970.986.3653
Leadership & Staff
Angelina Salazar, MA
Chief Executive Officer
W.F. (Bill) Raimer, CPA, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Elizabeth Hanckel, MA
Chief Human Resource Officer
Sharma Vaughn, RN, MPA
Executive Director,
Community Care Alliance
Bobbie Orchard
Director,
Marketing
Pilar Mank
Director,
Outreach
Jo Ellen Hill
Director,
Revenue Cycle Services
Stephen Day, M.ED.
Director,
Information Technology
Vonna Funk, MBA
Controller
Marguerite Tuthill, MPH
Director, Value-based Contracting & Data,
Community Care Alliance
Gregg Davis, MD, MBA, FAAFP
Medical Director,
Community Care Alliance
Steve Clemmer
Assistant Director,
Information Technology
Lindsay Holman, BBA
Manager, Human Resource
Kathryn Steele, AA, Medical Assistant
Quality Improvement Specialist,
Community Care Alliance
Amber Kochevar
Quality Improvement Specialist,
Community Care Alliance
Jennifer Pepper
Executive Assistant
Nicholas Trumbo, BA
Marketing Coordinator
Cassie Fanning
Outreach Coordinator
Jessica Hicks, BBA, BS
Health Data Coordinator,
Community Care Alliance
Angela Lynch, BA
Administrative Assistant
Sierra Jackson, BA
Administrative Assistant
Misty Decker
Administrative Assistant,
Community Care Alliance
Angelina Salazar, MA
Chief Executive Officer
Angelina is the Chief Executive Officer of WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. Working with the Board of Directors, key stakeholders, and the executive management team, she establishes long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies for the overall benefit of rural healthcare in Colorado and eastern Utah. She joined the WHA team in May, 2016 to strengthen and lead the marketing and communications programs. In January 2019 she was named CEO after stepping into the interim role in July 2018.
Angelina started her career in education quickly advancing her role from Outreach Coordinator to Regional Development Director for a national nonprofit. After many years of developing programming and support, Angelina was recruited into the realm of healthcare. She started in marketing for a Critical Access Hospital in western Colorado, quickly advanced to Director of Customer Service, Marketing, Community Relations, and Development. Before leaving the hospital to join WHA, she held the executive position of Vice President of Business Development. In that role, she oversaw all communications, volunteers, marketing, physician services and identified business development opportunities. She established and implemented the infrastructure to support the organization through state and federal grants, fundraising events, and the establishment of a foundation.
In addition, Angelina is active in her community having served as both board and committee member for several local nonprofit entities including Marillac Clinic, United Way, Riverside Education Center, Rotary and the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. Her dedication to solving rural healthcare challenges and building strong relationships in the community have helped to build visibility, impact and financial stability.
Angelina possesses a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a minor in Spanish, two Master of Arts Degrees in Language Acquisition and Psychology as well as a certification in mediation and conflict resolution.
Bill Raimer, CPA, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Bill is the Chief Financial Officer of WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. As the Chief Financial Officer, Bill develops effective strategies and identifies opportunities to maximize our organizational impact for WHA’s rural members and clients. He serves as a member of the executive management team and is actively involved in ensuring WHA meets the needs of members and clients.
Bill joined WHA with more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience in various capacities in the construction and manufacturing industries.
Having been born in Montrose and growing up in Grand Junction, he feels deeply connected to the people and the lifestyle of western Colorado. Bill studied accounting at Colorado State University, is an actively licensed CPA, and is an MBA candidate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Sharma Vaughn, RN, MPA
Executive Director, Community Care Alliance
Sharma is the Executive Director for WHA’s Community Care Alliance. In this role, she provides leadership to develop a clinically integrated network for value-based contracting and population health strategies via the Western Accountable Care Organization in Colorado and other states. She is also a member of WHA’s executive management team.
