Healthcare Professional Speakers

Our healthcare professional speakers and training staff have an average of 20+ years of provider-based experience and proven success in resolving organizational, administrative, management, and strategic planning challenges for all types of healthcare facilities.

CTS' staff have proven track records in preparing organizations for Joint Commission Survey, improving patient care, reducing medical errors, implementing risk management systems to improve patient outcomes, and developing management teams that significantly improve organizational effectiveness.

Joann Wilcox R.N.

Joann C. Wilcox, RN, MSN, LNC is a Legal Nurse Consultant, author and Healthcare Educator who has held positions of Vice-President of Patient Care Services, Clinical Risk Manager, Patient Safety Officer, Patient Privacy Officer and Joint Commission Survey Coordinator in various acute care organizations. In addition to consulting, she is currently a faculty member at the University of Phoenix-Online.

Ms. Wilcox is a member of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Executives as well as a member of several organizations focused on improvement of patient safety in our healthcare systems. She has authored books and provided multiple educational seminars at sites across the United States on issues related to Patient Safety, the Reduction of Medical Errors, Preparing for a Joint Commission Survey and Implementation of the HIPAA Privacy Regulations.

Jacqueline Keddie-Holt, Trainer and Consultant, has developed and delivered organization-wide education programs to healthcare professionals for over 16 years. With extensive management experience leading hospital professionals in Regulatory Compliance, Preparing for JCAHO Surveys, Performance/Process Analysis and Improvement, Risk Management and Quality Improvement, she is qualified to Re-design organization wide performance to meet JCAHO standards and improve patient outcomes.

Jacqueline is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and has completed the Healthcare Risk Management Certification through the American Society for healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM).  She acquired her Master of Arts-Human Services from St. Edwards University in Austin Texas. She has a Bachelor or Science Degree in Business from St. Edwards University of Business, Austin, Texas, and attended the Dallas Methodist Hospital School of Nursing to become a Registered Nurse.

Currently Jackie is in charge of Quality Improvement and Risk Management for the Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital. 

Laura Northcutt

Laura Northcutt, Senior Consultant for Creative Training Solutions, has been helping individuals and groups work more effectively for over twenty years. Her multidisciplinary background – which includes over ten years experience coaching leaders to higher levels of effectiveness and more than thirteen years developing and delivering interactive, experiential training – contributes to her innovative approach to consulting and training, delivered with a high level of energy to CTS clients.

Laura’s undergraduate work in Music Therapy/Music Education at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, led her to pursue a graduate degree in counseling. During this time she worked with Project refocus, a Presidential Award-winning program at UMKC for dislocated workers. Promoted to Coordinator of Counseling, Laura led her group of counselors in redesigning services in order to provide increasing levels of service to the wide range of clients. In the early 1990s, Laura was invited to speak about her innovative and holistic approach at numerous conferences including the Canadian Association for Guidance and Counseling National Conference and the JIST National conference. This led to further contracts developing and delivering customized training and consulting services for clients including the Maryland Institute for Employment Professionals, numerous Sprint groups, several FAA teams, and Deloitte and Touche. In addition, Laura co-founded StrategicPaths, Inc., a ropes course offering custom-designed services to corporate and non-profit businesses.

Recruited to the Saturn Consulting Services team in 1993, Laura joined the groundbreaking team-based organization as a consultant and facilitator. After just three months with that team, she was invited to become a member of the team selected to coach the over one-hundred-member group of consultants and facilitators leading General Motors’ efforts to increase employee involvement and develop effective leaders at all levels throughout its North American organization which included GM Canada.

Laura has led the redesign of materials based upon customer input and needs. Her ability to communicate with individuals at all levels of the organization leads to increased levels of involvement and enthusiasm among participants. Because implementing even small changes in the way an organization does business often results in resistance and/or reluctance to change, having a credible yet personable consultant aboard facilitates the process. Laura is frequently requested by CTS clients for these reasons.

Candy Whirley

From the Hawaiian Islands to London, England, Candy Whirley has motivated and inspired thousands of individuals for over 10 years, to achieve higher levels of excellence than they ever dreamed possible.

She is a co-author of “Magnetic Leadership,” and co-author of a book, by women, for women, called “Ordinary Women…Extraordinary Success.” Candy’s newest release is a guided meditation CD called “My Secret Island Oasis.”

You may recognize Candy, she is a former Kansas City Chiefs, Chiefette, performed at Starlight Theater in Kansas City, and modeled for the Kansas City Star Magazine, among others.

Famous for her boundless enthusiasm, high energy, and contagious sense of humor, Candy is a dynamic speaker truly dedicated to sharing her professional expertise and business talents to help fellow professionals improve their job performance and achieve their personal goals. Her stories and activities not only make learning fun, but bring meaning to the topic, and help the participants retain and apply what they have learned. Her main goal is what she calls ‘edu-tainment,’ learning while having fun.

Candy prides herself in teaching lessons that not only help people to grow professionally, but personally. “My theme of ‘paying it forward’ is all about sharing my gifts to help others discover and develop their own gifts with the idea that they will in turn share them with others they encounter.” Her down to-earth-style has won over audiences both nationally and internationally.

“Never settle for less than what your heart is calling you to become.”

Susan Meyer

An international speaker and trainer, Susan Meyer has spoken to a half-million people in 8 countries. She is an employment law specialist, management consultant, motivational speaker and the author of a handbook entitled SOS! 101 Solutions to Overcome Stress. Some of her wide range of topics includes:

• Stress Management
• Leadership Skills
• Sexual Harassment
• Team Development
• Customer Service
• Managing Change

As A native Kansan, Susan graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA in Human Resources Management. She enjoyed a 7-year career as a Regional Personnel Manager in the mid-west where she was responsible for government compliance, recruiting, and employee programs. She later moved into a position as National Training Management where she guided all levels of training for 450 locations nationwide.

