Nightengale Luminary Awards 2020
True Colors Personality Process
True Colors Personality Process
AHEC Scholars
AHEC Scholars
2105 Clubhouse Drive, Suite A
Greeley, Colorado 80634
(970) 330-3608
contactcahec@gmail.com

CAHEC Board of Directors
David Cessna, B.A., M.Ed, Board President
Brian Lewton, Board Member, Board Vice President
Bruce Cooper, MD, MSPH, Board Treasurer
Lola Fehr, MS, RN, Board Secretary
Kaylyn Garza, MS, Board Member
Pamela Howes, MSN, MBA, CFRN, CCRN-N, CEN, Board Member
Mark Johnson, BS, EMT-P, Board Member
Samantha Mahaffey, RN, MSN, CNOR, Board Member
Shauna Richardson, Board Member

David Cessna B.A., M.Ed., Board President
David Cessna has devoted his career to managing programs and assisting
individuals with workforce and career development in higher education,
secondary education, non-profit organizations and counties. Groups with which
he has worked include college students, high school students, the unemployed,
not workforce ready individuals on public assistance, people over 50 years old,
disabled farmers and ranchers and those exiting the criminal justice system. As a
former CAHEC staff member he has worked with youth pipeline programs
throughout the region.

Bruce Cooper, MD, MSPH, Board Treasurer
Bruce Cooper is a family physician who is passionate about the health of his community. He graduated as an MD from the University of Nebraska School of Medicine and received an MSPH from the University of Colorado. He has worked for many years as a Primary Care Physician and Medical Director in Northeast Colorado. He has also worked as an educator at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Brian Lewton, Board Vice President
Brian Lewton is an associate professor of business and economics at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. He is passionate about helping members of rural communities throughout Northeastern Colorado develop the same access to high-quality, affordable healthcare that communities on the Front Range enjoy. As an educator, Brian recognizes the importance that quality education for healthcare professionals in rural areas starts at the community level in high schools and community colleges. Brian is a native rural Coloradoan, and enjoys spending time working in the local agricultural industry and helping students from all walks of life achieve their professional goals.

Bruce Cooper, MD, MSPH, Board Treasurer
Bruce Cooper is a retired family physician who is passionate about the health of his community. He graduated as an MD from the University of Nebraska School of Medicine and received an MSPH from the University of Colorado. He has worked for many years as a Primary Care Physician and Medical Director in Northeast Colorado. He has also worked as an educator at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Kaylyn Garza, MS, Board Member
Kaylyn Garza, Clinical Site Coordinator - Allied Health & Wellness at Aims Community College, joined the CAHEC Board of Directors this spring. Her role at Aims includes working closely with Aims faculty and staff in Allied Health programs as well as working with clinical sites throughout Colorado and into Wyoming. She earned her BA in Sociology at the University of Northern Colorado after completing AA in Liberal Arts at Aims. Outside of work, she is busy chasing around her two young children with her husband. Garza's connections with healthcare partners will be beneficial to CAHEC's mission and we're lucky to have her!

Lola Fehr, MS, RN, Board Secretary
Lola Fehr is a decorated nurse who has worked in a variety of clinical, administrative, parliamentary, and educator roles. She earned her BSN at the University of Denver and MS at the University of Colorado. She is passionate about continuing education for nurses and has been a supportive ally of CAHEC's NEC conference for many years. In 2023, she received the CU Nursing Alumni Association Lifetime Acheivement Award.

Pamela Howes, MSN, MBA, CFRN, CCRN-N, CEN, Board Member
Pamela Howes is an RN Paramedic, currently working in a Local Emergency Department as an educator and as needed in the local ICU. She grew up in Littleton and has lived most of her life in Colorado with her husband of 26 years and two children. Her daughter is an EMT currently and is headed to nursing school in May. Her son graduates this year and is headed to play hockey in Montana. Outside of work, she enjoys all things outside: cycling, hiking, and running. She is also an avid ice hockey player and skier.

Mark Johnson, BS, EMT-P, Board Member
Mark has been working in the emergency services field since 1974, providing emergency response and training to agency personnel and the public in emergency medical services, fire service, law enforcement, communications, and personal safety. Mark is the EMS Program Director at Front Range Community College Boulder campus.

Samantha Mahaffey, RN, MSN, CNOR, Board Member
Samantha is a fourth generation resident of Northeastern Colorado. She began her career in medicine as an EMT and then went back to school to become a nurse. She has been a Registered Nurse since 2006 and has worked in various areas including trauma, critical care, surgery, leadership and education. She is an Associate Professor of Nursing at NJC, a Hydration RN at Barnes Pharmacy, as well as a PRN staff at Sterling Regional MedCenter in the OR. Samantha is passionate about rural life and rural health care is excited to bring her experience to CAHEC.

Shauna Richardson, Board Member
Shauna Richardson is dedicated to rural healthcare with 29 years of experience within the Medical-Surgical and Administrative setting at KCCHSD. She is often credited for the successful surgery program she built within the organization and has held numerous managerial roles. She restructured the facilities purchasing program, was involved in improving healthcare and health outcomes through community engagement and education, and took part in a restructure of overall facility operations. Richardson is highly certified with: AORN's Surgery Administrator Certificate, CRCST, Advanced Gastroenterology Technician Specialist, and Seton Hall GRaduate in Health and Hospital Law. She is a loyal leader with unwavering commitment to providing quality care and preventive medicine advocacy for rural healthcare.
The Centennial Area Health Education Center is seeking Board Members.
Please download the application here, review the Bylaws
and Job Description.
Email the completed application to melissa@cahec.org.