Meet the HWI Team

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Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, FAAN, CSP

CEO & Founder

Renee grew up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the oldest of 5 kids. There was never a dull moment in the Rossi home as her parents provided anyone in need a seat at the dinner table and sometimes a place to stay. Renee’s father had a strong work ethic (still does) and worked hard to provide for his family. Her mom kept everyone fed, watered, clothed, and is extremely kind, generous, and loving. Renee acquired her drive to accomplish everything she could in this one precious life and her passion for helping others from her parents.

Adulting didn’t come easy for Renee at first. She married young and had two kids right away, without the means to provide for them.  One day she looked around and decided she wanted a better life for her girls and for herself. So, she got her associate degree in nursing at a local community college, then got her bachelors, masters, and finally, in 2015, received her doctoral degree in nursing. Along the way, she divorced her first husband and married the man of her dreams. Together, Ashley and Renee have built a life that they love.

Ten years ago, Renee took a leap of faith, quit a really great job that she loved, and started her own business. The business started basically as Renee – a speaker. Fast-forward to today, and she’s expanded the business beyond just her and now enjoys watching her company develop into an institute that serves numerous clients around the globe.

Awards & Honors

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The Healthy Workforce Institute Core Team

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Ashley Thompson

VP, CFO, & Director of HR

Ashley was born in Alexandria Virginia, the son of military parents, but raised mostly in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania by his mother and grandmother. After more than 30 years in law enforcement and the United States Army, Ashley retired in 2017 to work full time with Renee on their business. 

Ashley serves as the VP, CFO, and HR Director working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. From finances to travel planning, Ashley provides support to Renee and the team in a variety of ways.

His passions include traveling and taking care of Renee, Pittsburgh Penguin Hockey, and watching programs such as Outlander, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead.

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Bobbie Fox Fratangelo

Senior Graphic Design Specialist, Brand Ambassador, & HWA Course Coordinator

Bobbie brings years of creativity through design to her role as Graphic Artist and Brand Ambassador.  She is the creative genius behind the Healthy Workforce Institute’s brand. She is also the Healthy Workforce Academy’s Course coordinator, helping nurse leaders successfully navigate the many online courses offered. Bobbie has been a part of the team since day 1 (well, actually before day 1). Since the first day they met, Renee knew they were destined to become business colleagues and great friends. 

Bobbie LOVES Thai food, good wine, and amazingly simple design.  She, her husband, and 2 young sons, Simon and Bennett, live in the fun little suburban of Green Tree near downtown Pittsburgh.

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Kari Jenkins

Marketing Specialist

As the Marketing Specialist at Healthy Workforce Institute, Kari brings a wealth of experience and a unique creative flair to her role. She began her professional path as an advertising executive at Verizon, which evolved into working as a marketing manager for the past decade and a half. This background has equipped Kari with a deep understanding of effective messaging, imagery, branding, and campaigning.

In her current role, she combines her love for storytelling with her marketing acumen to create impactful strategies that resonate with audiences, elevating the Healthy Workforce Institute’s mission.

Kari loves traveling, reading, running trails, Broadway show tunes, and Ted Talks. Her passion for coffee mirrors her approach to marketing: bold and invigorating. She lives in Long Beach, California, with her husband and three cats.

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Laura Dempsey

Operations Analyst

Laura is a virtual online programmer who runs various components of the Healthy Workforce Institute behind the scenes in supporting the operations department.

She previously was in the corporate finance and technology world in Boston for over 12 years before switching gears to raise her family. She currently works a suite of tools to help deliver the Healthy Workforce Institute offerings. 

Laura enjoys watching her kids play sports, reading and relaxing at the beach. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and 2 children. 

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Cheryl Fletcher, MSN, RN, NPD-BC

Director of Education & Research

Cheryl brings over 20 years of healthcare experience as a workforce development specialist with her Master’s in Nursing and Nursing Professional Development certification. She joins the Healthy Workforce Institute team as the Director of Education and Research.

She is a second career nurse, who began her nursing practice as a pediatric perioperative nurse. It was observing her grandparent’s healthcare experiences that drove Cheryl to pursue her nursing degree to have a voice elevating the care environment and promoting safe patient care.

Cheryl loves being on the beach, listening to music, working in the garden, and sipping fine wines and bourbons. She lives in the Tampa Bay area.

Celeste Youngblood Bodenbender

Client Care Coordinator

Celeste has a passion for healthcare and has spent the last 10+ years working in the healthcare industry in both Clinical and Administrative capacities. She has a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management from California State University of San Bernardino.

Celeste joined the Healthy Workforce Institute as the Client Care Coordinator and she coordinates meetings, appointments, assists with onsite itineraries, performs client support, and takes care of any miscellaneous tasks that support a successful intervention for our clients.

Celeste currently resides in Virginia and enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 boys and 2 dogs.

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Courtney Saracena

Digital Content Specialist

Courtney graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor’s in Music Education. Although passionate about music, she worked in the restaurant industry for 16 years, advancing from server and bartender to general manager.  Her exceptional writing skills, commitment to customer service, and deep desire to make the world a kinder place, led her to the Healthy Workforce Institute.

Courtney handles all things related to digital content for the Healthy Workforce Institute including social media, weekly eblasts to our community, customer care, and special projects.

Courtney was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she has lived her entire life. She loves reading, music, and all animals, especially her two amazing cats. Courtney is very thankful for her mother, Renee, who happens to be the CEO and Founder.

The Healthy Workforce Consulting Team

Bonnie-Fox

Bonnie Artman Fox, MS, LMFT

HWI Consultant & Accredited Leadership Coach

Bonnie Artman Fox works with committed leaders who want to create work cultures that bring out the best in their employees. With over 25 years in the healthcare and psychology fields, she specializes in behavior change that drives organizational performance and health.

Bonnie has a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing and is licensed family therapist as well as accredited executive leadership coach with the Boss Whisper Institute. As a speaker, trainer and coach for the Healthy Workforce Institute, Bonnie is a content expert in conflict resolution, emotional intelligence and coaching leaders to bring their best selves to the workplace.

Diane Salter, MSN, RN, CPAN, NE-BC

HWI Consultant & Nurse Executive

Diane Salter is the Director of Surgical Services at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital in Ephrata, PA. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing Administration from Chamberlain College of Nursing. Her Capstone entitled, Addressing Lateral and Vertical Violence among Nurses: The Use of Education and Cognitive Rehearsal, has enabled her to be a strong voice in promoting and providing education on nurse bullying. Diane currently serves on the American Nurses Association #EndNurseAbuse Professional Issues Panel Advisory Committee. She is a consultant to the hospital system in assisting units to educate staff on reducing bullying and lateral/vertical violence. As a trainer for the Healthy Workforce Institute, Diane is a content expert in the area of eliminating workplace bullying and incivility.

Mitch Kusy

Dr. Mitchell Kusy

HWI Consultant & Organizational Psychologist

As an organizational psychologist and 2005 Fulbright Scholar in Organization Development, Dr. Mitch Kusy brings 25 years of consulting and research experience on how toxic personalities erode the patient experience to the Healthy Workforce Institute team. His systems approach to addressing toxic personalities has become a benchmark worldwide for improving patient safety and satisfaction as well as healthcare team performance.

Author of six business books and hundreds of articles, Mitch is a professor in the Ph.D. program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University. He resides in Minneapolis in the summer and Palm Springs in the winter, “the best of both worlds”. When not working, you will find Mitch attending many Broadway productions, cooking Italian cuisine and listening to Italian Operas.

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