Dr. Thomas J. Lynch Jr. is a world-renowned scientist, highly respected oncologist and successful leader of National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers . As president and director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Dr. Lynch sets the strategic direction of the center, oversees centerwide initiatives and represents Fred Hutch’s interests to major partners and governmental bodies. He also directs the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium and is principal investigator of its Cancer Center Support Grant. Before taking over as Fred Hutch’s sixth president in February 2020, Dr. Lynch was most recently chief scientific officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Prior to that he held leadership roles as CEO of Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, director of Yale Cancer Center, physician-in-chief at Yale’s Smilow Cancer Hospital, chief of hematology-oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lynch is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Earlier in his career he was part of the first research team to discover how targeted therapies could dramatically change outcomes for lung cancer patients with mutations in the EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor, gene.

Mike Glenn joined Jefferson Healthcare as CEO in October 2010. He also served as CEO of Olympic

Medical Center in Port Angeles from 1999 to 2006.

Mike spent two+ years as Sr. Vice President of Business Development and Product Line Management at

Valley Medical Center, a 303-bed, public hospital district in Renton.

Prior to Valley Medical Center, Mike was the COO at Providence St. Peter Hospital, a 364-bed hospital in

Olympia.

A native Washingtonian, Mike was born in Olympia and earned a degree in Political Science from Linfield

College in McMinnville, Oregon, and a Masters of Health Administration from Xavier University in

Cincinnati, Ohio.

Affiliations include:

Peninsula College, Board of Trustees

WSHA Safety and Quality Committee, Co-chair

Washington State Hospital Association, Board Member

AHA Regional Policy Board, Alternate Member

Rural Hospital Committee

Association of Washington Public Hospital District, Past President

Foundation for Health Care Quality, Past Board Member

Northwest Hospital Council, Past President

American College of Healthcare Executives

As Mortenson’s Healthcare Market Leader, Tamara fully appreciates the client’s vision and setting the path for success early in design. She is a true believer in Integrated Delivery and Progressive Design-Build Projects and has seen the benefits of a Lean Culture firsthand. Tamara’s focus on healthcare design and construction ensued at the start of her career over 20 years ago, bringing significant knowledge of large complex scopes on active healthcare campuses. Tamara is an enthusiastic team leader who builds success by navigating decision-making and design progression that aligns with project goals.

Tamara brings a holistic approach to the healthcare construction industry by appreciating the importance the built environment has on people, planet and community. She works with Mortenson’s ESJ team in the procurement of MWBE firms and is an ally and supporter of women, LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC in the construction and real estate industry.

As Arup’s Americas Region Healthcare Business Leader, Raj Daswani drives strategy and delivery for complex healthcare programs across the region. A Principal based in San Francisco, he brings over 30 years of experience in multidisciplinary engineering design and project delivery for healthcare facilities. A mechanical and energy engineer, Raj specializes in resilient, low-carbon design and leads projects using lean, integrated delivery approaches, advancing collaborative models that improve performance, adaptability, and long-term outcomes.

Marie is Perkins&Will's global health practice leader. She has over two decades of experience leading major healthcare projects in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the country, including master plans, new construction, and complex renovations. She has a background in medical planning and interior design and has a Master’s degree in architecture. An advocate for the impact of the built environment in healthcare, she has presented her work at the Healthcare Design Conference, the WSSHE Conference, and the Architecture for Health Panel.

Michael brings over 13 years of experience in real estate development to his current

role as a Healthcare Specialist and Development Manager at Seneca Group. He

played a key role in the $500 million, 300,000 SF expansion of Seattle Children’s

Hospital’s Forest B, which included an inpatient pharmacy, operating rooms, sterile

processing, and a cancer/blood disorder clinic. Presently, he leads various

infrastructure and campus renewal projects for Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Prior to his tenure at Seneca Group, Michael held multiple positions within the

medical real estate sector. As a Regional Project Manager at Healthcare Realty, he

oversaw a project portfolio for various regional healthcare clients within the western

US. While with CBRE, Michael delivered project execution and strategic real estate

advisory services to healthcare systems nationwide. This included design and

completion of numerous in-patient and outpatient construction projects in the

south Puget Sound, with an emphasis on sterile compounding pharmacies and

oncology services.

