Vanessa Bengston, RN, CPHQ, Executive Director    Vanessa has more than thirty years experience in the care of patients in their homes. She has focused on successful operations, regulatory compliance and quality of care and service for homecare and hospice. The role of hospice in end-of-life care has been the focus of Vanessa's commitment to quality care since 2002. She is certified as a Hospice Administrator and is an expert in the field of health care quality, achieving the status of Certified Professional of Health Care Quality in 1998. Vanessa serves on the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association Board of Directors and on the organization’s Reimbursement Committee.
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		Dr. Brad Miller M.D., Medical Director Dr. Miller has over twenty years of experience as a Board Certified Internal Medicine specialist, including outpatient office practice, inpatient and critical care. Throughout his long career, Dr. Miller has cared for patients with serious and life-limiting illnesses. He has been Medical Director of Hospice of the Foothills since 1998. Since 2000, he has specialized in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, becoming part of the first group of physicians to be Board Certified in this new medical subspecialty in 2008. Dr. Miller also provides private consultation services in his specialty area with emphasis on pain and symptom management, as well as counseling for health related life transitions. He also serves as Medical Director of Palliative Care services at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. Dr. Miller is a past chairman of the hospital Bioethics Committee, for which he continues to serve as a member. He provides community leadership and education in the field of palliative and end-of-life education.
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		Susan Juels, RN, DPCS, Director of Patient Care Services Susan has over 30 years experience in nursing with the last 20 years in hospital management leadership. She has extensive experience in hospital and community case management including discharge planning, home care and hospice. She has a strong clinical background including critical care, emergency department, cardiac rehabilitation and home health nursing. Susan's educational background includes undergraduate degrees in biology and nursing and a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration. Her professional certifications include Certified Professional in Utilization Management and membership in the American Case Management Association. Susan is published in the filed of Case Management and has presented at National Conferences.
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		Lorraine McGuinness, CPA, Director of Finance Lorraine has extensive experience as a CPA/partner, an auditor, in ministry and church administration, and in financial and staff management. She also has served as Financial Assistant to Hospitality House, as Finance Board Member of a Senior Assisted Living Center and  currently serves as Financial Consultant to a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. Lorraine's educational background includes a BSA in Administration (Accounting major) and a Masters in Theological Studies. She is a member of the California Society of CPA's.
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		William Case, Director of Human Resources Bill has 35 years of experience in Human Resources fields including Equal Employment Opportunity, Labor Negotiations, Arbitration and Human Resources Management. Bill received a BA in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
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Board of Directors

Michele White, President, Board of Directors
Michele joined Hospice of the Foothills as a respite volunteer in March of 2001. She has since served Hospice on the Coalition for Compassionate Care, and on the Board of Directors, both as Board Secretary and Vice President.

In addition to her volunteer duties for Hospice of the Foothills, Michele has also served as Board President for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Nevada County (BBBSNC) where she has been a "Big Sister" for seven years. Additionally, Michele is a member of the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Community Advisory Panel. Michele is a retired Human Resources professional whose career found her in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley prior to coming to Nevada County in 1998.

Leo Granucci, Secretary
Leo Granucci has been active on several boards including the Friendship Club, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Board and the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. Leo has a degree in Business Administration from Sacramento State University. He retired from the pharmaceutical and grocery distribution industry after forty-two years, the last six spent running his own company. Leo is a skilled pilot and member of Angel Flight, a volunteer organization of pilots who fly people in need of medical treatment.

Steve Haas, Vice-President
Stephen Haas is a lawyer who has practiced law since 1972, the last nineteen years of which have been in Nevada County. His practice involves business and real estate law as well as estate planning and civil litigation. Steve has served on numerous non-profit boards, including the Nevada City School Foundation, Nevada County Economic Resource Council, and the Nevada County Housing Development Corporation. He has done volunteer work with the Nevada County Leadership Institute and the Friends of Deer Creek. Stephen and his wife, Hillary, live outside of Nevada City, have three sons and enjoy hiking, gardening, cross-country skiing, cycling, and kayaking.

Mary Owens, Treasurer
Mary joined the Hospice Board July 1, 2008. She is a Financial Advisor and Certified Public Accountant, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from St. Mary's College and her Master of Science from Golden Gate University of San Francisco. Mary is managing principal and branch manager of Owens & Sams Estate and Wealth Strategies Group, an independent firm with Raymond James located in Grass Valley, CA. She is past Mayor and Council Member for the City of Auburn and she, with her husband Andy, serves as statistician for the Nevada Union football team. She and Andy love to garden and travel together and she sews for her four grandchildren. Mary is a long time resident of California with her family dating back six generations in this state.

Barbara Belmer
Barbara moved to Grass Valley from New Hampshire in 1996 and has been very active in Friends of Hospice, including serving as President 2000-2001, and also Music in the Mountains, where she has served on the Board since 2005 and is a member of the Allegro Alliance Council. She has been a member of several HOF committees relating to the new Hospice facility and joined the Board of Directors July 1, 2008. Barbara travels extensively when not busy with her many volunteer activities. Barbara received her BA from Elmira College and had a successful career in grants management in two hospitals in New York City, and then in administration of a research institute in a hospital in NYC before her retirement. 