Susan traveled extensively for 10 years as a trainer for the worlds largest seminar company where she achieved consistently high customer ratings and trained many new speakers. Susan joined CREATIVE TRAINING SOLUTIONS in 1996 where she became Director of Training and Curriculum Design. Susan is known for developing training solutions that solve problems and improve organizational effectiveness. Some of her clients include:

New Mexico Healthcare Association
Cirque du Soleil
Kansas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
MCI Worldcom
Bracco Diagnostics
City of Chicago-Water Reclamation District

Through a wealth of practical experience, humor and audience participation, Susan provides positive practical training to help participants get results. Audiences enjoy Susan’s interactive and dynamic style and you will too!

Lloyd Arnsmeyer

Lloyd Arnsmeyer is a management consultant, trainer and keynote speaker with over thirty years of experience in developing educational curriculums that target the needs of management and personnel issues. His focus, while addressing each situation, is to provide a personal, interactive and pragmatic communication style.

Lloyd’s educational foundation, with a BA in Psychology and a Masters degree in Educational Psychology and Administrative Management provide him with the resources to focus on the behavioral issues confronting productivity, departmental relationships and interactive communication styles. His expertise includes Leadership and Management, Organizational Change, Communications, Team Building, Stress Management, and Conflict Resolution.

Mr. Arnsmeyer consulted with the Kansas City Royals and helped them plan and implement their re-organization, and has trained with such organizations as Washington Regional Medical Center, NCR, USDA Forrest Service, Mayo Clinic, HE Johnson Companies, Joint Readiness Training Center, American Express and Twin Cities Mac Truck. His international clients include 3M, HJ Heinz and SmithKline Beecham.

Lloyd’s training and communication style is personal, high energy, humorous and emphasizes solutions through customized curriculum content.

Patrick Handley Ph.D.

Dr. Patrick Handley is a licensed psychologist, management consultant, and professional speaker. He founded and is director of the Insight Institute, Inc., an organization that creates and publishes training educational materials. He travels internationally presenting programs to business managers and educator on such topics as team-building, leadership, behavioral management, and personal effectiveness. His materials have been translated in as many as six languages. Dr. Handley has worked for 18 years in the field of organizational training and specializes in team development and personality assessment. Dr. Handley obtained a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Missouri. He completed his primary area of study in personality assessment and support areas in career management and organizational development. He held faculty appointments at two universities, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the University of Missouri, Kansas City. In these positions he taught graduate level psychology, personality testing, and organizational development courses, directed a career development center, and served as an advisor on doctoral dissertation committees.

Ruth M. St. Pierre

Ruth St. Pierre is a nationally recognized speaker/trainer with a proven track record of excellence. She has involved nearly 50,000 participants in her highly interactive and lively programs. Her sessions deliver useful tools and information, while her motivational style encourages participants to enjoy working toward higher levels of professional excellence.

As founder and president of Creative Business Resources, Inc., an 18-year old communications consulting firm, Ruth built her business “from the ground up” by emphasizing superior customer service. Working closely with clients to customize training to their unique needs, she ensures a greater ROI (return on investment) for the client’s training budget. That’s why she is welcomed by a variety of organizations, including government agencies, health care and educational organizations, corporations, and non-profits.

Ruth’s infectious delivery style brings subject matter to life. Clients appreciate her ability to turn the complex and the theoretical into practical, user-friendly applications. She turns “I understand” into “I can” and “I will.”

Ruth is a sought-after speaker for international seminar companies, presenting programs wherever there’s a desire for knowledge and learning. Favorite topics include:

• Understanding others and ourselves (personality assessment)
• Communications
• Team Development and Motivation
• Dynamic Meeting Facilitation
• Customer Service Excellence

Ruth’s real-world experience, combined with her enthusiasm and passion for helping others succeed, creates a dynamic learning environment. Participants leave feeling confident, energized, and ready to tackle challenges in new ways.

Bonnie Jackson

Bonnie Jackson is a management/organizational consultant with 20 years of experience in education and training worldwide. She specializes in communications, dealing effectively with change, Leadership skills, time management, conflict resolution, customer service, interpersonal communications, team building and stress management just to name a few.

Bonnie has planned and delivered seminars both nationally and internationally for private and public companies as well as government entities. Over the past several years Bonnie has been instrumental in designing and implementing a Leadership Development training program for the federal government called "Mission to the S.T.A.R.S." This dynamic program challenges participants to plan and execute a simulated rescue as a "scientific task force of American rescuers in space", conducted at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. The simulation requires participants to work together in teams, to change behaviors and processes, and even to design their future. She has been instrumental in training our leaders in the military during these critical times.

Bonnie has an undergraduate degree from Bowling State University in Ohio, a Masters Degree in Education, Training and Development from Penn State University and has a Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development from State College in Pennsylvania.

Mary C. Pebley

Mary Pebley is a national trainer with over 30 years experience in adult education. For 16 years she was the National Education Director for the American Business Women's Association where she designed and coordinated all educational programming for professional development conferences. Mary was also the developer and trainer for the American Business Women's Association leadership program with more than 17,000 graduates. Some of her other clients include the American Society of Military Comptrollers, American Association of University Women, Federally Employed Women, US Department of Labor and the Women's International Network of Utility Professionals just to name a few.

Audiences love her insightful content and unique down-to-earth style laced with humor.

Mary's specialties include team building, creating synergy through Team Spirit sports, mentoring, workshops on leadership development and professional development and stress management.

Mary received her Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Wisconsin, completed her graduate studies at the University of Colorado, and is certified in Instructional Design with the University of Michigan. She also is a certified facilitator for outdoor challenge courses and utilizes experiential training to create a fun learning experience.