Blake Bishop is a healthcare strategy and business operations leader with 12+ years of experience developing and scaling ambulatory healthcare services. Blake holds a BS in Health Care Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an MBA from Western Washington University. He specializes in market strategy, healthcare real estate, operating models, and data-driven growth.

Currently at CommonSpirit Health, Blake works in National Real Estate Strategy, partnering with Regional and Market leadership to inform capital investment, facility planning, portfolio optimization, and growth decisions across a 24-state system. Previously, he led clinic development, urgent care expansion, and operational improvement initiatives with Providence, MultiCare Health System, and MCX Health. His work focuses on helping healthcare organizations make informed, sustainable decisions that expand access and support long-term growth.

Ben has a unique ability to become a trusted member of stakeholder teams involved in PMB’s clients’ real estate developments. This includes being part of hospital, physician group, and government agency groups striving to attain similar results from potentially divergent positions.

As SVP, Development, Ben is involved in all facets of project development ranging from pursuing new leads and analyzing healthcare real estate trends to project feasibility and land use approvals. Additionally, Ben focuses on working with PMB’s architects and general contractors in pre-construction and construction scheduling as well as leasing and permitting.

Ben received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (International Relations) from The Colorado College and obtained his Certificate in Real Estate Finance, Investments and Development from the University of San Diego in 2013.

Shanna is vice president and director of healthcare at Sellen with over 15 years of experience in the healthcare market and 24 total years of industry experience. As director of healthcare, she is responsible for managing all Sellen’s healthcare accounts, overseeing Sellen’s team of medical-focused professionals, and sharing best practices across all medical projects, large and small. Shanna excels in leading projects within occupied, fully operational environments, most recently leading the 325,000-square-foot Building Care expansion at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Shanna graduated with a double major in construction management and architecture from the University of Washington. She is passionate about elevating women in the A/E/C industry, was a founder of Sellens’ DEI Council and served on the University of Washington Construction Industry Advisory Council. Shanna is a life-long resident of the Puget Sound and enjoys gardening, carpentry, and camping with her husband and middle school-aged son and daughter.

With nearly 40 years of experience in the construction and design industry, Audie leads UMC’s healthcare market strategy and major projects. His wide-reaching healthcare experience includes leadership on projects such as Overlake Medical Center, Swedish Issaquah, Seattle Children’s Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center, and Harborview NJB, spanning academic medical centers, regional health systems, and specialty care environments. His experience in relationship-driven development, design-build delivery, and long-term planning ensures the success of each project from conception to completion, with a strong focus on safety, culture, and reliable performance.

Audie is affiliated with several professional organizations, including ASHRAE, ASHE, SMACNA, OSHA, PMI, and MCAA, reflecting his commitment to industry standards and continuous professional development.

Kurt Kruckeberg provides healthcare real estate legal services to for-profit and nonprofit hospital systems and significant providers of healthcare services across the Pacific Northwest. Kurt often works on complex healthcare development projects involving leasing, construction, and real estate finance. Kurt also helps healthcare companies navigate significant real estate goals, including acquisitions, dispositions, and developing major real estate portfolios. Kurt keeps clients up-to-date on matters that may affect their plans or operations by closely following real estate and business trends in our region.

Jeffrey Eisen, MD, MBA currently serves as the Acting President and Chief Medical Officer of the Behavioral Health Network for the MultiCare Health System, the largest provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder treamtent services in Washington state. In this role, Dr. Eisen leads the system-wide delivery of psychiatric services, which includes the development of a collaborative, coordinated system of behavioral healthcare across the region.

Prior to MultiCare, Dr. Eisen served as the Chief Medical and Health Integration Officer of Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, the largest provider of community-based mental health and substance use treatment services in the state of Oregon and one of the country's first CCBHCs. In addition, Dr. Eisen holds a faculty research and teaching position in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University.

Prior to these appointments, Dr. Eisen served as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and as the Medical Director for Community Behavioral Health Services at Beth Israel Lahey Health, Massachusetts’ largest health system.

Dr. Eisen has extensive experience across the continuum of behavioral healthcare, from acute hospital and Emergency Department based care to outpatient and outreach services, including substance use disorder treatment programs at several levels of care, with an emphasis on delivering evidence based practices and building improved coordination of care within and across organizations. He has presented nationally on such topics as population health and data analytics approaches for the behavioral health field, behavioral health centered integrated care, and substance use disorder challenges including the opioid overdose epidemic and the prescribing of controlled substances.

