Interview with Julie Huffaker

Bonnie Monteleone is the co-founder and Executive Director for the Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. based in Wilmington, NC.  Her research engages citizen science with school-age children to university graduate students and to date has assisted over 130 UNCW students in Directed Independent Studies (DIS)on plastic related research projects.. She co-created the course "Plastic Marine Debris Field Studies" at UNCW and has received several conservation awards for her innovative research and outreach on marine plastic pollution. She was a co-investigator on the NOAA funded research project “Microplastic Ingestion in the Black Sea Bass, Centropristis striata.” She has also co-authored five scientific publications related to plastic pollution. Ms. Monteleone is also an accomplished artist who integrates the plastic she has collected from the world's oceans (near 10,000 nm) into modern artistic masterpieces and is currently producing a full-length feature documentary titled, If the Ocean Could Talk – A Voice for the North Atlantic. In 2017 she received the Governors Award for Environmental Communication, received the 2019 YWCA Women of Achievement for her environmental work, and a NC Coastal Federation Pelican Award in 2019.

Jim is the founder and Chairman of Afterburner Inc., a prominent management consulting and leadership training firm consisting of over 80 accomplished military professionals, both current and former. Having served as an F-15 Fighter/Instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force, he established Afterburner in 1996. Jim is also the author of seven insightful books covering a spectrum of topics, from leadership and management development to veteran career transition. He stands as a globally acknowledged thought leader in agile continuous improvement, a pivotal aspect of Afterburner's acclaimed Flawless Execution methodology.

Utilizing Flawless Execution, Jim and his Afterburner team collaborate with numerous global corporations to foster results, bridge execution gaps, and expedite their individual, team, and organizational performance.

Afterburner's excellence has been lauded with six Inc. Magazine's fastest growing company awards, and inclusion in Forbes Magazine's Small Giants List. They've engaged with 85% of the U.S. Fortune 50 and numerous Global 1000 corporations spanning 24 countries. The impactful work of Afterburner has graced esteemed publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Financial Times, Newsweek, and Meetings and Conventions Magazine. Their insights have also been featured on prominent national media networks including CNN, Fox News, CNBC, and Bloomberg News.

Moreover, Jim holds the esteemed position of Co-Founder and former Chairman at Advanced Care Partners, an expeditiously advancing home healthcare company dedicated to the care of our nation's medically fragile children since 2010. The company has consistently secured a spot on Inc. Magazine's list of fastest growing companies each year since 2016 (6x). In a recent milestone, Advanced Care Partners joined forces with a leading private equity firm in the healthcare sector to propel their growth into the future.

With a keen interest in start-ups, Jim is an active investor and board member in several ventures. Presently, he is actively seeking to expand his footprint in the realm of private equity, leveraging his expertise to guide companies through Afterburner Capital.

Steve is the Founder of Elevation Project, which collaborates with elite organizations, communities, and institutions to build high-performance teams and systems.

Steve has prepared triathletes for the Kona Ironman, boxers for world title fights, and the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He was the first full-time American performance specialist in the English Premier League, leading the Sport Science efforts for Everton Football Club, facing teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea.

Steve is an expert physical therapist, sports scientist, movement specialist, and director of high performance — he supported Matt Fitzpatrick for the 2023 PGA Championship and US Open.
Beyond sport, he has coached executive VPs at Stanley 1913, performance directors at the Phoenix Suns, helped the Colorado Rapids(MLS) develop organizational identity, and has given keynotes on collaboration at Fuel50 and WebPT.

About Denise DupréDenise is the founder and managing partner of Champagne Hospitality, a hotel design and development company, and Couture Harvest, a collection of vineyards in the Champagne and Burgundy regions of France. Her hotels have earned their place among the best in the world, and received top honors from prestigious travel and lifestyle critics, including Forbes, Conde Nast, Travel and Leisure, and TripAdvisor, and her wines are the same, with the most recent “Brand of the year" award from La Revue du Vin de France for Leclerc Briant, the Champagne house established in Epernay, France in 1872 which has experienced an incredible metamorphosis in the past decade under her leadership.

ROBERT GLAZER is the Founder and

Chairman of the Board of global partner

marketing agency, Acceleration Partners.

A serial entrepreneur, award-winning

executive, bestselling author, and keynote

speaker, Bob has a passion for helping

individuals and organizations build their

capacity and elevate their performance.

Under Bob’s leadership, Acceleration

Partners has become a recognized global

leader in the affiliate and partnership

marketing industry, establishing best-in-

industry processes for client acquisition,

retention, culture and service.

