Becky L. Ayers, MHA, MBA, FACMPE, Carolinas Healthcare System
ACMPE - How to Reach the ACMPE Summit
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM (Thursday)

With over 30+ years of healthcare experience from the US Army, to inpatient hospital, and outpatient clinic operations, Ms. Ayers has earned a Master of Health Administration (MHA), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Fellowship in the American College of Medical Practice Executives (FACMPE), and currently pursuing a Doctor of Health Administration (DHA).

Over the past two decades, she has had the privilege of serving as past presidents for the local chapters of Professional Association of Healthcare Office Management (PAHCOM), Charlotte Area Medical Group Management (CAMGM), and currently a member of the North Carolina MGM Tri-State Conference Committee, national ACMPE/MGMA Examinations Committee, and ACMPE/MGMA Body of Knowledge Subject Matter Expert.

At present, she is an Assistant Vice President with Carolinas HealthCare System and has an intrinsic passion for servant leadership, teaching, and mentoring with colleagues. She lives with two loves of her life, Sam and Rocky; big fluffy Maine Coon cats!

Blanca Cobb, CEO, TruthBlazer
104 - Solving the Mysteries of Body Language
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Thursday)
204 - Solving the Mysteries of Body Language
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Thursday)

Blanca Cobb, Founder and CEO of TruthBlazer LLC, is an internationally recognized body language and nonverbal communications expert who uses her behavior analysis expertise and psychology background to break down the complexities of human behavior to help professionals strategically use both verbal and nonverbal communication to advance their careers. With Blanca’s techniques, business people increase their influence, authority and power to get the career they want and deserve.

She is also a Senior Instructor at the Body Language Institute in Washington, DC. Blanca is an ‘in-demand’ media guest, keynote speaker and coach who’s been featured on TODAY Show, HLN’s Dr. Drew On-Call, Good Morning America, CNN, USA Today, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC affiliates, radio shows across the nation as well as quoted in the New York Daily News, The Root, Cosmopolitan and Veja magazines.

Leah Cook Paraschiv, CMPE
Landscape Changes via Legislation & Business Meeting
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM (Thursday)

Leah Cook Paraschiv, CMPE is a client manager and reimbursement expert. She has more than six years of experience in revenue cycle management, operations, financial analytics, contract negotiations, and software implementation. In her current position at MSOC Health, Leah is a part of a team that works with each physician practice to understand its unique characteristics and culture and recommend approaches designed to assist medical providers in maximizing reimbursement, reducing operating costs, and proactively adapting to the changing healthcare environment.

Leah is currently a member of the North Carolina MGMA Medicaid Committee and serves as the organization’s Student Outreach Liaison. She has also enjoyed working closely with NCMGMA Advocacy and Worker’s Compensation Committee members, the North Carolina Medical Society, and officials at DMA, CSC, and the North Carolina Industrial Commission on issues affecting practices across the state. In her free time, Leah is an avid reader and shoe collector.

Sandra Jarrett
Landscape Changes via Legislation & Business Meeting
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM (Thursday)

Sandra is the Practice Manager for Salisbury Orthopaedic Associates, an affiliate of Wake Forest Baptist Health. She has been a member of NCMGMA since 1995. A member of the Medicaid Committee for the past 12 years and chairman for the past three. During this time she has been involved in helping practices with difficulties and issues with the NCTracks transition.

Sandra has also been involved in Advocacy for Medical Groups and continues to work on issues that affect the Medical community.

Sandra was honored with 2015 Administrator of the year and 2014 Presidents award.

Will Latham, President, Latham Consulting
103 - Overcoming the "Dirty Little Secret"
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Thursday)
203 - Negotiation Skills for Medical Group Managers
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Thursday)

For more than 25 years, Will Latham has worked with medical groups to help them make decisions, resolve conflict and move forward.

During this time he has:

• Facilitated over 900 meetings or retreats for medical groups.
• Helped hundreds of medical groups develop strategic plans to guide their growth and development.
• Assisted over 130 medical groups improve their governance systems and change their compensation plans.
• Advised and facilitated the mergers of over 135 medical practices representing over 1,300 physicians

Will has an MBA from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a frequent speaker at local, state and national, and specialty-specific healthcare conferences.

Because of these credentials, Mr. Latham brings a unique and in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry and an appreciation for the practical realities faced by medical groups in today's rapidly changing environment.

Mary Kelly, PhD CDR, US Navy (Ret), Productive Leaders
General Session - Navigating the World of Leadership
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM (Thursday)
102 - Master Your World: Leadership Lessons from the Dog
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Thursday)
202 - Master Your World: Leadership Lessons from the Dog
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Thursday)

Mary is an economist and best-selling author specializing in business and leadership development to improve efficiency and profits.

A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Mary spent 21 years on active duty, achieving the rank of Commander. She has trained over 40,000 military and civilian personnel in multi-cultural environments all over the world. She now builds successful strategies for corporate and association leaders.

