From a very young age, Laurie Nelson was drawn to taking care of the sick and wounded and dreamed of becoming a pediatrician. As time went on, her dreams led to a more balanced career choice in nursing. Laurie received her BSN from Wichita State University in 2001. Her first job out of nursing school was in a hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU). After two years of helping patients survive in the ICU, she made a dramatic career shift to hospice, where she found her love of supporting and empowering those who were taking their final journey out of this life. Today, Laurie is the Director of Nursing Services at CareXM, where she’s worked for 12 years, helping providers integrate new technologies into their patient care processes, which improve both the patient and caregiver experience

Shannon Pointer, DNP, RN, CHPN has over 20 years of experience in nursing, within a variety of clinic, health system, school-based and community settings. Shannon is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program of study through The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Western Carolina University. Shannon completed a Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate and a Master of Science in Nursing with a major in Nursing Systems/Populations and concentration in Community and Public Health Nursing from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She obtained her undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her ADN from Alamance Community College.
Shannon began her work within the community/public health field as a school nurse in 2004 where she learned the importance and value of good communication, collaboration and strong interdisciplinary teamwork. Shannon then entered the home health, hospice and palliative care field in 2013. Prior to employment with AHHC, Shannon served as the Director of Facility Team for Hospice & Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell who merged with Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro. Shannon has special interests in advance care planning, advance care directives and Veterans outreach and education.

Barbara has over 40 years of experience in the health care industry; including over 12 years in Hospice and Palliative Care Quality. Currently a Program Manager for Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) - a nationally recognized non-profit accreditation organization that has CMS Deeming Authority for Home Health, Hospice, Home Infusion Therapy, Renal Dialysis, and DMEPOS. As the Program Manager for Palliative Care, Private Duty and Ambulatory Care, Barbara educates and assists customers with interpreting the ACHC Standards and Medicare Conditions of Participation and advises and supports the clinical review team and program surveyors. Barbara’s experience has allowed her to successfully prepare and lead agencies with developing best practices and compliance strategies.

Andrew is perhaps best known for his songs If All the World Were Right, Twisted World and Strangers (now with Universal Music Group (UMG)/INgrooves)), but he is also one of the most influential people in the United States regarding the operations of Hospice and Homecare organizations. He has worked with over 1,300 organizations in the United States and abroad over the past 30 years. He is perhaps best known for “the Model” - a modern approach to Hospice and Homecare management which creates a high-quality, predictable experience that is financially balanced. Through humility and openness, he has helped organizations quantify, become aware of and implement innovations in management that have created some of the most successful platforms in the history of the movement, resulting in some of the highest valuations and quality scores accompanied by phenomenal economic performance. These results have been achieved by bringing meticulous FOCUS to virtually every aspect of the care experience, including perfect phone interactions, perfect Visit Structures and, if a Hospice, revolutionary bereavement. All are designed to create a high-quality, predictable experience for every patient, every time.  Andrew has been the CFO for many Hospices and Homecare entities and has served on many boards of directors and has as well been the interim CEO during turnarounds. Andrew formed Multi-View Incorporated (MVI) in 1996 to help organizations become “transformative” for all touched through dedication to the highest quality and ideals in the human experience. Since then, MVI has multiplied into several different companies including MVI, MVI Systems, MVI Benchmarking, and MVI Media. Andrew has personally visited hundreds and hundreds of Hospices and Homecare organizations. He also has produced top 5 Billboard records and worked with Grammy-winning artists and nominees. If All the World Were Right was #15 Global Top 50 Adult Contemporary Airplay & Cashbox Charts, #31 Billboard Mainstream Top 40. Cure My Mind reached #35 on the Billboard and Strangers reached #15 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary and peaked at #4 the NMW Hot 100. Coincidentally, all 3 songs were #1 for 10 weeks on the Indie US Radio Chart. His first Universal release, Twisted World reached #3 on both the Cashbox & Global Digital Radio Airplay Rock charts.

Dr. Tiffany Richter graduated from medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She went on to complete a residency in family medicine, followed by a fellowship in palliative medicine at Broward Health. Dr. Richter is board certified in family medicine and palliative medicine, as well as Hospice Medical Director Board certified. She leads Agape Care Group’s South Carolina adult palliative care program and will eventually lead the program throughout the Southeast.

Dr. Richter brings a wealth of experience in palliative and hospice care across multiple settings and states. She has practiced In-hospital palliative care in both Los Angeles, CA and in Charleston, SC, as well as an outpatient oncology focused palliative care clinic. She has also served as a full-time hospice medical director, caring for home hospice patients and patients in a freestanding hospice inpatient facility. Her history in this field has given her a passion for education and innovative models of care for patients with serious illness that focus on quality and patient experience.

