of the Leadership Tennessee Signature Program. Nationally recognized for her advocacy, she frequently mentors emerging leaders, lectures on healthcare policy, and collaborates with legislators to protect and expand access for vulnerable populations. Driven by an ethos that “the impossible is possible,” she continues to innovate service delivery models—partnering with organizations to address social determinants of health and ensuring that underserved communities receive comprehensive, high‐quality care.

Process, Leading & Outcomes -
Three Levels of Metrics to Deliver on Value-based Care
Breakout Session |  Wednesday, Sept. 24

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Michael Ceballos is a Senior Director leading Facktor’s value-based care work as part of the Value & Quality division. Ceballos specializes in optimizing contracts, operations, and partnerships that support risk-bearing providers to succeed in Medicare and Medicaid value-based care contracts. He brings over 15 years of experience in healthcare to Facktor, previously running profit and loss for the two largest Medicaid managed care organizations and co-leading the largest full-risk Medicare network in Ohio via a clinically integrated network. Additionally, Ceballos held leadership positions for some of the most innovative, venture capital backed healthcare delivery organizations serving Medicaid and Medicare populations. Ceballos’ focus is on partnering with clients on: understanding organizational readiness for value-based care contracts, identifying appropriate upside/downside risk levels, partner selection, contractual negotiations, operational readiness, practice transformation, identification of clinical savings opportunities, and on-going operational support. Ceballos obtained his bachelor of science from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

From the Clinic to the Capitol: 340B Advocacy Insights for Future Change
General Session  |  Thursday, Sept. 25

From the Clinic to the Capitol: 340B Advocacy Insights for Future Change
General Session  |  Thursday, Sept. 25

As a seasoned and respected government relations professional, Garrett has built a reputation for hard work and tireless advocacy for his clients. Having previously worked in both the Legislative and Executive branches of Tennessee state government, as well as the private sector, his work experience affords him a unique perspective. Garrett started his legislative career as a Policy and Research Analyst for former House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick where he forged deep and long-lasting relationships with legislators and legislative staff.
 
Garrett later transitioned to Governor Bill Haslam’s office where he became his Deputy Director for Legislation and managed a network of agency and department liaisons. Prior to creating his own firm, Garrett spent four years at The Ingram Group in Nashville where he provided strategic counsel and government relations expertise to a wide collection of clients at the state and local levels.
 
Garrett and his wife, Ann Claire, are both Tennessee natives and currently reside in Nashville with their three-year-old son, Pierce. 

Strategic Workforce Development: Building Physician and Leadership Pipelines for Community Health Centers
Breakout Session  |  Wednesday, Sept. 24

Ms. Shannon Brown Joseph is a dynamic and accomplished workforce development liaison with experience in federal and state funded programs, diversity initiatives, and programmatic development. Ms. Brown Joseph incorporates diversity initiatives, strategic partnerships, policy development, and programmatic design into talent pipeline creation. 

She is a recognized thought leader, presenting industry best practices for education, training, and work-based learning to national audiences. Her expertise allows her to support the development of registered apprenticeships and customized talent training for in-demand positions, meeting organizations’ strategic objectives. 
Before joining HMA, Ms. Brown Joseph was national director of nursing workforce pipeline for Ascension Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States. She directed nursing and nursing support workforce development programs for the system nationwide, supporting more than 150,000 employees and 2,600 sites of care, including 142 hospitals.

Ms. Brown Joseph previously served as director of workforce development at Ochsner Health. She led her team to not only increase their initiatives by over 500 percent but also implemented the initiatives throughout the system’s entire footprint. Within three years, Ms. Brown Joseph connected more than 2,000 individuals to education, training, and job placement. She accomplished this via resource acquisition efforts throughout her tenure, valued at more than $7 million.

In addition to her health system experience, Ms. Brown Joseph worked in workforce development with state agencies. Receiving an appointment as assistant secretary of labor in Louisiana, Ms. Brown Joseph oversaw all the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s (LWC) workforce development programs. She was responsible for the statewide network of American Job Centers, Business Services, Incumbent Worker Training, Apprenticeship, Veterans’ Services, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Rapid Response, Labor Programs, and state administration of the Community Services Block Grant programs.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Brown Joseph served the LWC as industry sector coordinator, where she successfully established a major partnership within the healthcare sector. This partnership continues to provide medical training and employment opportunities for long-term unemployed citizens. Another partnership Ms. Brown Joseph developed with Delgado Community College ensures intensive services for eligible veterans and their spouses, specifically veterans who are homeless, disabled, low-income, re-entering society following incarceration, recently discharged from the military, or lacking a high school diploma. As part of the program, full-time Disabled Veteran Outreach Program specialists were strategically placed on campus for student assistance. Ms. Brown Joseph convened the first cross-sector partnership in the State of Louisiana between the education and industry sectors. This collaboration led to standardized allied health training between all community colleges statewide.
Ms. Brown Joseph earned her master ‘s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and her bachelor’s degree in business administration-marketing from Loyola University in New Orleans. She is certified in diversity, equity, and inclusion by the University of South Florida and in workforce development by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals. Ms. Brown Joseph is a fellow in the William K. Kellogg Foundation Leadership and Community Engagement Fellowship, and she has previously been a fellow in the Louisiana Institute of Politics. Shannon also works to prosper her community by lending her time and talent to several non-profit organizations. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in leadership from Liberty University. She currently serves on the board of directors of the New Orleans Career Center, the Arc of Greater New Orleans and Clover. Shae has served on Advisory Boards for Next Level Nola and Goodwill Industries Technical and Training Programs. 