Dr. Eisen received his MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed his postdoctoral residency in adult psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School. He was a fellow in forensic psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts, affiliated with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Dr. Eisen also holds an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, with certification in Public Management.

Katrina Egner is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Sound. Katrina Egner is responsible for setting the strategic direction for Sound.

Egner joined Sound as an intern in 1997. During her two-and-a-half-decade career with the organization, she has served in a variety of roles, including as a crisis services coordinator, mental health specialist and a director overseeing numerous critical programs: crisis services, admissions, the transition support program, re-entry case management services, the housing voucher program, mental health and veterans’ courts, and Sound’s commercial insurance business line.

Most recently she served as executive vice president and chief programs officer, where she was integral in implementing Reaching Recovery, a measurement-based model of service that customizes clients’ care based on their evolving needs while on their path to recovery.

She continues to exemplify her comment and commitment,“I am honored to lead Sound’s team of compassionate, dedicated professionals as we evolve to meet the changing needs of our community,” said Egner. “Sound is providing innovative, integrated care that combines behavioral health, substance use disorder and primary care coordination to treat the whole person. As our community grows, this work is more important than ever, and I am proud of the incredible people at Sound who make a difference every day.”

Egner is a licensed mental health counselor and child mental health specialist. She has a BA degree in Psychology from the University of Washington, and an MA in Couples and Family Therapy from Antioch University.

A registered architect with 33 years of experience, Jim is passionate about designing spaces where people thrive. Because of this commitment, he has devoted much of his career to healthcare and behavioral health design and serves as BCRA’s healthcare market lead. Within this ever-evolving market, he brings knowledge of regulations, best practices, and lessons learned in behavioral health and medical office design. Recently, he led a multidisciplinary team through programming and design for WA Department of Social and Health Services’ innovative new mental health facilities across the state. The first facility is now serving patients.

Under Jim’s leadership, BCRA’s healthcare design philosophy has embraced a practice of creating restorative healthcare facilities that harmoniously connect people to each other and to their environment; thoughtful spaces that improve outcomes for patients and allow staff to do their best work.

Bret Miche is a Senior Pre-Construction Manager with Graham Construction and Management. He leads preconstruction and business development efforts across Eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest, supporting healthcare, education, aviation, municipal, and institutional clients. Bret specializes in collaborative delivery methods, strategic planning, budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. He works closely with owners and design partners to align project goals from concept through construction, helping organizations deliver complex capital projects that meet operational, financial, and community objectives.

With a focus on early stakeholder engagement and collaborative project delivery, Bret works closely with owners, design partners, and project teams to align project goals, budgets, and schedules from concept through construction. His experience includes strategic planning, procurement development, risk management, construction budgeting, and implementation of progressive design-build and other alternative delivery methods.

Throughout his career, Bret has been involved in numerous high-profile capital improvement programs across the Northwest, helping public agencies and healthcare organizations navigate complex funding, phasing, operational continuity, and long-term facility planning challenges. His work emphasizes creating value during preconstruction through transparent collaboration, innovative solutions, and a client-centered approach. He is passionate about fostering integrated teams that can successfully deliver mission-critical facilities while supporting the communities they serve.

Scott Anthes is a Senior Project Manager who excels at navigating complex, large-scale projects by leading with a blend of innovation and proactive problem-solving. He firmly believes a project’s success is determined long before breaking ground, emphasizing meticulous preconstruction to identify major risks and uncover opportunities for significant cost and schedule savings. When unforeseen challenges arise, from budget pressures to unexpected site discoveries, Scott champions a collaborative approach, working closely with partners to pioneer creative solutions that often reduce costs and environmental impact simultaneously. For Scott, the most lasting impact comes from truly listening to the client and community, allowing his teams to deliver projects that don't just meet technical specifications, but also reflect the unique values of those they are built to serve. He credits this level of creative problem-solving and team cohesion to a leadership style rooted in kindness, patience, and a relentlessly positive outlook. By fostering a calm and respectful environment, Scott ensures that even the most high-stakes projects are navigated with a steady, collaborative, and level-headed approach.