Prior to joining the WHA team in 2019, Sharma was the Chief Nursing Officer at Rangely District Hospital. She was raised in western Colorado and has a passion for rural healthcare, population health, and healthcare reform. As an RN with a background in business, it was natural for her to come alongside the Community Care Alliance in its pursuit of high-quality care.
She has extensive experience in healthcare administration, clinical operations, nurse management, key policy and procedure development, strategic analysis and planning, and trends tracking. She belongs to several professional affiliations and has a Master of Public Administration.
Elizabeth Hanckel
Chief Human Resource Officer
Elizabeth is the Chief Human Resource Officer for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, she leads all workforce initiatives and is a member of the executive management team.
Elizabeth offers more than 35 years of healthcare experience—30 of those as an HR executive and consultant for a variety of healthcare systems and associations. Passionate about her work, she is recognized nationally as a leader in HR strategy and transformation. In addition to interim executive assignments, Elizabeth has provided HR consulting services to a variety of healthcare clients.
Prior to joining WHA, Elizabeth worked solely as a consultant in the field, guiding healthcare organizations through successful transitions geared toward improving HR strategies and organizational performance. As a partner, she has served as interim Chief Human Resources Officer/Executive with various hospitals and healthcare organizations around the country. She has a broad-based background working with these institutions and handling their unique challenges both rural and urban. Elizabeth’s ability to work with individuals at all levels of the organization guarantees long-term positive results and inspires others to reach their full potential.
Prior to her consulting career, Elizabeth served as Vice President of Human Resources at St. Mary’s Health System, Health Services Corporation in Grand Junction, Colorado, and Administrative Director of Human Resources for Inner Harbour Hospitals in Douglasville, Georgia, and the Hyatt Hotels Corporation. These in-house positions provided her with a deep appreciation and understanding of the HR challenges organizations face.
Elizabeth is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Society for Healthcare Human Resource Management and Society of Human Resource Management. She has worked on the Governor’s Committee for Welfare to Work in Colorado, has served on the Council on Child Abuse in multiple states, and has been a member of numerous United Way committees. She has been quoted in industry publications and makes presentations at various industry events. Elizabeth earned a Master of Arts in HR Development from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bobbie Orchard
Director, Marketing
Bobbie is the Director of Marketing for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, she leads our communications and marketing strategy.
Bobbie is also the lead staff member for program development and partner vetting. She works closely with partners to ensure programs run smoothly for members.
She joined the WHA team in 2007 and has over 20 years’ experience in event planning, project management, contract management, and corporate communications. Her diverse professional background includes positions as a Director of Revenue Management for Starwood Hotels and Executive Director for a western Slope Chamber of Commerce. Bobbie earned her Associates Degree from the Colorado Institute of Art.
Pilar Mank
Director, Outreach
Pilar is the Director of Outreach for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, she leads our outreach strategy for members.
Pilar is the lead facilitator for seven WHA Peer Network groups and works to ensure consistency across all Peer Networks. She provides outreach services to increase member awareness of WHA programs, acts as the go-to resource for healthcare industry trends and information, provides dedicated customer service to ensure member retention, and visits member facilities.
Pilar joined the team in 2007 and has over 30 years of customer service experience. She has spent the past 18 years in healthcare as an Admissions Manager, PFS Director, Consultant and Trainer on Admissions, Customer Service, and Upfront Collections and Charity.
Pilar is the President of the Colorado Chapter of HFMA, Chair-Elect of HFMA Western Symposium, and is on HFMA’s Association Education Committee. She has also served as Secretary, and board member of AAHAM. Pilar has a certificate in Business Administration from Mesa State.
Jo Ellen Hill
Director, Revenue Cycle Services
Jo Ellen is the Director of Revenue Cycle for WHA and its affiliated company, Healthcare Management. In this role, she leads the operations team our Revenue Cycle programs.
Jo Ellen joined the team in August of 2018 as Director of the Central Business Office and became Director of Revenue Cycle Services in early 2019. She brings 30 years of experience in healthcare Revenue Cycle to her new position, including patient access, HIM, and patient financial services.
