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
Paul Shellabarger, PA-C President Member since 2017 Paul graduated from UNMC in 1976 as a Physician Assistant and has been Nationally Certified since 1977. He was employed in Cambridge as a PA for 40 years, retiring in 2016. During his PA career, he served as Chairman of CME, as well as President and Board-of-Director-at-large of the Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants. He also served on the State Advisory Committee to the State Board of Medical Examiners for 16 years. Paul is a life-time member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and served on their Rural Health Advisory Commission. Paul and his wife Shelly have two children and 6 grandchildren.
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LaVern Banzhaf TREASURER 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.
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Drew Cramer Member Member since 2019 Drew joined the Board of Trustees in 2019. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 2008 and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from UNL in 2012. Drew is self-employed as a farmer in the Cambridge area and also works as a substitute teacher. He is also involved in the community as a member of the Teammates Mentoring Program and is an assistant Track and Field coach for the High School. He is a current member of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council. Drew and his wife, Kim, live in Cambridge and have two children.
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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.
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Ginger tenBensel MEMBER Member since 2019 Ginger tenBensel is a graduate of Cambridge High School and the University of Nebraska at Kearney, with two degrees in Speech Communications and Organizational Communications from UNK. She then taught college speech classes while working on her masters at UNK. She went on to teach Journalism, Radio, Television and Film Classes at a college in Arkansas. Ginger also pursued a music career in Nashville, Tennessee, recording at Sony Tree studios and opening for some of country's top acts. For 25 years Ginger worked in the television business at television stations in several states. She interviewed doctors from across Central Nebraska for a television segment called "What's Going Around" at the Hastings NBC station. Ginger's love for her family and home brought her back to Cambridge a few years ago leaving a career she worked decades to achieve to be a caregiver for her parents. The singer/songwriter has won numerous titles in the worlds of music, horses, and TV, but her favorite titles are that of aunt, sister, and daughter.
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John Paulsen MEMBER 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. |
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. Jessica currently serves on the Cambridge Chamber Board and the RuralMed Management Resources Board. Jessica enjoys farming, spending time at the lake, golfing, baking, and snow skiing.
Keith Luedders CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Keith has worked at Tri Valley Health System since June 2013. Keith graduated from Southeast Community College in 1997 with an Associates Degree in Respiratory Care. Keith also went on to attend Bellevue University and graduated with a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 2010. Keith has worked at Beatrice Community Hospital as the Director of Cardiopulmonary and Laboratory Services and at Bryan Health in Lincoln, NE as a Manager of the Respiratory Care Department. Keith serves on the Cambridge City Council, the Cambridge Food Pantry Board, and in the past has served on the Nebraska Society for Respiratory Care Board. Keith is married to his wife Amanda who is a teacher for Cambridge Public Schools and he also has 3 sons.
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Diana Swindler CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Diana Swindler joined the Tri Valley Health System staff in 1998. Diana is a graduate of Norton Community High School, Norton, KS. She then attended McCook Community College and continued her training in accounting at University of Phoenix. Diana has previous experience in accounting working as a controller for grain and oil companies. Diana resides in Cambridge and has two married children and eight grandchildren.
Clay Jordan CHIEF nURSING OFFICER Clay Jordan was named CNO in January 2020, prior to this Clay served as Tri Valley’s OB, Trauma, and Education Services Director. Clay attended McCook Community College in 2009 receiving licensure as a Paramedic. He later pursued the nursing field and received his nursing education through Hutchinson College in Kansas.
Prior to working at Tri Valley, Clay worked as a Paramedic for Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege and as a Flight Paramedic at LifeSave Critical Care Transport. Clay has a passion for educating healthcare providers and has served as a Nebraska EMS Instructor since 2012, since that time Clay has taught hundreds of courses throughout Nebraska and Kansas. Clay has a strong passion for bringing high quality healthcare services to rural communities. |