Matthew Combe is the Director of Decarbonization Strategy at Säzän Group, where he leads energy and decarbonization services including audits, compliance, energy modeling, and electrification analysis. His background spans Sustainable Design and Environmental Management, and his work centers on helping building owners and project teams take practical steps toward high-performance, low-carbon buildings. Matthew is known for bridging technical analysis with cross-disciplinary collaboration by translating complex decarbonization challenges into clear, actionable paths forward.

As a Regional Director of Real Estate Planning at CommonSpirit Health, I focus on campus development, master planning, and the planning and development of acute and ambulatory care spaces and programs that enhance patient care and operational efficiency. My work ensures that healthcare environments are thoughtfully planned to support clinical teams and the communities they serve.

With a background as both a clinician and healthcare leader, I understand that clinical environments are sacred spaces—integral to the human experience and essential to healing in both physical and emotional dimensions. I am passionate about creating programs and places that work in concert to foster exceptional patient outcomes and experiences.

Throughout my career I have had the opportunity to lead teams in the development of new inpatient and critical care programs, specialty clinics, the design of new hospitals, and the integration of community oncology clinics into comprehensive cancer centers. I bring a deep understanding of healthcare operations, patient needs, and design principles to every project.

I am also an active member of the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design and a contributor to the book Nurses as Leaders in Healthcare Design: A Resource for Nurses and Inter-professional Partners.

With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Mr. Elkhawad has established himself as a seasoned Construction Management Professional. His portfolio includes a diverse array of projects within Healthcare, Higher Education, Research, and Retail sectors, varying from initial design development to hands-on construction management.

In his current role as the Senior Director of Design and Construction Management at Providence Swedish Health Services, Mr. Elkhawad has been pivotal in steering capital improvement projects throughout the Puget Sound Region. He oversees the development and delivery of projects in a vast network of 8 acute care facilities and over 240 outpatient clinics, encompassing a total of 8 million square feet. Under his guidance, a dedicated team of project managers, project coordinators, and finance analysts work diligently to execute projects varying from minor renovations and medical equipment upgrades to the construction of new multimillion-dollar facilities.

Mr. Elkhawad’s unwavering commitment to quality, pursuit of excellence, and strategic foresight are instrumental to the ongoing achievements of Providence Swedish Health Services, ensuring the delivery of exceptional healthcare services to the community.

An energetic visionary, Troy propels Abbott forward with bold decision-making, strategic insight, and an unrelenting drive for excellence. Known for his dynamic presence and ability to challenge the status quo, he champions a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. A persuasive communicator and natural consensus builder, he balances confidence with keen observation—ensuring that every decision aligns with the company’s long-term success. Leading by example, Troy is deeply engaged in the industry and community, actively contributing to organizations such as the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington Government Affairs Council, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Foundation, NAVOS, and EarthGen. He is also a longtime contributor to the Puget Sound American Heart Association, formerly serving as the board chair and currently serving on both the Board of Directors and the Hard Hats with Hearts Executive Leadership Team. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of Washington.

Rashpal Bassi is a Professional Engineer and accomplished executive with extensive experience leading complex projects across the healthcare, commercial, and aviation sectors. Known for his strong project management capabilities and client-focused approach, he has successfully delivered projects of varying scale and complexity while consistently meeting objectives for quality, budget, and schedule.

A collaborative leader, Rashpal excels at building high-performing teams and fostering strong partnerships to drive successful project outcomes. His diverse portfolio includes the management and delivery of small, mid-sized, and large-scale developments, providing him with a well-rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the built environment.

As Chief Executive Officer, Rashpal oversees company operations and leads the execution of the firm's strategic vision, guiding continued growth and operational excellence. Outside of work, Rashpal enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring new destinations around the world, and giving back to the industry as an active ACE Mentor.

