Speakers
Dr. Paul Hauptman, Dean of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Presenting: Keynote: Welcome To Reno
Dr. Paul J. Hauptman is a first-generation American and physician who earned his MD from Cornell University Medical College. After training at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and completing cardiology fellowships at the Brigham and Mount Sinai Hospital, he held faculty and leadership roles at Harvard, Saint Louis University, and the University of Tennessee. A nationally recognized expert in advanced heart failure and cardiovascular outcomes, he has led clinical research supported by the NIH and AHA. Known for his compassionate care, he also champions faculty development and health equity. Dr. Hauptman currently serves as Dean of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Renown Health
Dr. John Packham, Associate Dean of the Office of Statewide Initiatives with UNR Med and Co-Director, Nevada Health Workforce Research Center
Presenting: Keynote: Welcome To Reno
Dr. John Packham is the Associate Dean of the Office of Statewide Initiatives at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, where he leads educational, research, and community engagement efforts to improve health outcomes across Nevada. He also serves as Co-Director of the Nevada Health Workforce Research Center, overseeing workforce research and policy analysis.
A respected health policy expert, Dr. Packham has authored over 100 statewide research reports and contributed extensively to policy discussions shaping Nevada’s healthcare landscape. He is actively involved in multiple governing boards and commissions and serves as Policy Director for the Nevada Public Health Association. A frequent speaker and media contributor, he provides insights on health care and public health challenges facing the state.
Gerald Ackerman, Assistant Dean, Rural Programs, Office of Statewide Initiatives-UNR Med
Presenting: Nevada Spotlight: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Office of Statewide Initiatives
Gerald J. Ackerman earned his Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science and Health, Master of Science Degree in Health Education and a Certificate in Gerontology for the University of Utah. He has been active in rural health, education and health services since 1989. Gerald currently serves as the Assistant Dean, Rural Programs; Director, Nevada State Office of Rural Health; and Director, Nevada AHEC for the University of Nevada Reno, School of Medicine Office of Statewide Initiatives. Gerald has worked in many areas of healthcare education, access, delivery, and development. Gerald has extensive grant writing and management experience. He has PI’d or CO’ PI’d over 13 million in federal, state, and local grants. He has worked with many partners and in innovative programs that have been developed in Nevada. He also serves on or has served on several boards and advisory groups at the state and national level.
Troy Jorgensen, Senior Project Manager, Project ECHO Nevada
Presenting: Nevada Spotlight: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Office of Statewide Initiatives
Troy Jorgensen is the Senior Program Manager with Project ECHO Nevada at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Troy has been working on ECHO in Nevada for over 8 years, starting as a Program Coordinator and working his way up into his current role. As a native Nevadan, he believes strongly in the mission of ECHO to maximize scarce resources for the betterment of all across the state. He earned his Master’s in Healthcare Administration from UNLV in 2024 to continue his growth and bring more expertise to healthcare in Nevada.
Alexis Kirby, Acting Director, Rural Programs & Frontier Programs, Office of Statewide Initiatives, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Presenting: Nevada Spotlight: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Office of Statewide Initiatives
Manager of Frontier and Rural Programs, graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelors in Community Health Science, focusing on Public Health. She’s now pursuing a Master of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Alexis is passionate about working with rural and underserved communities, with a focus on healthcare quality, workforce development, and community initiatives. She emphasizes providing early career opportunities in education to advance the healthcare workforce and address social determinants of health. She brings expertise in strategic planning, sustainability, program development, partnership building, and team leadership.
Laima Etchegoyhen, Senior Outreach and Technical Assistance Manager, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Presenting: Nevada Spotlight: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Office of Statewide Initiatives
Laima Etchegoyhen, MPH, is a Senior Outreach and Technical Assistance Manager in the Office of Statewide Initiatives at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. She holds a bachelor's degree in Health Ecology with minor in Psychology, and Master of Public Health, both from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Since 2018, Laima has coordinated Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program and Small Hospital Improvement (SHIP) Program, supporting Nevada's Critical Access Hospitals through technical assistance, data reporting, and quality improvement efforts.
She is a co-author of numerous reports and publications, including Health Care Careers in Nevada, Registered Nurse Workforce in Nevada, Physician Workforce in Nevada, and the Nevada Rural and Frontier Health Data Book.
