Meet Our Passionate Team of Healthcare and Tech Pros

The Prista senior leadership team is bound together by a common goal – raising the bar for healthcare services in America. We are passionate about the power of technology to not only improve patient care, but also make providers’ jobs easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

Senior Leadership

Don Jarrell

President
Billie Anne Schoppman

Chief Mission Officer
Brian Deterling

CTO, Software Architect
Peter Ragusa, MD, MPH

Chief Medical Officer/Chief Operating Officer.
Kari Dwyer

Product Delivery

Don Jarrell

President

Don Jarrell has over 35 years of technical and business experience in product management, technology strategy and intellectual property management and licensing. Don is a primary driver of Prista’s vision and mission for the ActionCue Clinical Intelligence application.

Prior to joining Prista, Don co-founded Digital Thinking Inc. (DTI), a consulting firm for product management, technology/business strategy and all things intellectual property.

He has held executive and management positions such as Software Business Manager for Alcatel USA, Director of High-Level Design and Business Architect at The Equitable, and the Director of Product Line Planning/Product Line Management with Northern Telecom, Inc (later known as Nortel Networks).

Billie Anne Schoppman

Chief Mission Officer

A 25+ year veteran of the healthcare industry, Billie Anne has held senior executive positions including Senior Vice President of Clinical Services at Cornerstone Healthcare Group, Regional Director of Operations at Vencor, Inc. (now Kindred) and various nursing management positions.

Billie Anne is the principal subject expert for Prista’s ActionCue CI platform. She also manages a network of healthcare consultants as part of the company’s operations advisory board and marketing channel.

Before joining Prista, Billie Anne co-founded and led the hospital consulting firm DTI Healthcare Professionals. She continues to provide executive-level consulting services for DTI focusing on change and improvement processes relating to healthcare operations, with a strong operational and e-management focus. Billie Anne also specializes in advisory and execution services in hospital operations, clinical services management, quality management, education and strategic IT.

Brian Deterling

CTO, Software Architect

An expert in software development and technology across a variety of industries, Brain Deterling brings 20+ years of experience to his role as Prista’s Chief Technology Officer. He is also the Chief Software Architect for Prista’s ActionCue CI platform.

Before joining Prista, Brian had a key role in various innovative tech projects, including serving as lead architect for blockbuster.com (the software that paved the way for online DVD rentals and later, Netflix). He served as principal designer and architect of the Insight™ application by Blue Sky Technologies and as a Software Consultant for Signals Ready.

Before that, Brian spent nine years at EXE Technologies (now SSA GT) in a variety of roles including Senior Software Architect for the company’s warehouse management and slotting applications.

Peter Ragusa, MD, MPH

Chief Medical Officer/Chief Operating Officer.

Peter Ragusa, MD, MPH has over 15 years of experience and expertise in healthcare, executive leadership and strategic planning, building and leading multidisciplinary, high-impact teams, full-cycle product development, federal, state, and local regulatory compliance, facilitating corporate partnerships, successful fundraising, and developing intellectual property.

Prior to joining Prista, Dr. Ragusa held positions at the American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), and he was the co-founder and CEO of Better Day™ Health. Dr. Ragusa is also a graduate of Louisiana State University, the University of Minnesota Medical School, and the Yale University School of Public Health.

Kari Dwyer

Product Delivery

Kari Dwyer is a Senior Project Manager with 20 years of experience in the IT industry. Her superpower is managing multiple enterprise projects at once while maintaining excellent customer service, quality, and meeting all project deadlines.

Kari is a proven leader in the delivery of high risk, complex enterprise performance management, business intelligence and data warehousing projects across a range of industries including healthcare, supply chain, construction, security, software, financial services and hospitality.

In addition to her project management expertise, Kari has hands-on skills with numerous technologies, enhancing her ability to lead large, complex project teams.

Board of Directors

David Conejo

CEO, Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services
Dennis Cagan

Director
Keith L Thurgood, Ph.D.

