HFMA Michigan Great Lakes Chapter Update – May 2026 Chapter President’s Message Dear HFMA Michigan Great Lakes Chapter Members, As I reflect on my final month serving as President of the HFMA Michigan Great Lakes Chapter, I am filled with both gratitude and pride. This role has been an incredible opportunity to connect with so many of you, to learn from your perspectives, and to help shape a chapter that continues to grow in both impact and engagement. What stands out most is the strength of this community. The collaboration, innovation, and willingness to show up for one another is what truly sets this chapter apart. Together, we have continued to elevate the value we bring to our members and the broader healthcare finance community. I would like to take a moment to recognize a few standout accomplishments from this past month. The Women in Leadership Committee delivered an exceptional event in Livonia this April—thoughtfully designed, highly engaging, and a true reflection of the talent and dedication within our chapter. The energy in the room was a powerful reminder of the importance of investing in leadership development and creating space for meaningful connection. I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to our MGL Certification Director, Tina Stone, for her outstanding leadership and collaboration. Tina partnered with seven other HFMA chapters in bringing a CRCR Virtual Study Hall event to our members that resulted in our chapter receiving a Success Award at the recent HFMA Summit for Multi-Region Member Value. These efforts exemplify the kind of forward-thinking leadership that strengthens not only our chapter, but HFMA as a whole. As we look ahead, I encourage everyone to join us at our upcoming Michigan Great Lakes Chapter Spring Fling Events May19-20. These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, build new relationships, and receive updates from experts in our industry. These are ½ day events offered at three different locations throughout the state to meet our members where they are at, encourage in-person participation, and offer a great networking opportunity. Finally, it is my honor to pass the reins, on June 1, to our incoming President, Nichole Niesen. Nichole brings a strong vision, thoughtful leadership, and a deep commitment to this chapter. I have full confidence that under her leadership, the Michigan Great Lakes Chapter will continue to thrive and reach new heights. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me over the past year. It has truly been a privilege to serve this chapter. I look forward to staying engaged and supporting Nichole and all of you in the year ahead. “But here’s the thing about legacy: it’s about more than wealth or accomplishments. It’s about ensuring that the path you’ve walked continues to inspire and guide others in the future.” —Dr. Margaretha Montagu   Warm regards,   Courtney Guernsey, FHFMA, EHRC, CRCR President, HFMA Michigan Great Lakes Chapter Women In Leadership 2026: Leading Boldly and Wisely The Women in Leadership Committee held its annual conference last month, bringing together nearly 170 healthcare finance professionals from across Michigan for a full day of programming centered on investing in yourself and leading boldly and wisely. The evening before, Healthrise hosted a networking reception at the St. John Wine Grotto — a chance for attendees to connect before the sessions began, and one that set a genuinely collaborative tone for the day ahead. Amy Blain, founder of Shatter Sales and Personal Development, opened the morning with her Rise Formula — a practical framework for building leadership through incremental shifts rather than sweeping reinvention. Her session drew on more than 25 years in sales and leadership, and challenged attendees to trust their voice and take up the space they've earned. Dr. Darla Bishop, founder of FinanSis, followed with a keynote on Maximizing Your Three Currencies: Time, Energy, and Money — a framework for examining how the way we allocate those three resources defines our impact, both professionally and personally. It was a timely reminder that investing in yourself isn't just financial; it's about where your attention and energy go, too. The afternoon brought an executive panel moderated by Brad Willkie of Salud Revenue Partners, featuring Robin Damschroder, CFO & EVP at Henry Ford Health; Kayla Howell, SVP of Business Development at Revecore; and Linda Little, President and CEO of Neighborhood Service Organization. The fireside chat format allowed for candid conversation on career navigation, leadership identity, and what it actually looks like to invest in yourself at every stage. The day closed with a workshop from Barbara Boldt on Redefining Executive Presence for Women: Quiet Strength, Powerful Voice — a fitting capstone to a conference that modeled exactly that. Thank you to our speakers, panelists, sponsors, and every attendee who made this year's conference a meaningful one. We look forward to building on it next year. Left: Our wonderful speakers for the WIL Event from left to right. (missing), Barbara Boldt, Dr. Darla Bishop, and Amy Blain. Right: Executive Panel from left to right. Brad Willkie of Salud Revenue Partners, Kayla Howell of Revecore, Linda Little of Neighborhood Service Organization, and Robin Damschroder of Henry Ford Health. Thank you to our dedicated Women in Leadership committee for making this event possible. A special thank you to Courtney Snell of Healthrise and Rachel Hatt from Trinity Health for helping lead the charge on making the 2026 Annual event truly amazing. HFMA Leadership Summit 2026 Our board members traveled down to Austin, TX, the Live Music Capital of the World, on April 26th for HFMA's 2026 Annual Leadership Summit. Each year, our leadership team attends Summit to learn the tactics to lead a successful chapter, bridge connections to other HFMA chapters, and lean in to the mission of HFMA as a national organization.  