As an Associate Principal, Sean brings years of commercial construction experience specializing in healthcare and life science. His ability to lead, coordinate, and engage team members drives project schedules from feasibility through design and implementation. Past projects vary from ground up medical office buildings, occupied renovations of acute patient care areas, behavioral health project buildouts, as well as campus infrastructure upgrades. Sean is currently working on projects for Seattle Children’s Hospital and Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

Jennifer Eckert is a Senior Preconstruction Executive recognized for her ability to communicate complex technical concepts with clarity and precision. As McKinstry's Leader of Preconstruction, Jen combines meticulous attention to detail with a strategic, big-picture perspective, helping teams deliver successful project outcomes and exceptional client experiences. Her experience spans a diverse range of roles, providing deep expertise in design phase management, estimating, scheduling, and risk mitigation, particularly for complex healthcare and commercial projects. Jen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and is an active member of DBIA, ASHE, and WSSHE.

George Ward has been with AldrichVKP. since 1998 and has been leading the company as President/CEO since 2019. In addition to corporate leadership responsibilities, George leads Aldrich’s business development and marketing efforts to position the company for project opportunities that align with the business strategy and core values of the organization. Aldrich is a General Contractor 100% focused on projects in the health and science sector and has been serving the Pacific Northwest out of Bothell, WA since 1972. Their greatest strength is in the construction of new mid-sized medical/life science buildings (10,000 SF to 100,000 SF) and renovation projects in occupied facilities with critical environments and sophisticated equipment. The consistency of high quality and safe construction practices has led to long standing relationships with some of the most recognizable healthcare clients in the Puget Sound including hospitals, developers, private practices, community health, and non-profit organizations.

Jeff West (he, him, his) is Fred Hutch’s vice president of Facilities & Campus

Operations. West manages and provides overall leadership for Fred Hutch

operations in Facilities Planning& Administration, Facilities Engineering,

Environmental Health & Safety and General Operational Services.

West is responsible for developing, executing and monitoring strategic plans and

programs in operational areas reporting into him. He also advises the chief

administrative officer on matters relating to all areas of the organization in

support of the business goals and mission of Fred Hutch.

Before coming to Fred Hutch in 2022, West was the vice president of Real Estate

Strategy and Operations at Providence St. Joseph Health and oversaw the Real

Estate, Facilities, Construction and Environmental Services departments in

California. His work in real estate development and management has sent him up

and down the West Coast, from Portland, where he brought the country’s first

LEED Urban District online, to Southern California, where he integrated regional

real estate and construction teams for Providence into the broader health

system

As Partner and Global Practice Director for Applied Research at HKS, Dr. Deborah Wingler collaborates across sectors to develop and implement applied research services that drive innovation and achieve measurable impact across the firm and health practice, globally. She also serves as the Executive Director for the Center for Advanced Research and Evaluation (CADRE) and holds an appointment as Adjunct Faculty in the School of Architecture at Clemson University. Deborah’s research focuses on improving the user experience by eliciting insight into users’ affective responses to high stress healthcare environments. Through her research, she has worked with some of the most forward-thinking Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations and manufacturers, to reimagine primary, specialty, acute, and home healthcare. She is a well-known passionate patient and family advocate for healthcare design, researcher, speaker, and published author. She holds a Ph.D. from Clemson University in Healthcare Architecture and earned a M.S.D. in Healthcare Innovation from The Herberger Institute of Design at Arizona State University. Deborah holds several industry and academic awards. She was recently awarded HCD 10 researcher of the year for 2022 by Healthcare Design Magazine.

Victoria Nichols is a partner at ZGF Architects with more than two decades of experience managing the planning, programming, and design of a variety of projects in the healthcare sector. Her focus is on collaboration—working closely with project teams and stakeholders to deliver patient-focused facilities that provide clients with optimal value. Victoria’s holistic approach to each phase of the design process has led to highly flexible, award-winning healthcare environments for clients such as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, consistently ranked among the U.S. News & World Report’s list of the Best Children’s Hospitals.

Kevin Lefever has over 25 years of construction experience across various challenging healthcare projects in North America, including large complex projects such as PeaceHealth, Bellingham;  Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, Alberta; Red Deer Regional Hospital Center, Alberta; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York; Coney Island Hospital, New York; Baystate Health Orthopedic Surgery Center, Springfield, Massachusetts; Children’s National Medical Center, DC; and Fletcher Allen Hospital, Vermont. Combined, Kevin’s experience includes more than 3  million square feet of hospital construction, including 38 OR’s, 3 emergency departments, 700+ in-patient rooms, pharmacies, labs, diagnostic imaging, procedure rooms, and much more. Kevin’s knowledge and understanding of healthcare construction is shaped by his experience working directly for the owner while on staff at Baystate Medical Center. The management skills and technical expertise he has acquired over the years made him a successful Healthcare Executive delivering excellent results on all of his projects.