Patti Ingram-Spencer
Patti Ingram was born and raised in Nevada County, with family roots dating back to the early 1800's when her family immigrated from Cornwall to work in the mines. She is married to 3rd District Supervisor John Spencer and makes her home in Grass Valley. She is employed by Placer Title Company as a senior escrow officer, a profession she has enjoyed for over 36 years. Patti recently finished serving eight years on the Grass Valley City Council as a council member, Vice Mayor and Mayor. In her capacity with the City, she served on numerous boards, commission and committees, most notably as chairman of the Nevada County Transportation Commission.  She is currently a member of the Grass Valley Rotary Club, having been president in 04/05, a member of Manzanita Parlor No. 29 of the Native Daughters of the Golden West and member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Patti currently serves on the Grass Valley Planning Commission in addition to being a board member for Hospice of the Foothills.

Richard E. Keene
Richard Keene is a native of California and graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (graduated 1986), and Santa Clara University Law School (graduated 1992). Mr. Keene has been practicing law continuously for 15 years. Mr. Keene has served as staff counsel to a nationwide insurance carrier and to a venture capital group, in addition to advising individuals, families and small business regarding estate planning. For the past 5 years, his practice has dealt almost exclusively with probate and estate planning.

Barbara Kosher
Barbara has been a resident of Grass Valley since 1979. She worked for Kaiser Permanente for 10 years and has been in banking since 1980. She is currently on the SNMH Board of Directors and has served on this board for the past 10 years. Barbara has been on the Nevada County Housing Development Corp board for the past 7 years, currently as the treasurer. She joined the Hospice board in July 2003 and currently chairs the Operations & Planning Committee. Barbara has been employed with Citizens Bank of Nevada County since June 1995; her current position is vice president and branch manager of the Sutton Way branch in Grass Valley.

Aimee Retzler
Aimee and her family moved to Nevada City from San Francisco in 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has 16 years experience in strategic planning and implementation, primarily in the retail industry. Extensive international travel has given her an appreciation for a variety of cultures and lifestyles. She enjoys hiking, snow sports, canoeing, camping and music with her husband and three young children, and loves to cook. Aimee is currently doing nonprofit consulting and teaching Nia, a fusion fitness practice in the foothills area. Aimee joined the Hospice Board on July 1, 2008.

Dan R. Wilson
Dan and his wife Debe moved to Grass Valley from Alamo, CA in 2003. He was raised in a small town in Eastern Oregon. Dan received his B.S. from Oregon State University, School of Pharmacy in 1964. Later that year he started as a staff pharmacist with Longs Drugstores. He retired 38 years later in 2002 after holding several senior management positions and serving on the Board of Directors of the operating company for the last 13 years of his career. He retired as Sr. V.P. Pharmacy and Business Development. Since moving to Grass Valley he has been a member of the SNMH Community Advisory/Outreach Panel, and is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Alta Sierra Country Club.

Diane Wilson
Diane was born and educated in Canada and is currently President of Friends of Hospice.  She has been a member for five years serving as the Publicity Co-Chair for the first two years and the last three years on the Board of Directors as Co-Chair for the Events Committee.  She moved to Lake Wildwood ten years ago after spending twenty five years in Pleasanton where she raised her daughter and son, worked for the School District and did extensive volunteer work in the community. She looks forward to the leadership opportunities presented through fund raising events with Friends of Hospice and serving on our Board for the next year.

Randy Young
Randy is well known in the community as the owner of Youngs Carpet One and Packard Discount Carpet. He graduated from Nevada Union High School and attended Sierra, San Jose State and Sacramento State Colleges. He is proud to have two of his sons and their wives working in the business with him. He has lived in Nevada County for 44 years and been in business here for 36 of them. Randy became involved with Hospice after losing his brother, father and mother to cancer and experiencing first hand the service Hospice provides.

Chuck Zavitz, Past President
Chuck is serving his second term on the Hospice Board of Directors, his first term was from 1995 to 2002. He has been living in Nevada County since 1988. Chuck retired from his tax practice in 2000 and is currently President of Cranmer Engineering, Inc. He is past president of Penn Valley Rotary and has been active in a number of local non-profits.

Employment

Hospice of the Foothills offers a unique and challenging work environment. All our positions offer you the opportunity to make a positive difference in someone’s life.

Come join Hospice of the Foothills

Medical Records Specialist

Full Time benefitted position. 

Knowledge of and experience in medical records management required.  Strong communication, organization and computer skills a must.

Mail resumes to:  Human Resources Director, 11270 Rough and Ready Hwy, Grass Valley, CA 95945

Complete and send application on Website www.hofo.org. 

Call 530-274-5118, FAX 530-477-6683

Email:  billcase@hofo.org

Hospice of the Foothills is an EOE

RN Visit Nurse Needed –

      Per Diem – Non Benefitted

Mail resume to Hospice of the Foothills, HR Dept., 11270 Rough and Ready Highway, Grass Valley, CA 95945

Call Human Resources 530/274-5118

FAX 530/477-6683

Mail resume to:  Human Resources Director, 11270 Rough and Ready Hwy, Grass Valley, CA 95945

Call 530-274-5118, FAX 530-477-6683

Email:  billcase@hofo.org

Website www.hofo.org

Hospice of the Foothills is an EOE

Anyone interested should complete an employment application either on line or at the office – Hospice of the Foothills, 11270 Rough and Ready Hwy., Grass Valley, CA 95945

Download Employment Application in Acrobat PDF format or Microsoft Word format.

Please send us an email or call us at (530) 272-5739 for more information.