Dr. Richter currently resides with her family in Charleston, SC.

Tim has 30 years of experience working in the home care, home health & hospice industry. He received his B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to home care & hospice, Tim worked for 9 years with the State Employees Association of NC and NC Bankers Association in member relations and as a lobbyist. His home care, home health & hospice experience is extensive, having worked as the first Director of Government Relations and Chief Lobbyist for the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina, Vice President of Government Relations for Comprehensive Home Health Care and Hospice (now Liberty), Director of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Planning for Tar Heel Home Health and Hospice of Tar Heel (now Kindred at Home/Gentiva), and finally as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (since 2001). 

Dallas Romanowski is an Entrepreneurial Advisor that loves helping others launch, grow, and eventually exit their business. Dallas co-founded Performance Culture, an HR Tech SaaS business, in 2015 and led a successful exit for the original investors in 2020. He remains as the company's co-founder, investor and avid fan.

1. Turning an idea into something people will buy is pretty good.
2. Growing a business to profitability with an amazing team is great.
3. Selling partial interest in your business that gives your original investors a nice return with a huge upside down the road is awesome.
4. Creating a legacy that continues to grow while helping companies build better teams that achieve better results is priceless.

I love helping others accomplish these 4 things. The 4 things I did at Performance Culture. It is tough to let go of your business. Something I'm well aware of. Some parts of letting go will always weigh heavy on your heart as my therapist helped me understand :-) If you founded a company, built a great team, and served a greater cause, you will understand that statement. Maybe my experience can help you go through this transition.

Billy Routh serves as a lobbyist and consultant for Copper Dome Strategies, LLC. He assists clients with governmental relations before the legislative and executive branches of the state of South Carolina. Billy brings more than three decades of experience in the governmental and legislative arenas having served in the executive, legislative and administrative branches of state government. He served on the staff of the South Carolina House of Representatives, ultimately becoming Chief of Staff for the S.C. Speaker of the House. Mr. Routh was the Legislative Liaison for S.C. Governor David Beasley for four years, where he worked to advance the governor’s agenda and that of his cabinet. He aided the late Governor Carroll Campbell for six years in several capacities, including serving as Director of Intergovernmental Relations and Transportation. The Columbia native also worked for the State Budget and Control Board’s Division of the Chief Information Officer as Program Manager for Strategic Communications. All of this previous experience provides Mr. Routh with a well-rounded knowledge of the governmental process and a vast network of working relationships in state government. Prior to his government service, Mr. Routh worked in the private sector as a small business owner. He also spent a number of years as a professional drummer and traveled around the world entertaining America’s troops and families with the USO. Mr. Routh is based in the Columbia office of Copper Dome Strategies.

Kevin has presented over 1,150 keynotes and leadership training workshops in all 50 states and several countries. Audiences range from high school to human resources, from college to corporate and all in between. His high-energy and engaging programs are ideal as conference keynotes and his topics integrate a variety of hot topics.

Jillian joined AHHC with nine years of experience as a healthcare advocate and a dedicated attorney and professional. Her diverse background has provided her experience in government affairs, nonprofits, association work, law, and politics. Jillian received her J.D. from Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University and a B.A. in Political Science from NC State University. Before beginning her legal career, Jillian spent eight years developing her communications and political skills in state and national politics. Jillian transitioned to law and government relations in 2013, advising clients on issues in healthcare, Medicaid, behavioral health, local government, and various other subject matters.  Jillian has been an Assistant VP at McGuire Wood Consulting, LLC and an Associate and Lobbyist for Poyner-Spruill, LLP---two firms that have worked with AHHC of NC in many areas in the past.  Jillian took a break from the large law firm world to give back and serve on the leadership team of a large, nonprofit behavioral health organization headquartered in Charlotte.  Most recently before joining AHHC, Jillian was a partner with her husband at Totman Law Office, PLLC in Raleigh, New Bern, and Charlotte. Jillian has honed her skill over the years in the coordination and development of legal and public policy strategies that support organizational goals for success. Jillian is passionate about advocating for and guiding her clients through government relations opportunities. Jillian is a current member of the North Carolina Bar Association and most notably has previously served as a Member of the Tryon Palace Commission (Gubernatorial Appointee) and Advisory Board Member of the Raleigh Chamber Young Professionals Network.

Ms. Wehri has over 30 years of experience in home health and hospice, holding several executive-level positions, with extensive and direct knowledge of industry operations, regulation, accreditation standards, interpretation and compliance, quality assessment, and performance improvement programming and compliance programs. She is the Director of Home Health and Hospice Regulatory Affairs for the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) and is educated with a bachelor's degree in health care administration and human resources from the Bowling Green State University in Ohio.