Amanda Brown, Outreach and Technical Assistance Coordinator, Office of Statewide Initiatives, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Presenting: Nevada Spotlight: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Office of Statewide Initiatives
Amanda Brown, MPH, received her Bachelor’s in Biology at Sierra Nevada College and her Master of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno. Amanda began her public health career with the UNR Medical School’s Office of Statewide Initiatives as a student promoting vaccines in rural Nevada. Her work as a student transitioned into her current role as an Outreach and Technical Assistance Coordinator, where she primarily focuses on expanding recruitment, retention, and education to improve the capacity and sustainability of rural EMS agencies in the state. Amanda works to uphold UNR’s mission to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and communities to support the medical school’s vision of a healthy Nevada.
Matthew Webster, Senior Immigration Attorney, Fredrikson & Byron
Presenting: Immigration Updates; Immigration Discussion & Networking
Matthew assists employers and individuals in meeting their unique immigration objectives by providing trusted and compassionate counsel and by zealously advocating for clients through every stage of the immigration process.
Matthew practices in the field of employment-based immigration and nonimmigrant visas for diverse employers of all sizes, with a special focus on immigration strategies for healthcare organizations, international physicians, and medical device manufacturers. Matthew also assists clients with family, naturalization, asylum, and humanitarian immigration matters. With extensive experience in employment law, Matthew has expertise in immigration compliance issues, including I‑9 audits, structuring and implementing immigration policies, and training on I‑9 compliance. He also draws on his experience in litigation and appeals to advocate for his clients.
Matthew is a frequent speaker at regional meetings, workshops, CLEs, and conferences on immigration and healthcare recruiting. He serves on the National Verification & Documentation Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is also the Immediate Past Chair of the Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter of AILA. Matthew teaches immigration law at the University of St. Thomas and was previously adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota Law School.
Don Pathman, MD, MPH, UNC Sheps Center
Presenting: PRISM Research Update: The Role of Community Ties in Retaining HPSA Physicians
Donald Pathman, MD, MPH is Professor of Family Medicine and Director of the Program on Primary Care Research at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He previously served as Director of Sheps Center’s Program of Health Care Workforce, Co-Editor of Education for Health, Director of UNC’s National Research Service Award Primary Care Research Fellowship, and member of the National Advisory Board of the National Health Service Corps. His three decades of research and evaluation have focused on assessing federal, state, and organizational clinician workforce programs, especially those affecting clinicians for rural and underserved communities. Since 2012 he has served as the academic lead of the now 36-state Provider Retention & Information System Management (PRISM) Collaborative, which provides states with real-time questionnaire feedback from their clinicians serving in state and federal loan repayment programs. Dr. Pathman practiced family and emergency medicine for more than 35 years.
Dr. Karla Miller, Department of Veterans Affairs
Presenting: Rural Workforce Development at the VA
Karla L. Miller, MD, is a clinical associate professor in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Utah--Department of Internal Medicine and a staff rheumatologist under primary care at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center. She received her medical degree from the University of New Mexico-School of Medicine, and completed both her internal medicine residency and rheumatology fellowship training at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She is a rheumatologist whose career has focused on providing high-quality rheumatology services to patients in the management of chronic diseases within her specialty, with specific interests in osteoporosis population health, rural workforce development, quality improvement, and health professions education. Her VA work focuses on osteoporosis risk identification and primary prevention in rural Veterans and she developed a primary prevention, population-based virtual osteoporosis clinic which has been adopted locally and where she continues to oversee ongoing access to virtual osteoporosis screening and management for rural and urban Veterans. Her passion for rural VA workforce development emerged through engagement as a co-director with the VA Rural Scholars Fellowship where her work focuses on understanding the professional development needs of rural VA primary care providers in order to develop and tailor relevant programs that meet the needs of this critical part of the workforce.
Charles Long, Department of Veterans Affairs
Presenting: Rural Workforce Development at the VA
Charles Long was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and currently resides in the Greater Detroit area. He graduated from Pontiac Central High School in June 1989 and enlisted in the United States Army, where he embarked on a distinguished career spanning more than two decades.
Throughout his service, Charles pursued higher education, earning an Associate's degree in Applied Science from Vincennes University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Touro University. His dedication to continued learning is evident through his extensive military education, which includes completing the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Courses, Army Recruiter Course, Army Medical Recruiter Course, Station Commander Course, Army Senior Recruiter Trainer Course, and Air Assault School.
Charles served 22 years on active duty in the US Army, with 14 of those years devoted to the US Army Recruiting Command. His exceptional performance in recruitment earned him prestigious accolades such as the US Army Recruiting Gold Ring and Glen E. Morrell Recruiting Award Medallion. He ultimately retired as the US Army Healthcare Recruitment Station Commander for the state of Michigan.