She has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Entrepreneur, Men’s Health, and other periodicals. Fun and funny, Mary is a college professor, international speaker, and author of award-winning leadership books.

Mary’s workshops are content-rich, enjoyable, and tailored to meet the needs of each audience.

Rob Kramer, Founder & Principal, Kramer Leadership
101 - Transforming Engagement & Culture Through Everyday Conversations
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Thursday)
201 - Leading Up
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Thursday)

Since 1998, Rob Kramer has provided executive coaching, consulting and business training for a variety of sectors, with significant experience in healthcare and teaching hospitals. He served the director of Training & Development at the University of North Carolina (UNC), where he oversaw management, supervisory and leadership development for the University's 12,000 faculty and staff. Rob then founded the Center for Leadership & Organizational Excellence at NC A&T State University. Rob continues working in faculty leadership development at UNC’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities. His forthcoming book from Springer Publishing is entitled, “Management and Leadership Skills for Medical Faculty – A Practical Handbook,” and he contributes a leadership column for Advance healthcare magazine. Rob is also an executive coach for the Center for Creative Leadership, an organization ranked among the best executive education providers in the world, and is adjunct faculty at the Federal Executive Institute, the premiere executive training provider for the federal government.

Kyle Matthews, CEO, CardioVascular Associates of Mesa, P.C.
General Session - 10 Mistakes We Keep Making as Practice Managers
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Wednesday)

Practice administrator, volunteer, pilot, referee and millennial are all words that summarize Kyle. Starting at age 12, Kyle volunteered each summer for the Southeast Regional Head Start Training Agency, T/TAS. Kyle started traveling for work at 16 and was running conferences by age 18.

Kyle then attended Freed Hardeman University in Henderson, TN and obtained degrees in Accounting and Finance. In 2003, Kyle began working as a Staff Accountant for AmSurg in Nashville. In 2005, Kyle transferred to the Tempe, AZ office and began working as Director of Business Operations. This role encompassed overseeing the entire revenue cycle for up to 16 ambulatory surgery centers in Arizona, California, Washington and Wyoming.

In 2008, Kyle decided to relinquish the road warrior status and started working for CardioVascular Associates of Mesa (CVAM). Kyle also served one term as Chief Operating Officer of Cardiovascular Management of Phoenix which has brought together 12 practices and over 100 physicians into a consortium of cost-savings, strategy and quality management. Kyle is also very active in MGMA having served as Treasurer, President-Elect and President of Arizona MGMA and as co-chair for the 2014 4-Corners MGMA Conference. Kyle has also served on National Committees such as PEER, AC Abstract Review, AC Member Engagement Feedback Team, and AdminiServe Review.

When away from the office, Kyle can be found on a soccer field refereeing, chasing around one of his 2 Shiba Inus or up in the sky as a private pilot flying out of Chandler, AZ.

Peter Metzner, MA, MPA, CLC, President, Dynamic Change, Inc.
General Session - People Mapping
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM (Friday)

Peter Metzner is a Professional and Board Certified Coach. He is certified to “Train the Trainer” for Peoplemap Systems. Peter is the President and founder of Dynamic Change, Inc. He has facilitated hundreds of team development and training programs and coached scores of executives from city government, federal agencies, universities, hospitals, colleges, schools, non-profits, associations, as well as professional offices and businesses. He has served as Vice President of Client Relations and Program Development for The Leadership Trust.

Before joining the Trust, he was employed by the Center for Creative Leadership, where he helped customize executive development and training programs for major businesses and corporations. Peter also teaches Psychology at Vance-Granville Community College, and facilitates seminars on Leadership and High Performing Teams at UNC Chapel Hill, Elon University and Duke University Medical Center. He is also an adjunct Instructor for the Institute for Life Coach Training.

Karl Stein - Executive Director, Raleigh Orthopedic Clinic
Landscape Changes via Legislation & Business Meeting
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM (Thursday)

With over 40 years of healthcare experience from administrator to executive director, Karl Stein has earned Master of Health Administration and Bachelor of Science degrees from Indiana University. Over the past two decades, Karl has served as Executive Director of multiple clinics and currently with Raleigh Orthopedic Clinic, a full-service orthopedic practice with 22 physicians, 4 offices, and 330 employees.

Deborah Teasley, PhD - President & CEO, Southern Regional AHEC.
Pre-Conference Sessions - Work and Life Harmony: Can you have it all?
2:00 AM - 3:30 PM (Wednesday)

Dr. Teasley holds a PhD in Health Administration from Texas A&M University and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. She is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Southern Regional Area Health Education Center and adjunct Assistant Dean at Duke University Medical Center. She has extensive experience in health care management including CEO of an urban hospital and corporate Chief Operating Officer of a large healthcare system. As adjunct faculty, Dr. Teasley teaches health policy and strategic management. Her special interests are in leadership and organizational development including appreciative inquiry. Outside of work she SCUBA dives and teaches yoga.