Leadership for Tri Valley Health System is provided by a nine-member Board of Trustees whose goal is to bring quality healthcare to the people of southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas.
Board members have a variety of leadership experience, skills and business knowledge. They utilize a team approach to governing through clear goals, effective problem-solving skills and a system-wide environment of openness and trust.
The Board of Trustees is elected by a vote of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Association members. Annual membership to the Association costs $10. For more information, contact Tri Valley Health System at info@trivalleyhealth.com.
Board members have a variety of leadership experience, skills and business knowledge. They utilize a team approach to governing through clear goals, effective problem-solving skills and a system-wide environment of openness and trust.
The Board of Trustees is elected by a vote of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Association members. Annual membership to the Association costs $10. For more information, contact Tri Valley Health System at info@trivalleyhealth.com.
Board of Trustees
LaVern Banzhaf President Member since 2017 LaVern joined the Board of Trustees in 2017. LaVern received an Associate Degree in Farm Tractor Mechanics from Central Community College in Hastings. He currently works as a self-employed farmer/rancher, which he has done since the Spring of 1990. LaVern became a member of the Cambridge Coop Board in 2001. The Cambridge Coop merged with Ag Valley Coop and LaVern continues to serve on the Ag Valley Coop Board.
|
|
John Paulsen TREASURER Member since 2019 John Paulsen joined the Board in 2019. John graduated from High School in Alliance, NE, received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Health from Chadron State, and achieved a Masters of Education in Biology and an endorsement in Educational Administration and a Minor in Emergency Medicine from UNK. John taught Life and Earth Sciences for 16 years in Blue Hill and 18 years in Arapahoe. John retired from teaching in 2018 and currently works for Misko Sports of Ord, NE. He and his wife, Jeanne and live in Arapahoe. They have three daughters that are all grown and work in medical professions. John has been a certified Paramedic since 1988 and has worked part-time as a paramedic at Eastern Ambulance, Rural Metro and Phelps Memorial. He is currently the Ambulance Chief, a member of Arapahoe City Council, an usher at Trinity Lutheran Church, Head Wrestling coach, Republican Plains Activities Conference Activities Director, CPR and EMS instructor for American Red Cross and Central Community College and a Nebraska Game and Parks Hunter and Archery Education Instructor.
In his spare time, John likes to do building projects, lawn work, archery hunting and officiating football, basketball, wrestling and volleyball. |
Marcus Vontz MEMBER Member since 2022 Marcus Vontz joined the Board in 2022. Marcus graduated from Cambridge High School in 2004 and from Dakota Wesleyan in 2008 with a degree in Business Administration. He has held many positions within the agricultural financing sector and currently is the Financial Services Officer for Farm Credit Services of America. Marcus lives in Cambridge with his wife, Cassidy, and three kids Brigham, Blakely, and Baylor. He has previously served on the Tri Valley Foundation Board and is an active member in the Cambridge Lions Club. Marcus enjoys archery hunting, golfing, and watching sporting events.
|
Dale Fahnholz MEMBER Member since 2019 Dale Fahnholz joined the board in 2019. He graduated from McCook High School in 1969 and from the Northwest Kansas Area Vocational Technical School in Goodland, KS in 1971 with a degree in Technical Drafting and Graphics. Dale worked as an Engineering Technician for various companies from 1971 thru 1978. In 1978, Dale started work with the BNSF Railroad as a Conductor until his retirement in 2011. During his employment with the railroad, he was a member of the United Transportation Union, he served on the Board of Trustees and was the Secretary/Treasurer for 16 years. Dale and his wife Cindy reside in McCook and have 2 children and 2 grandsons.
|
Derek Downer joined the Board in 2022. He grew up on a farm north of Bartley and graduated from Twin Valley High School in 2000. He attended Hastings College where he played football and majored in Business Administration and Economics. Derek and his wife Maria live in Cambridge with their 3 kids, Dylan, Leah and Halle. Derek is the Branch President of Waypoint Bank in Cambridge. He has been in banking for 17 years and completed Graduate School of Banking - Colorado in 2016. Derek serves on the Cambridge Economic Development Board, Cambridge Lions Club, Cambridge Volunteer Fire Department, and Knights of Columbus. Derek enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
|
|
Administrative Leadership
Jessica Fisher, MHA CHIEF eXECUTIVE oFFICER Jessica Fisher was named CEO at Tri Valley Health System in May 2019. Jessica has a Master of Healthcare Administration from Bellevue University. She earned a Bachelor and Associates Degree from Fort Hays State University, and also has a certification in Leadership, Human Resource Management and is a certified phlebotomist through the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Jessica served as the Director of Operations at Valley Hope Association, headquartered in Jessica’s hometown of Norton, Kansas. Prior to that she was the Human Resources and Education Director at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, Kansas and was the Inpatient Clinical Services Manager at Hays Medical Center while providing services to Pawnee Community Hospital in Larned, Kansas and St. Rose Medical Pavilion in Great Bend, Kansas. In 2021 Jessica received Certification as a Rural Hospital Chief Executive Officer from the National Rural Health Association. Jessica currently serves on the Nebraska Hospital Association Board of Directors, Nebraska Hospital Association Foundation Board, serves as Chair for District IV for the Nebraska Hospital Association, serves as the Co-Chair for Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Board, and serves on the RuralMed Health Cooperative Board. Jessica enjoys farming, spending time at the lake, golfing, baking, time with family and friends, and snow skiing.
|
|