Outside of the office, Ms. Brown Joseph lends her experience and skills to several nonprofit organizations. She currently serves on the board of directors with of the Arc of Greater New Orleans, Algiers Economic, New Orleans Career Center and Clover. Ms. Brown Joseph works with Goodwill Industries Technical and Training, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and sits on advisory boards for Next Level Nola and the National Youth Employment Coalition Steering Committee for New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Beyond the Numbers: Strengthening Data Hygiene for Organizational Success
Breakout Session  |  Wednesday, Sept. 24

LuAnn is a nurse executive who is passionate about healthcare transformation and innovation in primary care. She has extensive experience guiding networks and safety net organizations through their value-based care journey to maximize their health information technology and use data to drive change. She is responsible for the Clinical Transformation team and develops programs to support the successful adoption of value- based care tools. LuAnn enjoys the challenge of helping others to see the good they’re doing and taking it to the next level. She believes disruption is good, focus is overrated, improved attention to health equity is imperative.

Navigating Billing, Coding, and Regulatory Considerations for Value-Based Care
Breakout Session |  Wednesday, Sept. 24

Nicole is a Senior Manager within Forvis Mazars Southern Missouri Community Health Centers Practice. Starting her career in 1995, Nicole brings more than 25 years of revenue cycle experience, involving internal audit and revenue cycle in the provider realm, including a period of time at a Federally Qualified Health Center. Nicole concentrates primarily on the delivery of revenue cycle consulting services. She also leads a dedicated group of consulting professionals serving community health centers (CHCs). 

Her focus is assisting CHCs with compliance and reimbursement through efficient revenue cycle teams and workflows that meet the healthcare needs in the communities they serve. From fee schedule assessments, sliding fee discount program reviews, and single questions to full onsite revenue cycle assessments, Nicole approaches every project as an opportunity to provide Unmatched Client Experiences™ and to grow. Nicole is a frequent speaker at state primary care association conferences, helping to educate health center representatives and expose them to opportunities to evaluate toward additional revenue, compliance, and efficient workflows. 

Nicole is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter, serving as Chair of the Program Committee and as president for 2020 through 2021. She is a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), specializing in patient financial services. 

Nicole is a 2014 graduate of Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania, with an M.H.S.A. degree. 

Busting Myths on Employee Recruitment and Retention
Breakout Session |  Wednesday, Sept. 24

Becoming REMEMORABLE- Transforming Service into Storytelling
General Session |  Wednesday, Sept. 24  

 An entrepreneur for 30 years, primarily in the hospitality industry, Bob Pacanovsky, and his team created over 7,000 meetings, events, and receptions (including catering 25 of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction events), and had one opportunity to create both a “wow experience” and a lasting impression (or a Black Tie Experience) on his clients and guests.  

Now as a keynote speaker and strategic trainer, he uses his two decades of work to teach companies and organizations how to focus on Hospitality, Service Excellence, and Selfless Leadership to create Black Tie Experiences for every client and guest.  

Bob has worked with organizations and associations across the country in industries such as healthcare, travel/tourism, senior living, hospitality, association management, education, banking,  and more.  He has achieved Professional Membership in the National Speakers Association (NSA).

Bob lives in Akron, Ohio, and is a graduate of The University of Akron with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.  He is a passionate volunteer and has served on numerous non-profit boards, including the Alzheimer’s Association, OPEN M (a Christian Ministry), Jennings Senior Living, Goodwill Industries, Humane Society of Summit County, and others.

Beyond the Numbers: Strengthening Data Hygiene for Organizational Success
Breakout Session  |  Wednesday, Sept. 24

Hannah Paxton, RN, MPH, is a nurse and self-proclaimed data nerd who believes that healthcare is a right and not a privilege. She has dedicated her career to caring for and improving the outcomes of vulnerable populations through optimization of quality improvement processes, data stewardship, and health information systems. During her 20+ years of experience in healthcare, Hannah has worked in direct clinical care positions across the continuum, as well as management positions focused on community and population health, heath services research, healthcare data analytics, quality improvement, and value-based care. Prior to Azara, she held leadership positions at a federally qualified health center and a large community-based hospital system in eastern Pennsylvania. She joined Azara Healthcare as part of a strategic merger in February 2025, prior to which she had been employed at i2i Population Health since November 2023. Currently, she is a Population Health Consultant on the Clinical Transformation team, assisting safety net customers in adopting strategies and tools to support improved population health management and value-based care.

The Health Center Success Formula:
From Clinic Chaos to Coordinated Care
Breakout Session  |  Wednesday, Sept. 24

Melissa Stratman, CEO of Coleman Associates, brings a uniquely grounded perspective to national healthcare improvement. With 32 years in healthcare, including 26 transformative years with Coleman, her journey began far from the boardroom. Raised on a farm and having tackled her first job as a school janitor, Melissa quips she’s been "dealing with the tough stuff and cleaning up messes" long before she started transforming clinics.

As a well-respected industry thought leader, Melissa has guided hundreds of health centers across all 50 states to revitalize their processes, leadership, and patient care. Her approach, honed since her early days as a pre-med student and process redesign leader at a community clinic in the late 90s, creates ripple effects from the front desk to the exam room.

Under her leadership, Coleman Associates has pioneered innovations like impactful performance dashboards, strengthening financial positions, improving quality of care metrics, and creating Vroom.Training the accelerated online healthcare training platform. Melissa provides executive advisement and coaching and is the author of the book, "Mastering Leadership: The Coleman Way--The High Impact Management Program™" Her broad expertise covers areas from payors to clinical care, and was profoundly shaped by her early career experiences, including her work as a Spanish interpreter, for a national insurer, in hospital marketing, and in front lines clinical support at a community health center. Her experiences have ignited a lifelong passion for ensuring all communities have access to care. This deeply-rooted commitment to hands-on, empathetic problem-solving, fueled by her upbringing, means Melissa is always ready to roll up her sleeves to help achieve real, lasting change.