Prior to joining WHA, she worked as a consultant and Revenue Cycle Director for large and small hospitals. She was responsible for reducing and maintaining A/R days, DNFB days, implementing point of service collection programs, and mentoring and training team members. She has been involved in EHR and EMR conversions, as well as assisting with implementing new software for clients. Her background also includes hospital, physician, home health, DME, long-term care and hospice accounts receivable.
Stephen Day, M.ED.
Director, Information Technology
Stephen is the Director of Information Technology for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, he is responsible for maintaining company-wide IT infrastructure, providing IT support to staff, and interfacing networks with clients. He is also responsible for the development and enforcement of HIPAA/HITECH, PCI DSS, and other state and federal information systems regulations.
He joined the team in 2005, after spending 10 years as the Information Services for Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, Colorado
Stephen has a BS in Chemistry and Mathematics from Wayland Baptist University, did graduate study in Chemistry at the University of Kansas, and has a Master of Education from Eastern New Mexico University. He had done graduate study in Computer Science from the University of New Mexico where he subsequently became the Director of Computer Services for the School of Medicine.
Vonna Funk, MBA
Controller
Vonna is the Controller for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, Vonna oversees all accounting functions.
Vonna joined WHA in 2012 as the Assistant Controller and was promoted to the Controller position in 2013. She has over 30-years’ experience in accounting and was a tax accountant with H & R Block before joining WHA. She was also the Accounting Manager/Medicare Billing Specialist for Interim Healthcare.
Vonna was born and raised in Grand Junction and her family runs a local upholstery business. She earned her MBA with emphasis in accounting in 2012 from University of Phoenix.
Marguerite Tuthill, MPH
Director, Value-based Contracting & Data, Community Care Alliance
Marguerite is the Director of Value-based Operations for WHA’s Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role, she is responsible for business development and operations related to WHA’s value-based care solutions, concept and program analysis, project management, and monitoring federal and state legislation and health policy activity associated with and/or related to rural health.
Marguerite joined the CCA team in May 2015 as an Administrative Fellow. Following the conclusion of her fellowship, she was hired as the CCA’s Planning Analyst before becoming the Network Development Manager in 2018 and the Director of Value-based Operations in 2019.
Marguerite holds a BA in Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and a Master of Public Health in Public Health Administration and Policy from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Her Master’s thesis work focused on the use of publicly available data to inform the decision to create a clinically integrated network in a rural community.
Tyler Downing, CPC
Director, Data Innovation, Community Care Alliance
Tyler is the Director of Data Innovation for WHA’s Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role, he is responsible for data configuration, reporting, analytics, and modeling for all value-based programs facilitated within WHA/CCA.
Tyler joined the CCA team in 2017 as the Health Data Informatics Specialist and became the Director of Data Innovation in 2019. He has over 17 years’ experience in healthcare data reporting and predictive analytics. He is also a Certified Professional Coder.
Prior to joining the CCA, Tyler was the Associate Director of Healthcare Economics for United Healthcare/Optum and the Data Principal for Rocky Mountain Health Plans. He is also the author of “Comprehensive Healthcare Reporting and Predictive Analytics” which is a textbook aimed at facilitating the development of accurate and intelligent solutions from standard healthcare data sets. Over the span of his career, Tyler has worked within most facets of healthcare data in both commercial and government markets.
Tyler is passionate about making an improved impact on the state of healthcare costs and quality. He is very excited to be a part of with CCA and their mission to be leaders in the ACO market and the greater healthcare delivery system. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a second in Theater Arts/Dance.
Gregg Davis, MD, MBA, FAAFP
Medical Director, Community Care Alliance
Dr. Davis is the Medical Director for WHA’s Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role, he is responsible for managing the clinical direction of CCA, including working with participating providers to develop clinical initiatives.
Dr. Davis joined the CCA team in 2018. He is board-certified in family medicine and practiced in rural Illinois for 36 years. He has served as the Chief Medical Officer for the Illinois Rural Community Care Organization, as a Chief Executive Officer and board member for a Critical Access Hospital, and a Director for the American Association for Physician Leadership.