Our chapter and individual members were lucky to be recipients of a few awards. Hannah Perez, from Corewell Health, was the recipient of the Enterprise Impact Award, which highlights individuals who promote the resources of HFMA in their local community. Hannah was recognized for her strengthened engagement at Corewell Health by coordinating a central hub, monthly email newsletters, and a mentorship session that drew nearly 700 attendees. Her efforts have grown HFMA membership within her organization from under 1,000 to 4,187 in over 5 years. Read the full press release here. Congratulations, Hannah, and thank you for all you do for our chapter and community! Michigan Great Lakes HFMA was also recognized in a Multi-Chapter award for Member Value along with Alabama, Georgia, Metro Philly, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee Chapters for their dedicated work to the CRCR Virtual Study Hall sessions. We are so grateful to Tina Stone, from Henry Ford Health, for spearheading the charge on this initiative for Michigan Great Lakes and bringing incredible value back to our chapter members. Tina, thank you for all of your dedication and leadership to our chapter throughout the years! Our chapter members were lucky to hear from incoming National Chair, Matt Cox of Corewell Health, along with C. Ann Jordan, President & CEO of HFMA. The theme for the event rang true: You Belong Here. As chapter members at HFMA, we all bring innovative ideas to the table and have a seat at the table.  On top of all the wonderful honors, we also were able to make connections with the Region 6 Ohio chapters on a Monday night boat cruise. We have many exciting plans as a region, including our Fall Region 6 Conference later this year. After many months of planning and hard work, our chapter members were able to celebrate (and also see the emergence of the Austin Texas bats from under the Congress Avenue Bridge). We are excited to continue the momentum of Summit at Michigan Great Lakes HFMA chapter planning on May 13th, where our chapter leadership will gather in Okemos, MI, to discuss our 2026-2027 success plan under the incoming leadership of Nichole Niesen.  Region 6 Chapter Leadership in Austin during the Monday Night Boat Cruise overlooking the city skyline. Michigan Great Lakes Chapter during the Awards Ceremony Hour. Fun fact: Two of our chapter members won trivia with the help of the Wisconsin and Northern California chapters! From Left (Back Row): Ariana Raymond, Courtney Snell, Kathy Bangert, Heather Velaga, Nichole Niesen, Michael Felczak, Brent Smith From Left (Front Row): Kelli Williams, Paige Cooper, Courtney Guernsey, Hannah Perez, Marcus Lewis, Bill Bollinger Congratulations again to Tina Stone and our certifications committee for all their hard work in making this honor possible! Region 6 Fall Conference Update Save the Date for Region 6's Fall Conference, Blueprints of Hope, from September 23-25, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan! We are thrilled to announce that Cynthia Frelund, NFL Network/ESPN's lead analytics expert, will be joining us as the Keynote Speaker for the HFMA Region 6 Conference! In an era where "data-driven" is more than just a buzzword, Cynthia stands at the forefront of predictive modeling and advanced statistics. Known for her trailblazing work at the NFL Network and ESPN, she has mastered the art of turning data points into winning strategies on the field. The same logic used to optimize player performance and predict game outcomes can transform healthcare operations. Cynthia provides a blueprint for making smarter decisions, harnessing innovation, and build teams that thrive on data-driven insights. Follow all updates by visiting our website and the Region 6 HFMA LinkedIn page. Volunteer Spotlight Marcus Lewis, Sponsorship Director Marcus Lewis holds more than 25 years of Revenue Cycle knowledge and experience. He has been with Corewell Health for the past 7 years as the Director of Professional Billing. Prior to working at Corewell Heath, Marcus worked 10 years at UCLA Healthcare as a Revenue Cycle Director. He enjoys working in healthcare and prides himself on leadership, innovation, and supporting all areas of the organization. Marcus will be joining our incoming board as the Sponsorship Director. He enjoys golfing and fishing in Bass Tournaments along with National and Global traveling with his wife. Sponsor Spotlight Forvis Mazars provides audit, assurance, tax, advisory, and consulting services globally with a dedication to delivering an Unmatched Client Experience to help you prepare for what’s next. At Forvis Mazars, we redefine collaboration and provide the insight to help you prepare for what’s next. By working alongside you and understanding you, our services and solutions are meticulously tailored to meet your unique needs. Combining global reach with deep local knowledge, our teams work together to deliver consistent, seamless services across the world, adapting to work alongside your teams, sector or region. We build solutions with you and for you, driven by anticipating what’s next. We are nimble, entrepreneurs that listen to your unique needs to create tailor-made solutions. We are everywhere, combining worldwide scale with local understanding to offer seamless support across borders. We bring experience, led by skilled professionals who prioritize excellence and deliver an Unmatched Client Experience. Above all, we are trusted, guided by integrity to build lasting relationships with our people, clients, and the communities we serve. Forvis Mazars: helping you prepare for what’s next. Visit https://www.forvismazars.us/ today to learn more! Upcoming Events - MIGL Chapter Michigan Great Lakes HFMA 2026 Spring Fling Event - May 19th & May 20, 2026 (Register Here) Michigan Great Lakes HFMA Day at the Capitol - December 4th, 2026 Michigan Great Lakes HFMA 2025 Annual Sponsorship (Register Here) Upcoming Education and Programming - Region 6 Northeast Ohio HFMA Women in Leadeship - May 21st, 2026 Northeast Ohio HFMA Networking Event: Cleveland Guardians vs. San Francisco Giants - August 20th, 2026 Region 6 HMFA Conference - September 23rd-September 25th at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel (More information coming soon) Northeast Ohio HFMA Women in Leadership 2027 - May 18th, 2027 (More Information Coming Soon) Sponsorship Opportunities We have built a sponsorship program to hopefully meet all of your needs. Our business partners are critical to our success. We value your support of our chapter and look forward to working with you in 2025 and beyond. If you need any additional items or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. Thank you for your continued support! To become a 2025 sponsor for the Michigan Great Lakes Chapter HFMA, please complete this form. Tom Matonican, Michigan Great Lakes HFMA Sponsorship Chair, tom@cbmservices.com If you no longer want to receive emails from No Campaign, please Opt-Out.