Bob’s writing reaches millions of people

around the globe each year who resonate

with his topics, which range from

performance marketing and

entrepreneurship to company culture,

capacity building, and leadership.

Worldwide, he is also a sought-after

keynote speaker by companies and

organizations on subjects related to

business growth, culture, building

capacity and performance.

Outside of work, Bob can likely be found

skiing, cycling, reading, traveling,

spending quality time with his family or

overseeing some sort of home renovation

project.#1 Wall Street Journal, USA Today and international bestselling author of six

Zach Montroy is a change agent and leadership team coach who has spent two decades in executive roles, honing his expertise in organizational strategy, people operations, people leadership and scaling companies.

With a passion for helping leaders expand their impact and build trust, Zach draws from his extensive experience to help companies align their mission and values with their strategy.

Over the last five years, Zach has focused his efforts on helping entrepreneurs scale and grow their businesses, bringing his knowledge and insights to bear on the stickiest issues facing high-growth organizations. With a deep understanding of the importance of both strategy and culture ni achieving sustainable growth, Zach helps companies create high-functioning, high-impact organizations through his innovative approach to leadership.

As a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, Zach is known for his ability to distill complex concepts into actionable insights that help businesses achieve their goals. Whether you're looking to scale your business, build a high-performance team, or expand your impact as aleader, Zach's expertise and passion for organizational strategy make hmi na invaluable resource for any entrepreneur or business leader looking to take their organization to the next level.

Rupal M Patel, PT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Houston, Texas. Dr. Patel received her PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah in 2016, her MS in PT from TWU in Houston in 1991 and her BS in PT and biology from TWU in Denton in 1990. Her research streams include reduce risk factors for diabetes among an at-risk population, social and structural determinants of health and their impact on rehabilitation outcomes, factors influencing health behaviors among populations, and issues related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in physical therapy. Besides her DPT teaching responsibilities, Dr. Patel also mentors PhD students during their didactic and dissertation phases. 

Service is part of Dr. Patel's life work and passion. She has been an active member of the APTA since 1988 and has served in various roles at the component and national level over the past 30 years.  She was elected to national office to the APTA Nominating Committee in 2017 and served a chair in her final year (2020). Dr. Patel is a founding and current member of the APTA's Council on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Wellness, the Academy of Prevention and Health Promotion Therapies (APHPT), a board member and DEI Committee Co-Chair of the Physical Therapy Learning Institute (2018-present) and a board member of Empowering Women as Leaders, Inc. Houston Chapter (2023 – present). Dr. Patel currently serves as: the Federal Advocacy Liaison (FAL) for the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy (ANPT), the co-chair of the APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation (ALI) Research Committee, a member of the ACAPT NEDIC PT Education and Advancement Pathway Task Force. She was recently elected to serve as chief delegate for Texas to the APTA House of Delegates (2024 – 2027) and has been appointed as the FAL for the APTA Academy of Education (2024). Leadership is a verb - defined by your actions, rather than a noun - defined by your title is a philosophy that Dr. Patel lives by in her ongoing  service and leadership journey. Dr. Patel has presented at national and state physical therapy, public health, and rehabilitation conferences, has delivered one of the This I Believe speeches for The Graham Sessions, and also has appeared on numerous podcasts and national panels. 

Mosongo Moukwa is a seasoned executive and consultant who has dedicated his career to helping companies thrive by commercializing new technologies, diversifying their product offerings, and entering new markets.

Across thirty-plus years in leadership, Mosongo has applied his unique talent for identifying leadership gaps and developing the talent and culture necessary for success. He helps solve important innovation challenges that hold organizations back by unleashing the collective creativity of their people.

As a thought leader in leadership development and organizational change, Mosongo has shared his insights such as leadership demystified with Human Capital, and panel discussions on neuroscience, project management, and business moderated by Wanda Curlee  of American Public University. His articles have appeared in Business Today, The Journal of Creative Behavior, Crain’s Cleveland Business, R&D Innovator, and he is a regular contributor to Business Standard.

Mosongo serves as the President at Hathaway Advanced Materials and has held leadership positions in R & D and operations at some of the world’s most respected brands, including vice president, global technology at SC Johnson; vice president, global technology at Reichhold; vice president, technology at Asian Paints; director of technology at Avient (formerly PolyOne); and chief, global R & D at PCBL (formerly Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.).