Kevin has a Master of Engineering Management from Clarkson University in New York and a Bachelor of Science (Construction Management) from Pennsylvania College of Technology. Kevin lives in the Seattle area with his wife, two kids. In his free time, Kevin enjoys running, mountain biking, hiking, reading, woodworking, and spending time with his family.

Jay recently started his 4 th decade in the construction industry. He is currently a Vice President at Howard S Wright, A Balfour Beatty Company focused on leading the Life Science and Healthcare market sectors. He has grown and honed his industry knowledge, skills, and expertise by working in all operational roles throughout his career, from field work, estimating/preconstruction, project management, business unit leader, and company COO. Jay has an extensive history of successfully leading teams on large complex projects with multiple stakeholders. Many of Jay’s projects have included early team engagement, starting at project concept and carrying through project delivery, taking the ideas and turning them into reality. This has created Jay’s passion in developing high cross-functioning teams that are focused on delivering on the project and stakeholders’ goals.

Megan Stewart, PE, LEED AP, is a principal with Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (AEI) and has worked on healthcare and research facilities throughout the Pacific Northwest since 2001. Her experience includes planning and designing large, complex healthcare environments, from new hospital construction and major expansions to renovations within active facilities and campus infrastructure and master planning. She has worked with numerous Pacific Northwest healthcare organizations, including Providence/Swedish, Seattle Children’s, PeaceHealth, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

As a project leader, Megan brings a broad perspective on the technical and operational challenges shaping modern healthcare environments, including facility efficiency and resiliency, flexibility for evolving care models, and creating environments that support the patient experience. Her experience working alongside healthcare systems, architects, contractors, and other project partners informs her approach to complex healthcare planning and design across the region.

Christian Whipple is Chief Executive Officer of Elliott Bay Capital Trust and is responsible for the overall strategy, capital investment and management of the company. Christian has 25 years of private equity investing, corporate finance and executive management experience in the healthcare and real estate industries.

Prior to Elliott Bay, Christian was a Co-Founder of Liberty Health Partners, acquired by Signify Health (NYSE: SGFY), a developer of bundled payment programs for the government and Vice President for Liberty Dialysis, LLC. Liberty Dialysis was the 3rd largest provider of dialysis services in the U.S. with 280 clinics in 32 states and more than $1 Billion of revenue prior to the $2.3 Billion sale to Fresenius Medical Care. Christian was responsible for overseeing corporate and business development, M&A and joint venture partner relationship activities at Liberty and continued on as an executive at Fresenius for several years where he was involved with various strategic initiatives, acquisitions and partnerships.

Prior to this, Christian was Managing Director with Premier Pacific Vineyards, a real estate investment company responsible for the development and operation of the largest portfolio of high-end wine vineyards in the U.S. Before this he was a Vice President for The Cypress Group, a private equity investment firm managing $3.5 Billion in equity commitments, and was responsible for investments in the lodging and leisure industries. Prior to that he was an Associate at DB Capital Partners, the former private equity arm of Deutsche Bank AG responsible for $2 Billion in investments in the U.S. Christian began his career in M&A investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston and played professional basketball in England.

Christian graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Bowdoin College.

Dave Ericksen has spent the past 30+ years in banking with the past 15+ years

dedicated specifically to the healthcare industry. Currently Senior Vice President

and Managing Director of Umpqua Bank Healthcare Banking’s Commercial

Healthcare Team, which specializes in helping hospitals and independent physician

groups grow, find revenue cycle efficiency, and advises on strategic objectives.

Katie Newman is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of High Point Healthcare Real Estate, LLC, and a passionate leader with over 25 years of experience in the design, construction, and development industry. She has successfully managed the development of over 1 million square feet of healthcare real estate, including medical facilities, surgery centers, and senior housing facilities, all with a strong focus on serving communities.

Katie’s journey began as an architect, where her hands-on approach to designing and building projects across various sectors laid the foundation for her reputation as a collaborative problem solver. Her ability to navigate complex challenges and simplify them into actionable solutions has empowered her clients to create spaces that enhance the well-being of the communities they serve.