After retiring from active duty, Charles continued to contribute his expertise by joining the US Army Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM) as a Staff Actions Control Officer Team Leader. In this role, he was honored with the Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service.
In 2012, Charles transitioned to the VA National Recruitment Service (NRS), where he continues to serve with dedication. He contributes to the NRS Rural Recruitment, Transitioning Military, and Non-citizens Recruitment teams. Additionally, he is an active member of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, where he leverages his vast experience to advance healthcare recruitment strategies.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Charles treasures spending quality time with his three amazing daughters, family, and friends. His commitment to both his career and his loved ones underscores his profound dedication to service and community.
Mandi Gingras, 3RNET Director of Education
Presenting: The New Generation of Rural Recruitment Leveraging AI
Mandi Gingras is the Director of Education for the 3RNET, providing healthcare recruitment and retention educational support to our members and safety net facilities across the nation. Mandi’s experience includes 14 years as a recruiter and workforce consultant for Bi-State Primary Care Association, where she provided recruitment support to safety net practices throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. In this role, she served as the 3RNET Network Coordinator for NH and VT and served on the 3RNET Board of Directors. She also worked as a physician recruiter with a large non-profit integrated health delivery system made up of 14 hospitals and 100 primary care locations across Michigan and Ohio. With a passion for developing strategies to attract and retain healthcare professionals who will thrive in rural and underserved communities, Mandi strives to continue identifying new and innovative ways to recruit and shares best practices to help others remain competitive and be successful in their recruitment and retention efforts.
Tom Morris, Associate Administrator for Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Presenting: Updates from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)
Tom Morris serves as the Associate Administrator for Rural Health Policy in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In that role, Tom oversees the work of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, which is charged with advising the HHS Secretary on rural health issues.
The Office, which has an annual budget of $364 million, administers a range of research and capacity-building grant programs that serve rural communities.
He has an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Community Health from East Carolina University. He also earned a Certificate in Public Leadership from the Brookings Institution in 2008.
Carrie Torgersen, Assistant Director, Utah Center for Rural Health
Presenting: 3RNET Member Panel Session: Fully Utilizing 3RNET and Getting Results
Carrie Torgersen has worked at the Utah Center for Rural Health for 26 years and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Healthcare Workforce Development. She is dedicated to advancing the Center’s mission of improving healthcare access in rural and underserved communities. As Utah’s 3RNET Network Coordinator, Carrie plays a key role in recruiting and connecting healthcare professionals who are passionate about serving rural populations.
Joyce Grayson, Director Rural Health Education & Services, KUMC
Presenting: 3RNET Member Panel Session: Fully Utilizing 3RNET and Getting Results; 3RNET Member Panel Discussion - Facilitating Career Fairs and Leveraging Technology
Joyce Grayson, MBA, Director, Rural Health Education and Services, has 20 years of experience in both the profit and not-for-profit sector of recruitment. Joyce has worked to enhance the quality and quantity of health care professionals in rural Kansas through the efforts of the Kansas Recruitment and Retention Center and the Kansas Bridging Plan. As director of Rural Health Education and Services, Joyce is responsible for program development and implementing strategies to strengthen Kansas’ health care workforce. Joyce has focused her education on health care administration and utilizes her education and background to address the need for health care in rural Kansas. In addition, Joyce shares her expertise as a consultant to other states who are looking to implement similar workforce programs.
Faith Johnson, Workforce Advisor, Washington State Dept of Health
Presenting: 3RNET Member Panel Session: Fully Utilizing 3RNET and Getting Results
Faith Johnson has dedicated 18 years to the Washington State Department of Health, where she has held multiple roles focused on strengthening healthcare delivery in rural and underserved areas. Currently, as the Workforce Advisor in the Rural Health Office and the Washington State 3RNET Network Coordinator, Faith plays a critical role in supporting healthcare facilities by recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals throughout Washington State’s rural communities. Her work involves collaborating closely with healthcare providers and organizations to ensure access to quality care in regions that face significant workforce challenges.
Faith’s commitment to community development is complemented by her educational background in interior design. Outside of her public health career, she owns and operates a successful home staging business, where she applies her creativity and design expertise to help homeowners present their properties in the best light. This unique combination of skills enables Faith to approach her work with a holistic perspective—balancing practical problem-solving with creative thinking.