He was awarded the 2016 Rural Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Health Association, the State of Illinois Senate Recognition Award, and the State of Illinois House of Representatives’ 99th General Assembly House Bill 1436. Dr. Davis has received a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Business Administration.
Steve Clemmer
Assistant Director, Information Technology
Steve is the Assistant Director of Information Technology for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, he is responsible for assisting with department oversight, systems and network administration, and interfacing client networks.
He joined the team in 2016 and has over 20 years’ experience in IT, six years in the healthcare industry. Prior to joining WHA, he was the Systems/Network Administrator and HIPAA Security Officer for HopeWest in Grand Junction.
Steve received his education as a Nuclear Engineer while serving in the United States Navy. He holds certifications for A+, Network+, MCSE, VMWare+, Cisco CCNA, and Fortinet NSE4.
Kathryn Steele, AA, Medical Assistant
Quality Improvement Specialist, Community Care Alliance
Kathryn is a Quality Improvement Specialist for WHA’s Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role, she is responsible for assisting participant practices with operational efficiencies, training, process improvement, and more.
Kathryn joined the CCA team in 2016 with six years of experience as a quality improvement professional, having worked with practice transformation programs in Colorado and nationally. Her skill set includes a strong background in clinical practice settings, optimizing office workflows, coaching, communication, and collaborative networking in organizational settings to maximize quality objectives.
Her most recent work experience was with the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium (NRACC) as a Regional Quality Manager, serving remotely from western Colorado. Her focus was on TCPi transformation work, bringing technical assistance and education to practices to prepare for the transition to value-based medicine. Prior to her work with NRACC, she worked with the Colorado Rural Health Center as a Quality Improvement Specialist. In that position, she was a statewide contact with the State Office of Colorado Rural Health that included oversight of 45 clinics.
Her background in rural health, practice education, workflow analysis, process mapping, clinical health coaching, PCMH, and quality data reporting make her a seasoned and effective member of the CCA team.
Amber Kochevar
Quality Improvement Specialist, Community Care Alliance
Amber is a Quality Improvement Specialist for WHA’s Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role, she is responsible for assisting participant practices with operational efficiencies, training, process improvement, and more.
Amber joined the CCA team in 2019 and her passion in supporting practices in navigating the shift to value-based care is a great asset to the team.
Prior to joining the CCA team, she worked in the primary care setting as a Clinical Care Coordinator and has in depth knowledge of CPCI incorporated in a multidisciplinary setting. She brings more than 20 years’ experience in various capacities including clinical and administrative leadership.
Migrating to Colorado in the late 80’s, Amber raised her family in the Grand Junction area. She enjoys traveling and the outdoors.
Summer Markley, BA
Executive Assistant
Summer is the Executive Assistant for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management (HCM) and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, she directly supports our Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team. In addition, she supports both the WHA and HCM Boards and committees.
Summer joined the team in 2016 as an Administrative Assistant, in early 2019 she was promoted to the Executive Assistant position. With over six years of experience in executive-level support, she is well-suited for her role. Since joining the team Summer has supported WHA’s Leadership Academy and has been instrumental in helping build a new and enhanced curriculum.
Prior to joining WHA, Summer worked for three years as an Administrative Assistant for a Grand Junction company. In this role, she gained a copious amount of experience in Human Resources, payroll, billing, accounts payable, travel arrangements, customer service, problem-solving, technology integration, and safety. In addition, she produced the company’s quarterly newsletter and streamlined many processes.
Summer earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Columbia College.
Lindsay Holman, BBA
Manager, Human Resource
Lindsay is the Human Resources Manager for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, she directly supports our Vice President of Workforce Strategies and supports the HR Peer Network, HR strategies for WHA, and supports workforce initiatives for the network.
