KYONLIt is time for the annual KONL membership to vote for open KONL Board positions. The four open positions and candidates are:
- President Elect: Michelle Pendleton, Debra Hampton
- Secretary: Kelly Jenkins, Shannon Long
- Bluegrass District Director: Rick Eckerle, Brandy Matthews
- Ohio Valley District Director: Joann Mattingly, Aimee Wentz
Keep reading for more information on all of the candidates, and to cast your vote! Voting closes on September 5, 2019. Winners will be announced at the KONL Leadership Conference on September 12 & 13!
President Elect
Michelle Pendleton, DNP, RN, CPHQ
Michelle Pendleton DNP, RN, CPHQ serves in the Learning and Development Division of Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky. Before being promoted to her current position, Michelle was the Director of Clinical Effectiveness for ten years working on process and performance improvement. Dr. Pendleton received her BSN and MSN from Bellarmine University and her DNP from the University of Kentucky. Her doctorate work focused on translation and sustainment of theory into practice. Dr. Pendleton has supported patient care in Medical/Surgical, Oncology, clinical device and drug research and quality of care issues. She serves as part-time faculty member and has consulting contracts with a national healthcare development group.
Michelle has been active with KONL for the past 5 years. Currently she is chair of the bylaws committee and co-chair of the fall conference poster sub-committee and serves as Secretary of KONL. In these roles, Michelle has contributed to the growth of KONL by supporting and driving best-practice sharing, providing input on advisory statement opinions, and encouraging KONL membership in private and public venues. Michelle strongly believes all nurses are leaders, regardless of their job title. Her vision for KONL is to engage and encourage members to professional resources for practice, and to build and grow nurse leaders in the Commonwealth and beyond.
Michelle strives to be an advocate for nurses. She enjoys igniting a passion in fellow nurses to look for innovative way to maximize patient outcomes and promote professional growth of nurses.
Debra Hampton
Debra Hampton received her MSN and PhD in nursing from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing. Dr. Hampton is an experienced nursing leader and has served in various leadership roles, to include as a middle manager, chief nursing officer, and site CEO/Chief Administrative Officer.
Dr. Hampton is the Interim Assistant Dean for MSN and DNP programs and the Graduate Leadership Program Coordinator for MSN, BSN to DNP Executive Leadership and MSN to DNP leadership programs at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. Dr. Hampton is also an Adjunct Professor at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge, LA. Dr. Hampton has Advanced, Nurse Executive certification through ANCC and AONE and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dr. Hampton’s research and publication/presentation interests include leadership, engagement, empowerment, online learning, and work/generation values.
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Secretary
Kelly Jenkins
Kelly Jenkins has been a nurse for 27 years with the majority of her career serving in a management/administrative position. She obtained her MSN from University of Southern Indiana and is Nurse Executive Board Certified. She has been an active member of KONL since 2002. She has served on the Kentucky Board of Nursing for 2 terms as the KONL representative. She is currently the Director of Quality and Case Management at Methodist Hospital in Henderson Ky.
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Shannon Long
I am privileged to be the mother of 3 teenagers and the wife to my husband Chris. We live in Stanford, KY where I have had the honor to serve the citizens of Lincoln and surrounding counties since 2001. For fun I love to travel with my family and spend time fellowshipping with my friend preferable next to a body of water.
I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. I began my career as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit, and shortly thereafter took a position at Fort Logan Hospital in obstetrics (OB). My career changed directions after a year of working in OB when I was offered the position of house supervisor at Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital (EMFLH). In this role I learned a great deal about leadership and how to lead people effectively. Ephraim McDowell opened a new facility in 2008 at which time I became the director of OB. Leading the OB staff at EMFLH has been a privilege as the unit has grown professionally with nurses who have specialty certifications, BSN’s, and have grown several staff members to move into leadership roles.
In 2010, I completed a dual degree (MSN/MHA) at the University of Phoenix. Last fall I enrolled in the DNP at Walden University. In this program I have identified improved breastfeeding outcomes as my DNP project and am currently on track to complete this degree in the fall of 2020. As I move forward in my career I plan to utilize my degrees and experiences to someday advance into a senior leadership position.
I was ask to join the adjunct staff for Campbellsville University shortly after becoming the OB director, which I have really enjoyed over the years. I love watching students grow into professionals. This fall I will be teaching the OB/Peds course for Campbellsville. Bedside nursing, nursing leadership, and teaching have helped to grow my career beyond measure. Nursing is a calling and I am thankful God called me to this profession.
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Bluegrass District Director
Rick Eckerle
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Brandy Matthews
Brandy Mathews currently serves as the Assistant Chief Nurse Executive at UK HealthCare for the Samaritan, Emergency Services, Medicine and Trauma service lines. Prior to assuming this role, Brandy was the administrator for capacity management and responsible for managing throughput activities and resources for the healthcare enterprise. She has over 20 years of nursing experience, including more than 10 years of progressive leadership experience.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in nursing, and doctorate in nursing practice all from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. She also received a master of health administration from the University of Kentucky Gatton School. Her research interests are primarily focused on the care of patients with mental health and behavioral issues in the hospital setting – specifically nurses’ perceived competency and clinicians’ self-efficacy and attitudes toward this patient population.
Brandy maintains national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a certified nurse executive. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, American College of Healthcare Executives, Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leaders, and a lifetime member of the University of Kentucky alumni association. She is currently serving on several committees, including KONL’s conference planning committee and scholarship committee and has previously served on the AONE nurse director fellowship committee. She currently serves on the Epsilon Omega chapter of Kappa Delta collegiate advisory board, advising both the operations and standards chair in building confidence and leadership skills of college women.
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Ohio Valley District Director
Joann Mattingly
Joann Mattingly, RN, DNP, MBA, Board Certification in Nursing Administration ANCC is a Director of Patient Care Services at Norton Hospital specializing in the Medical-Surgical and Women’s Service’s areas. Joann received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisville, Masters of Science in Nursing from Bellarmine, Masters of Business Administration from University of the Phoenix and Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Spalding.
Joann is also an active adjunct faculty member and clinical instructor for the BSN program at Bellarmine University and is on the board at Bridgehaven.
Joann is a member of the American Medical-Surgical Nurses, Kentucky Nurses Association (River City Chapter), American College of Healthcare Executives, Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leaders, and the American Nurses Association.
Joann was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and currently lives in Greenville, Indiana. Joann is the proud mother of two daughters, beautiful grand-daughter and new grandbaby due in December. Joann enjoys spending time with family, hot yoga, cycling and NFL football.
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Aimee Wentz
Hello, my name is Aimee Wentz. I am from Meade County, Kentucky where I live on a small farm with my husband Jason, daughter Hannah, one dog, 11 cows, 12 chickens, and a miniature donkey. I work in Elizabethtown at Hardin Memorial Hospital (HMH) and have been a dedicated employee there for 18 years. My background is emergency and surgical services nursing and I have a national certification in operating room nursing (CNOR) since 2014. I have been with the HMH education department since 2013 and I am currently the Director of Education Services. I also function as the HMH Pathway to Excellence Coordinator and we recently achieved our first ever designation in May of 2018. I have been an active member of KONL and the Ohio Valley District since March of 2017. HMH has hosted one Ohio Valley District meeting in October of 2018 with another planned in October of 2019. I feel honored to have been awarded a KONL Scholarship in 2017 and 2018 that helped fund my MSN degree from Western Kentucky University. KONL has provided so much to my professional growth in such a short period of time and I am excited to continue to utilize all resources they provide to nursing leaders across Kentucky.
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