Through her diverse experiences, Faith brings a well-rounded approach to workforce development, blending strategic recruitment with a passion for building stronger, healthier communities
Shauna Reitmeier, MSW, LCSW, President, National Association for Rural Mental Health
Presenting: Workforce Partners: Raising our Rural Voices, Updates from National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH)
Shauna has over 25 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare and cognitive disabilities fields. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Alluma Inc., a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic providing mental health, substance use disorder, crisis, housing and homeless support with adults, children and families across eight rural and frontier agriculture counties of Northwest Minnesota. She also provides clinical therapy with clients to stay grounded in the work she leads. She holds her master’s in social work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She currently serves as the President of the National Association of Rural Mental Health and serves on the executive committee for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing Board of Directors. In addition to her national work, she also serves on the board of the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs. She lives in Crookston, MN with her husband, stepson and her two dogs, Rebel and Bandit. Spending time with family, gardening, and traveling filles her with joy.
Shelby Rimmler-Cohen, MPH, Associate Director Rural Residency and Teaching Health Center Planning and Development
Presenting: Workforce Partners: Updates from RuralGME (Rural Graduate Medical Education) and THCGME (Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education)
Shelby M. Rimmler-Cohen, MPH is the Associate Director for the UNC Chapel Hill Sheps GME Program. She is experienced in health workforce research and practice with specialty in increasing health provider supply to meet population health needs in rural and underserved communities. In her role as Associate Director, Shelby leads program and research teams to design, implement, and evaluate federal- and state-funded technical assistance and workforce development initiatives. She has previously managed the development, implementation, and evaluation of two federally funded health workforce development initiatives at UNC Chapel Hill, in primary care nursing within federally qualified health centers and in trauma-informed behavioral health for children and families. Shelby has earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Behavior and certificate in Total Worker Health from the UNC Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from Furman University.
Dave Schmitz, MD, Chair of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Department of Family & Community Medicine, 3RNET Senior Research Advisor
Presenting: Community Apgar Recruitment and Retention: Partnering for Rural Workforce
David Schmitz, MD, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He earned his medical doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo and completed residency training at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. He has extensive research expertise in training and retaining physicians in rural and underserved areas. He has served as the president of the National Rural Health Association and with the National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps. Dr. Schmitz currently serves as the Senior Research Advisor for 3RNET.
Stacy Kusler, Workforce Specialist Center for Rural Health UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Presenting: Community Apgar Recruitment and Retention: Partnering for Rural Workforce
Stacy Kusler is the Workforce Specialist at the North Dakota Center for Rural Health. She assists rural facilities to attract health professionals to their areas by working closely with health profession students during their training, and by collaborating with the North Dakota Area Health Education Center (ND AHEC) to promote and assist with rural training opportunities. She manages the state’s J-1 visa Waiver program through the ND Primary Care Office, and supports facilities who are looking to hire a J-1 candidate through the application process. Stacy is the Network Coordinator for North Dakota’s 3RNET page, is a past president of the board of directors for 3RNET.
Mark Barclay, 3RNET Director Member Services
Presenting: Community Apgar Recruitment and Retention: Partnering for Rural Workforce
Mark Barclay is the Director of Member Services for 3RNET, the nation’s most trusted resource for health professionals seeking careers in rural and underserved communities. Mark serves as the primary support contact for 54 3RNET members, as well as the 5,000+ rural and underserved employers across the country that use 3RNET to improve their recruitment and retention efforts.
Prior to working for 3RNET, Mark recruited for 36 Critical Access Hospitals and four FQHCs as the Workforce Specialist at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Mark also helped establish TruServe, a web-based tracking system used by State Offices of Rural Health and Primary Care Offices nationwide.
Mark has maintained his Certified Physician/Provider Recruitment Professional (CPRP) certification from the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) since 2013. Mark has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of North Dakota.
Madi Hammargren, MS2
Presenting: Panel Discussion with Residents and Medical Students from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno
Madi Hammargren is a second-year medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine with a strong commitment to advancing rural healthcare. Born and raised in Winnemucca, Nevada, she has dedicated the past eight years to serving her community through Humboldt General Hospital EMS & Rescue, where she has worked as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), Education Coordinator, Community Paramedicine Provider, and Certified Passenger Safety Technician. At UNRSOM, she serves as the Rural Outreach Clinic Manager and leads the Rural Health Student Interest Group, further demonstrating her dedication to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved areas. She plans to return to rural Nevada to practice as a family medicine physician and contribute to UNR’s mission of building a healthier Nevada for all Nevadans.