With expertise spanning the entire real estate process—from community engagement and project kick-off to first patient day—Katie ensures that every project she leads receives meticulous attention while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. She collaborates closely with community stakeholders, ensuring that each development not only meets industry standards but also aligns with the needs of the people who live, work, and heal in these spaces.

Katie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Rice University and an MBA in Real Estate and Strategy from Southern Methodist University, both of which have fueled her passion for creating impactful spaces that foster healthier communities.

With more than 30 years in the healthcare industry, over 20 of which have been in the orthopedic surgery space, Frank is a true strategist and process expert. He has exceptional insight into the management, operations, and strategy of healthcare organizations. He has held multiple roles spanning strategy, construction, planning, management, medical real estate, execution, operations, revenue cycle management, and leadership.  Frank is a knowledgeable leader with a solid track record of delivering projects that meet strategic, financial, and clinical targets. His portfolio includes renovations, tenant improvements, expansion of services, and new facilities with the goal of optimizing the quality of care, enhancing capacity, improving workflows, and integrating systems.

Beata M. Canby is an experienced hospital operations and strategy professional with a dedication to mission-driven organizations. She has a strong background in ASC development, facility planning, and process redesign for health systems, stand-alone hospitals and medical groups in the U.S. and Canada. Her past work has included campus master planning, strategy-driven facility development, and operational implementation. She is a specialist in Canadian Healthcare P3 Procurement and has served as an advisor to the Provincial Health Services Authority in British Columbia. Most recently, Beata served as the leader for ambulatory surgery facility development for a large multistate integrated health system on the West Coast.

Architect, artist, and Design Executive, Annette Jannotta has over 25 years of expertise collaborating with clients who are leaders in their industries and passionate about what they do. From Life Sciences, research, and higher education to hospitality and the arts, Annette helps her clients create places that invite people to thrive with ease. Through a collaborative process that magnifies empathy and imagination, she recognizes that how we work is just as important as where we work.

Annette’s award-winning projects weave together experiences, discoverable over time, that inspire engagement, ownership, and transformation of both the team working to create the space, as well as those able to use the final product. Annette is a licensed architect in California, an NCIDQ certified interior designer, LEED AP ID&C, and a member of IIDA.

Katie Sypher is an accomplished healthcare leader with extensive experience across the healthcare sector. Her passion is improving the mental and physical well-being of patients and providers. She is a registered dietician who has worked in medical device sales, operations, strategy, physician alignment, and direct patient care. Katie is an expert in aligning large, matrixed organizations around a new care delivery model or concept while ensuring patients’ needs and clinical quality are always centerstage. Katie has also brought her passion to the managed care sector serving as an advisor on the nationally recognized BREE Collaborative for orthopedic payment bundles. She speaks at national conferences on the topics of change management, orthopedic research, and value-based care.

Gary Childers brings more than 18 years of experience helping hospitals and health systems address complex challenges through strategy, market development, and technology. A subject matter expert across clinical environments, Gary has led go-to-market initiatives and worked closely with clinicians, IT leaders, and executives. Their work focuses on turning complex needs into practical solutions that improve outcomes, encourage adoption, and support lasting growth.

Dylan Hayes is the Healthcare Specialist for Security Solutions Northwest, a Washington based security and fire integrator partner. He is responsible for leading healthcare relationships, technology solutions, strategy and oversight for projects and customers. He transitioned from Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Institute after serving 23 years in security, IT, and emergency program leadership. Over his career, he managed the technical and complex integrated security system design, project implementation, and service support of 4,000,000 SF for all Seattle Children's expansion and renovation projects across the region from 1999-2023. His responsibility included the 24-acre hospital campus, regional clinics, admin buildings and (later) research campus. He is dedicated to the collaborative, integrated design process, making strategic thoughtful long-term security infrastructure and software investments that provide holistic organizational value. Dylan is passionate about a high-quality, safe, and therapeutic, patient care environment and extending the security infrastructure data and tools to drive business resilience, operational efficiency, and compliance to the front-line teams across all the service lines. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Central Washington University and the esteemed CPP credential from ASIS and CHPA from IAHSS. He is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security, the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security and Washington State Crime Prevention Association. He has also served as an educator for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design for local law enforcement and security professionals across Washington State.