Emmet Tinley, Board Chairman
Emmet Tinley is a CPA and life long resident of Council Bluffs. His business career includes 25 years as Controller and CFO in banking and, for the past ten years, providing tax and accounting services. He is an ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Des Moines assigned to St. Patrick's Catholic Church where he is also a Business Manager. He has served on the board of a number of community organizations and is currently an active board member for VNA of the Midlands, Council Bluffs Community Health Center, and Hospice of Southwest Iowa.
Marie Knedler, Board Secretary
As a registered nurse, Marie Knedler has held various clinical, educational and managerial positions at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. In 1996, Knedler was named COO of Alegent Health Mercy Hospital responsible for Mercy Hospital, Behavioral Health, Home Care Services and System Support Services. In 1999, Knedler was appointed to Vice President Southwest Iowa/Mercy Hospital Administrator. Today she is the COO for both Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs and Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha. Knedler currently serves on the Board of Directors for the AHA Regional Policy Board, Iowa Hospital Association, Community Memorial Hospital, Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, American/Peoples National Bank, CB Betterment Foundation, Council Bluffs Alliance, and Hospice of Southwest Iowa.
Kathryne Cutler
Kathryne (Kate) Cutler is an Attorney and the Operations Counsel for Accent Corporation. Prior to joining Accent in 1998, Kate was Vice President of Reinsurance and Compliance for the Mutual of Omaha companies. After graduating from law school, she was an assistant county attorney and also worked in private practice. Kate has her law degree from Creighton University and holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) and Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) insurance industry designations. Kate is also a former elementary teacher and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa. Her current community involvements include president of the Council Bluffs Guild of the Omaha Symphony, co-chair of the community campaign for Lakin human services campus, vice-chair of Visiting Nurses Association of Pottawattamie Co. board, founding member of the Hospice of Southwest Iowa Board, and past president of the Alegent Mercy Foundation Board.
James Summerfelt
James Summerfelt is in his sixth year as President and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association. Nationally, Summerfelt is the Chair for the Visiting Nurse Associations of America Board of Directors, serving on the Policy Council and Finance Committee. Locally, Summerfelt serves on the Board of Directors for the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, Partnerships in Aging, Live Well Omaha, the Policy Committee for the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, and Hospice of Southwest Iowa.
Susan Tinley
Susan Tinley is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Creighton University. She obtained her undergraduate and masters degrees in nursing from Creighton and her PhD from the University of Utah. She has been certified in genetic counseling for 20 years. Her research has focused on spirituality in coping and spiritual care provided by nurses. She also has strong interests in hospice services and community health.
Helen Jackson Bleicher
Helen Jackson Bleicher is a Licensed Massage Therapist with her Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership. Helen has also completed a Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She volunteers at Hospice House in Omaha and has completed the 'Time to Heal' Facilitator course. Helen currently serves as a board member of Hospice of Southwest Iowa.
Mike Adams
Mike Adams has been in the casino industry for 19 years working in marketing functions for a variety of mid-west casinos. While moving around for another gaming company, Mike had the opportunity to come back to the Council Bluffs area in 2009 and is currently employed with Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs as the Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Marketing. It was an easy decision to relocate back to this area as he and his wife retained strong ties to friends they had met while previously living in the Omaha Metro area and thoroughly enjoyed the years they spent here. Their goal is to grow roots in the area and remain here for the foreseeable future. Mike and his wife Gina, and son Joe enjoy the Council Bluffs area and the family feeling the community generates.