Marengo woman completes statewide leadership program

WEST DES MOINES — Tereni Kepler, with Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo, was one of 14 professionals from long-term care organizations across Iowa who completed a year-long executive leadership program through the Iowa Health Care Association.

The program is designed to strengthen leadership in nursing homes, assisted living programs, care continuum and home care settings, said a press release from the Iowa Health Care Association.

The 2024-2025 Executive Health Care Leadership Institute wrapped up in July with a graduation ceremony and final project presentations in West Des Moines. The program helps rising leaders in long-term care develop key skills in management, communication, workforce development and quality improvement, while fostering confidence and collaboration across care settings, the Association said.

Also graduating were Jacob Bates, of Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls; Karla Bicknell, with Kennybrook Village in Grimes; Jenny Blackmore, of Care Initiatives in West Des Moines; Tyson Branscomb, of Cottage Grove Place in West Branch; Kathy DeHaven, of Cedar Ridge Village in West Des Moines; Keegan Donelan, with Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids; Rachel Ferguson, ow Accura Healthcare of Iowa in West Des Moines; Melinda Haley, with Summit Pointe Senior Living in Marion; Dawn Hannum, of Kennybrook Village in Grimes; Theresa Herman, with Thornton Manor Care Center in Lansing; Heather Kling, with Highmark Senior Living in West Des Moines; and Megan Toney and Morgan Voga with Bethany Life in Story City.

During the program, participants took part in both virtual and in-person sessions covering topics such as mission-driven leadership, building trust within teams and leading quality improvement projects.

The program was sponsored by Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Consonus Healthcare and Right Dose, A Guardian Pharmacy.