Clinical Professor of Healthcare Leadership and Management, UT Dallas

David Conejo

CEO, Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services

David Conejo has more than 30 years of experience in the position of CEO for multiple healthcare facilities throughout the United States. He currently serves as the President/CEO of Red River Regional Hospital in Bonham, Texas. He is also a past chairman of the New Mexico Hospital/Health Services Association. He was educated at Columbia Pacific University in Novato, California. David has served on the TMF board since 2008.

Dennis Cagan

Director

Dennis Cagan has been a successful tech entrepreneur since co-founding his first software company in 1968. He has since founded or co-founded over a dozen different companies and been a CEO of both public and private companies, a consultant, venture capitalist, private investor and professional board member of 53 fiduciary corporate boards.

In 2013, Dennis was honored as one of 12 Outstanding Directors in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal and NACD. In 2011, he was elected to the IT Hall of Fame — Channel Wing, administered by CompTIA. Before that, he was the Keynote Speaker at the first COMDEX Show in Las Vegas.

Dennis is a recognized authority on corporate governance and information technology including mobile applications, software, hardware, systems and communications. In addition to his directorial duties at Prista, Dennis is currently on five other boards of directors. He attended UCLA where he majored in economics.

Keith L Thurgood, Ph.D.

Clinical Professor of Healthcare Leadership and Management, UT Dallas

Keith Thurgood is a Clinical Professor of Healthcare Leadership and Management and an Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at UT Dallas. In addition, Dr. Thurgood is a faculty member and senior advisor for the Thayer Leader Development Group in West Point, New York. He is also a managing partner with Pioneer Partnership Development Group, focused on strategy development, operational excellence and leadership development.

Keith brings a unique perspective on healthcare operations, management and leadership, having served at senior level leadership positions in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Most recently, Dr. Thurgood was President - Spend and Clinical Management of MedAssets, a healthcare performance improvement company.

He holds a BA in Political Science from Brigham Young University, an MS in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, an MS in Business Administration from Boston University, and a PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership from Capella University. He is a nationally recognized speaker on leadership and operations management.

Advisory Board

David Conejo

CEO, Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services
Bryan Menell

Chief Operating Officer at AngelSpan, Inc., Co-Founder and Mentor of Capital Factory
Jake T. Redden DHSc, MHA, MPH, FACHE, CPHQ, CPPS
Richard Bagdonas

David Conejo

CEO, Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services

Bryan Menell

Chief Operating Officer at AngelSpan, Inc., Co-Founder and Mentor of Capital Factory

Bryan Menell has over 25 years of experience in positions such as CEO, COO, President, Founder, Advisor, and Inventor. He has served as an advisor on multiple boards of directors. He has been awarded the Austin Under 40 Award in Technology and was a finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Bryan was educated at California State University – Chico in Chico, California. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at AngelSpan, Inc. and is a co-founder and Mentor of Capital Factory, in Austin, Texas.

Bryan is very active in the technology scene in Austin, Texas. He is currently an investor and advisor to a select group of fledgling technology companies. He also runs the popular Austin Tech Happy Hour.

Jake T. Redden DHSc, MHA, MPH, FACHE, CPHQ, CPPS

When not serving in governance roles, Dr. Redden is busy leading as an Executive Director at UP Health Marquette, A Duke LifePoint health center. He is an advanced practitioner in strategic and quality improvement, with diverse experience in the world of nuclear-powered submarines, as well as the healthcare and patient safety. Dr. Redden refined his ability to improve safety culture while working in the Federal Aviation Administration and Veterans Health Administration.

He holds a fellow status with the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), and certifications in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), and Patient Safety (CPPS). Dr. Redden has a Doctorate in Health Sciences and master’s degrees in both Public Health and Healthcare Administration.

Richard Bagdonas

For over 25 years, Richard Bagdonas has led the growth and development of technology and service companies across multiple industries, including four that were acquired and two trading publicly. His businesses have been named finalists for PYMNTS’ Most Innovative Company Award, a Top 10 Company by GigaOM, and were awarded a slot in Microsoft’s coveted and highly competitive BizSpark One program.