Therese B. Pandl, RN, MN, MBA, FACHE

Executive Summary

Therese is a healthcare executive, with over 35 years of progressive leadership in large, complex health care systems. Successful record of achievement in building integrated systems of care, advancing physician alignment, improving clinical delivery systems as well as developing successful risk-based payment models. She has led strategic growth initiatives including multiple physician integration initiatives, alignment of independent hospitals, development of a provider-sponsored health plan as well as service line expansions. Operationally, Therese drove a division structure to reduce redundancies, increase efficiency and reduce costs across the continuum. Therese is recognized for developing teams that produce significant results while maintaining effective board, physician, and staff relationships. Passionate about coaching to enhance leadership capacity, driving improvements in safety, quality, and affordability.

Professional Experiences

• HSHS: Eastern Wisconsin Division President and CEO

• HSHS: President and CEO St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center

• Columbia St. Mary’s: Executive Vice President and COO; Executive VP of Hospital Operations; EVP Ozaukee Region

• St. Mary’s Hospital, Ozaukee: Senior VP and COO.

• St. Mary’s Milwaukee: Vice President of Operations; Vice President of Patient Services, Director Special Projects, and Education; various clinical leadership positions

Key Career Accomplishments

• Achieved highest performing division within system as Division President and CEO, drove performance of 4 hospitals including the partner relationship with an integrated physician clinic with over 400 providers (Prevea Health) and minority affiliation with a fifth hospital. Grew revenue and operating margin by over 35% over the 11 years served.

• Served on system-wide strategy team and led various system initiatives including clinical and operational improvements.

• Developed financial integration and partnership models with large multi-specialty physician group and separately with a progressive medical oncology group.

• Led initiative to implement EMR in division, which was later adopted and installed across the system.

• Developed strategic partnerships with regional hospitals through minority equity investments and service line strategies to coordinate care in broader market.

• Created Division structure for all 4 hospitals to function cooperatively with a single executive team, shared management, spreading expertise to drive highly reliable patient care, providing standardized, high quality support to each facility. Reduced management structure by over 50%.

• Implemented service line structure across the division, with vision, strategic plan and dashboards for each line. Growth and performance improvement demonstrated in each line.

• Led development of provider-sponsored health plan in partnership with well-respected existing insurer to leverage their infrastructure. Previously served as president of hospital-physician organization, which contracted with managed care to drive appropriate payment protocols.

• Developed designated Children’s hospital within a hospital, achieving significant community support through a successful multi-million-dollar capital campaign with Aaron Rodgers as Honorary Campaign Chair.

• Designed and delivered regional system agenda for performance improvement, including quality & safety, executive sponsor for LEAN program, data- driven efficiency processes and improving patient satisfaction.

• Oversaw major facility construction projects including replacement hospital, inpatient tower additions, ambulatory surgery centers, physician clinics, etc. totally over $800 million.

• Chaired Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) board, served on multiple committees and received WHA Distinguished Service Award.

Education

• MBA University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, 1992

• MN Master of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle Washington, 1979

• BSN University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1976

Certifications, Honors and Affiliations

• Fellow American College of Healthcare Executives

• American Hospital Association – Regional Policy Board- 2018 to 2020; Governing Council for Metro Areas 2011-2014

• Medical College of Wisconsin- Green Bay Campus Community Advisory Board 2015-2019

• St. Norbert College Schneider School of Business Advisory Council 2015-2020

• Congregation of St. Agnes Sponsorship Board, Fond du Lac, WI.  Jan. 2015-2018

• Prevea Health, Board of Directors 2009- 2020

• Nicolet National Bank, Board of Directors, 2010- 2016

Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, is the Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions, Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Vice Chancellor of Academic Administration at LSU Health Shreveport.  She graduated in 1987 with a BS in PT from LSU, a MHS in 1996, and she earned her PhD in Cellular Biology and Anatomy in 2006, also from LSU Health Shreveport.  Sharon’s research interests include conservative clinical approaches to the management of common musculoskeletal conditions and translational research of applied mechanical loading to healing tissue to determine dosing effects the ultimate functional and biomechanical tissue integrity.  Dr. Dunn previously served on the PT faculty and as program director, teaching professional issues, anatomy, biomechanics, and orthopaedic PT.  Her clinical practice and board specialty is in the area of orthopaedics.  Throughout her career, Dr. Dunn has been professionally engaged in efforts to promote public policies to enhance the public’s access to high quality health services and excellence in practice delivery.  She is a past-president of the American Physical Therapy Association and has significant experience in health policy and collaborative approaches to health delivery.  She advocates for a team-based approach and patient-centered management for better health outcomes in our communities.