Lindsay also provides assistance facilitating Human Resource processes, administers employee health and welfare plans, focuses on employee relations, and works with employees regarding employment and benefit activities. Lindsay follows workforce legislation and regulatory requirements and maintains WHA’s HRIS. She has shown leadership in the area of employee engagement ensuring continuously improving results for our team.
Lindsay joined the WHA team in 2012 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Marketing from Mesa State College.
Nicholas Trumbo, BA
Marketing Coordinator
Nicholas is the Marketing Coordinator for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, he provides marketing support through graphic design, website management and development, project management, and more.
A member of the team since early 2019, Nicholas brings a new approach to marketing and design while keeping true to the ideals and history of WHA. Prior to joining the WHA team, Nicholas spent five years working in the print and marketing industries and brought that experience with him to WHA.
He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design from Colorado Mesa University in 2013. A family man at heart, Nicholas enjoys spending his down time with those closest to him.
Cassie Fanning
Outreach Coordinator
Cassie is the Outreach Coordinator for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, she supports our Peer Networks and provides member support through outreach activities.
Prior to joining the WHA team in 2018, Cassie worked in customer service for seven years and has six years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has worked in many aspects of healthcare, such as cardiac care, medical staff services and pediatric therapy.
Cassie was born in California but moved to Grand Junction at an early age, where she lived until she was in high school. At that point she moved back to California, then to Wyoming, but found her way back home to Grand Junction.
Jessica Hicks, BBA, BS
Health Data Coordinator, Community Care Alliance
Jessica is the Health Data Coordinator for WHA’s Community Care Alliance. In this role, she assists in building data structures, reporting mechanisms and EMR connectivity, and interoperability mapping and validation.
Jessica joined the CCA team in 2019. Throughout her education and career she has transitioned from the clinical side of healthcare as a Nursing Assistant to the Information Technology side. Jessica’s most recent work experience was with Rocky Mountain Health Plans as a Member Benefit Configuration Analyst. Her previous projects include two system upgrades in two different companies and the building of a forensic medicine database.
A Grand Junction, Colorado local, Jessica holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Information and a Bachelor of Science with a major in Computer Information Systems.
Angela Lynch, BA
Administrative Assistant
Angela is an Administrative Assistant for WHA and its affiliated companies, Healthcare Management and the Community Care Alliance. In this role, she provides administrative support for our Chief Financial Officer.
Angela joined the team in 2019 and has almost ten years’ experience in the health insurance industry, including auditing and system testing. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
In her spare time, Angela enjoys spending time with her son and learning Brazilian jiu jitsu.
Jennifer Pepper
Project Coordinator
Jennifer is the Project Coordinator. In this role, she provides team support through meeting coordination, database management, and special projects.
Jennifer joined the WHA team in 2015 and has held several positions. She has over 10 years administrative experience, seven providing executive-level staff support in the credit and collection industry.
Misty Decker
Administrative Assistant, Community Care Alliance
Misty is the Administrative Assistant for WHA’s Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role she supports the CCA team with administrative functions and meeting coordination.
She joined the team in late 2019 following a role in Medical Office support where she worked closely with the Care Coordination team, as well as supported all members of the practice including providers, office manage, and both he back and front offices. Misty has over a decade of experience in the freight forwarding industry coordinating ocean export for several global companies.
Misty, her husband, and their dog, moved to Grand Junction two years ago to enjoy all the mountain biking and hiking the Western Slope and surrounding areas have to offer. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics in 2005 from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.
Sierra Jackson, BA
Administrative Assistant
Sierra is an Administrative Assistant for WHA and its affiliated companies. In this role, she provides administrative support for our Corporate Partner programs, Leadership Academy, Marketing department, and other departments as needed.
Sierra joined the WHA team in fall of 2020 and has eight plus years’ experience in marketing, event planning and administrative work. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing and Human Resource Management from Oklahoma State University in 2012. She is also a certified Colorado Notary.
Sierra enjoys going golfing and hiking during her free time. She also enjoys a good thriller or horror movie.