With specialties that range from back-end system design to the integration of disparate software systems, as well as software architecture, design and development and mobile app development, Richard brings a wealth of multifaceted experience and insight to the healthcare industry. Richard proudly served as an external technical consultant to the United States Air Force and Pentagon. He has authored four books on telecommunications and data networking design and engineering, co-authored a book on the convergence of voice, video and data communications, and is a regular contributor to TechCrunch and the Austin American-Statesman, among other digital and traditional publications.

He currently resides with his wife and two children in Austin, Texas.

Clinical Application Support Staff

Sharon Norton, RN, CPHQ

Clinical Application Specialist
Megan Amaral, RN, BSN, CPHQ

Clinical Application Specialist
Beth Thomsen, LPN, LPN-C

Clinical Application Specialist
Joy Mattsson-Boze RN, CIC, CPHQ, CAHP

Clinical Applications Specialist
Dee Sheridan RN

Clinical Applications Specialist

Sharon Norton, RN, CPHQ

Clinical Application Specialist

Sharon Norton is a Registered Nurse with a wealth of clinical, quality management, and healthcare software implementation experience. Her varied clinical experience includes acute and long-term care in physician’s office and home care settings. She has served in roles from staff nurse to educator to Director of Quality Management. For the last nine years, Sharon has applied her experience as a consultant and trainer for healthcare software.

Sharon is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and has presented at healthcare quality conferences at both the state and national level. She received her nursing degree from Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY and a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY.

Megan Amaral, RN, BSN, CPHQ

Clinical Application Specialist

Megan Amaral is passionate about patient safety, quality and finding a better way of doing things. In her years as a healthcare professional, she has enjoyed roles as an educator, quality improvement professional and staff nurse in hospital and ambulatory surgery settings.

Megan has first-hand clinical experience with ActionCue CI and is excited to be a part of the product’s dynamic and efficient methodology for improving patient outcomes. Megan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Montana State University, Bozeman.

Beth Thomsen, LPN, LPN-C

Clinical Application Specialist

Beth Thomsen works directly with ActionCue CI subscribers to ensure their success and to make the ActionCue CI software as useful as possible. Applying over 30 years of healthcare nursing and quality management experience, Beth uses active subscriber data to identify opportunities for improving patient outcomes.

Beth graduated from Northeast Tech of Nebraska and holds active licenses as both LPN and LPN-C. She is a former president of the South-Central Hospital Education Network in Nebraska and is a current member of the Nebraska Association for Healthcare Quality, Risk and Safety.

Joy Mattsson-Boze RN, CIC, CPHQ, CAHP

Clinical Applications Specialist

Joy Mattsson-Bozé is a Registered Nurse who brings experience in the areas of clinical (OR, ICU, Med/Surg), quality management and regulatory requirements to the Prista team. Her clinical experience has included acute and long-term acute care, infection control and occupational health from staff nurse, nursing supervisor, hospital-wide educator, and Senior Vice-President of Licensure & Accreditation.

She is a strong believer in patient safety and that ActionCue is an excellent tool for making it easier to achieve patient safety goals. Joy received her nursing degree from Mayfair College in Chicago, IL., Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from the University of Texas-Pan American, and her Master of Business Administration-Health Care Management from Salem International University, WV. Joy is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, Certified Occupational Health Nurse, Certified in Infection Prevention and Control, and a Healthcare Accreditation Certified Professional.

She resides in central Texas and enjoys reading, traveling, gardening,photography, and family time with her sons and grandchildren.

Dee Sheridan RN

Clinical Applications Specialist

Dee has joined the Prista staff with over 30 years in a variety of nursing positions. Most recently as the Quality Director at a Critical Access hospital in northern New Mexico.

Over the years she has enjoyed care management in a hospital setting, workers compensation care manager, telephone triage nurse, and occupational nursing at IBM and Raytheon corp. Her passion for birth and woman and infant health led her to be a childbirth educator, birth doula and lactation counselor attending over 1,000 births. She is affectionately known as "douladee" as she always manages to run into the many families she had the honor to be at births for.

Dee lives in Colorado with her husband Ken ,combined they have 6 adult children and 5 grandpets.