Madison Schuster, MPAS
Presenting: Panel Discussion with Residents and Medical Students from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno
Madison Schuster, MPAS is a recent graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Studies Program, where she served as Class of 2025 Vice President. A native Nevadan and recipient of the Durward & Susan Huckabay Foundation Rural and Underserved Scholarship, she completed multiple clerkships focused on rural emergency medicine and primary care. Madison is excited to begin her career at one of Nevada’s critical access hospitals, where she aims to provide compassionate, community-centered care from the emergency department."
Joseph Heller, MD
Presenting: Panel Discussion with Residents and Medical Students from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno
Joseph Heller, MD, is a chief resident in the University of Nevada, Reno Family Medicine program. He is passionate about expanding access to healthcare in underserved communities and is particularly interested in rural acute care opportunities throughout Nevada. Dr. Heller plans to practice in the South Lyon Emergency Room in Yerington, NV, where he hopes to make a meaningful impact delivering high-quality, community-based emergency care.
Danea Pirtle, MS3
Presenting: Panel Discussion with Residents and Medical Students from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno
Danea Pirtle is a third-year medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, where she is pursuing a scholarly concentration in Family Medicine and Health Policy. Deeply committed to improving rural healthcare access, she served as the manager of the UNR Med Rural Outreach Clinic, leading student efforts to deliver free care to underserved communities in rural Nevada. A 2025 inductee into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and an AHEC Scholar, Danea has assisted in conducting rural health needs assessments and presented research at both regional and national conferences. She brings a background in forensic anthropology and continues to advocate for equitable, community-driven care throughout rural Nevada. Her goal is to become a rural family physician serving communities in her home state of Nevada.
Melissa Candelaria, Director of Operations, New Mexico Health Resources
Presenting: 3RNET Member Panel Discussion - Facilitating Career Fairs and Leveraging Technology
Melissa Candelaria serves as the Director of Operations at New Mexico Health Resources, Inc. (NMHR), where she has been a dedicated team member since November 1994. With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare workforce, Ms. Candelaria has established herself as a seasoned professional in healthcare and program management.
Throughout her tenure at NMHR, Ms. Candelaria has developed extensive expertise in state and federal loan for service and loan repayment programs, playing a crucial role in supporting healthcare professionals across New Mexico. Her comprehensive understanding of these programs has helped facilitate healthcare workforce development throughout the state.
Ms. Candelaria brings significant experience in organizing continuing medical and dental education conferences, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to quality educational opportunities to advance their practice and improve patient care. Her attention to detail and organizational skills have contributed to the success of numerous professional development events.
Active in community leadership, Ms. Candelaria is a member of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, where she serves on the Health & Wellness Committee. Through this role, she continues to advocate for healthcare initiatives that benefit the broader community.
Born in Ruidoso, New Mexico, and raised in the rural community of Hondo in southeastern New Mexico, Ms. Candelaria brings a deep understanding of the unique healthcare challenges facing rural communities. Her educational background includes studies at Western New Mexico University, New Mexico State University, Doña Ana Branch Community College, and Central New Mexico Community College.
Ms. Candelaria's rural roots and extensive experience in healthcare administration position her as a valuable advocate for improving healthcare access and workforce development across New Mexico's diverse communities.
Lourdes Montez, Manager Workforce Development, Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers
Presenting: 3RNET Member Panel Discussion - Facilitating Career Fairs and Leveraging Technology
Lourdes Montez joined the Alliance in February 2011 as the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Student/Resident Experience and Rotations in Community Health (SEARCH) Program Coordinator. In her current role as Workforce Manager, Lourdes develops and facilities coalitions and networks that include academic and healthcare organizations. She also facilitates workforce trainings and identifies healthcare partnership opportunities to help recruit and retain primary care providers, healthcare professionals, and allied health staff to Community Health Centers in rural and underserved communities in Arizona. Lourdes is a Trainer for Training of Trainers (TOT) for several Community Health Curriculums and has been involved with Community Health Worker (CHW) networks, coalitions, and statewide trainings for over 25 years. Prior to working for the Alliance Lourdes worked for a CHC in Southern Arizona that provided her with an inside perspective on the important role CHCs play in rural communities. She also worked for Arizona’s Area Health Education Center Programs for over 15 years. Lourdes attended nursing school in Dodge City, KS and is now working towards a master’s degree in counseling. She is a 4th generation Arizonan and was born and raised in a rural border community in Southeastern Arizona. Lourdes is bilingual, fluent in Spanish, and enjoys traveling and learning more about the rich culture and history of our beautiful state with her husband, Gus and son, Jesse.