Mary Hargadine
Founder | Director
President of Board of Directors
As Founder of Joyful Journeys, Mary has 30+ years of experience in the healthcare environment, most recently as Client Partnership Director for Carelon Health, an Elevance Health Company. She has also served as VP, Client Success for 8+ years with AMC Health, a remote health monitoring organization where she managed the health plan/health system relationships. Mary also has held leadership roles at Walgreens as VP, National Accounts and 21 years at HealthLink, an Elevance Health organization where she had multiple leadership and growth roles managing the payer relationships and business development. Mary has served on multiple boards including Youth in Need, SEMO Business Group on Health and American Cancer Society Gala Committee. She received a commission from Archdiocese of Saint Louis, Lay Ministry Formation in 2019.
Fr. James Benz
Board Member
Fr. Jim is a priest in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis and has been ordained for 50 years. He has served in various parishes in the Archdiocese as a pastor for 31 years, most recently Saint Cletus Parish in St. Charles, Missouri. Prior to that, he was an associate pastor for 18 years. He loves hearing people tell the stories of their faith journeys as he finds it fascinating how God works in such vastly different ways in all our lives. He currently is in residence at Saints Joachim and Ann Parish in Saint Charles and is working with an organization called Unbound, an international nonprofit founded by lay Catholics to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first.
Bruce Gosser, MBA
Board Member
Bruce Gosser has an extensive background in health care management across multiple sectors of the industry, including hospital administration, managed care, health plan management and telehealth and technology. Bruce is co-founder and Principal of INNOVA Health Solutions, a managed care and business development consulting firm with clients ranging from national pharmacy, health plans and health systems to state and regional provider organizations and related health care businesses specializing in managed care, medical economics, health IT and care management. Mr. Gosser served as Senior Vice President of AMC Health, a New York City-based telehealth company with major clients in the health system, health plans and government programs. Gosser has many years of experience in managed care negotiations for both providers and payors. For nearly 10 years, Mr. Gosser worked as General Manager of WellPoint (currently Anthem) companies, HealthLink and CompManagement, a health plan with more than 1.2 million members serving large self-insured employers, labor union trusts, government subdivisions and other insurance companies. Bruce previously served as Vice President Managed Care for BJC Health System in St. Louis and earlier as the administrator of Christian Hospital NW, a major hospital in BJC. Gosser uses his background on both the payer and provider side of health care to create comprehensive, successful strategies and business models in the industry.
Mr. Gosser holds the Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a Master of Arts degree from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He received is Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Truman State University in Kirksville Missouri.
Renee Sigel Hearst
Board Member
With over three decades of diverse experience in leadership, business development, and community engagement, Renee currently serves as the Director of Community Impact at the National Council of Jewish Women - St. Louis Section. Since joining the organization in September 2022, she has been dedicated to fostering positive social change and driving impactful initiatives within the community. Prior to this role, she spent nearly seven years as the Director of Business Development at Thoughtful Integrations, where they led business operations across the St. Louis region, specializing in advanced home automation, intelligent lighting, and cutting-edge home entertainment solutions. Her leadership in this field transformed how clients integrated technology into their homes and daily lives. From 2006 to 2016, she held the position of Corporate Sales Executive Coordinator at The Ticket Guys, where she played a pivotal role in managing sales strategies and fostering corporate relationships. Earlier in her career, she excelled as a Senior Professional Representative at Merck for nearly nine years, providing healthcare professionals with vital resources and information on pharmaceutical products. Renee began her career in healthcare as a Network Development Representative at HealthLink, an Elevance Health Company, where she was instrumental in expanding provider networks and facilitating access to quality care. Renee holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a concentration in Accounting from the prestigious American University - Kogod School of Business. Her breadth of experience across multiple industries continues to influence her commitment to community impact and business excellence.
Beth Anne Leonard
Board Member | Treasurer | Secretary
With over 15 years of experience in the credit union industry, she has developed extensive expertise in debt resolution, collections management, and financial operations. Most recently, she served as a Debt Resolutions Manager at Alabama ONE Credit Union, where she was responsible for managing complex financial accounts, overseeing loan processes, and resolving debt-related issues. Prior to that, she held the role of Teller Supervisor, guiding a team in handling transactions, new accounts, and loans. Her background also includes over a decade as a Collections Supervisor at Alabama Credit Union, where she handled unsecured loans, repossessions, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and regulatory reporting. She played a critical role in improving internal processes, teaching new hires, and ensuring regulatory compliance, including reporting to Chex Systems. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated strong skills in problem-solving, data analysis, and computer literacy, contributing to the successful management of multiple departments and large-scale financial operations. Beth attended University of Alabama with focus on Marketing. Beth recently moved back to her home state of Missouri and is currently a Debt Resolution Collector at Client Services, Inc. in St. Charles, MO.
Susan Ott
Board Member
Susan Ott is a retired Chief Growth Officer, eviCore healthcare Inc. A dynamic leader with 35+ years in the health care industry. A people leader who excels at building, leading, and developing high performing sales, business development, customer success and marketing teams. Susan’s 35+ career was heavily concentration in Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM), Managed Care, Medical Benefits Management and Retail health care industries.
Previously she served as the Divisional Vice President of Sales for the PBM and National Payer Segment for Walgreens and as the Executive Director and Segment Lead of Business Development at MedImpact Healthcare Systems. She has also held senior leadership roles in sales, account management, provider relations, and network contracting at Express Scripts and HealthLink, an Anthem company. Prior to that, she managed provider relations, finance, and network development for Group Health Plan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coventry Health Care, Inc.
Susan focused on Business Administration when she attended the University of Missouri. Susan is an ICF Professional Certified Coach.
Joanne Russell, BSN
Board Member
Joanne Russell has both a BS in Nursing and a Master's Degree in Divinity with a focus on Chaplaincy, and brings to the board of directors a wealth of experience and guidance. Starting in 2010, she has served as a Board member of Freedom's Promise, a nonprofit organization focused on prevention of human trafficking in SE Asia through community development projects and sharing the Gospel. She also served as the chaplain to the board of Freedom's Promise. Professionally, she has over 30+ years experience in healthcare, focusing on creating and delivering innovative solutions that improve health outcomes and reduce cost. Most recently she served for 6 years as COO for Arche Healthcare, a start-up organization with solutions designed to prevent diabetic foot ulcers and wounds which can lead to amputation and death. Prior to Arche Healthcare, she was Chief Nursing Officer at AMC Health, a NYC organization specializing in remote health monitoring, Optum, a health services innovation company and Healthways, a disease management and wellness company.
Holly Schaffer, MBA
Vice President / Board Member
Holly brings over two decades of business experience along with a deep passion for helping and serving others to the board of Joyful Journeys. With a background in healthcare, Holly has held several executive leadership positions in the healthcare field, including large national health payors, providers and healthcare technology companies. Holly brings experience, knowledge and value to foster business relationships and to deliver results. She has managed multi-million-dollar business accounts believing that working directly with clients leverages the understanding of business goals and needs to develop strategic solutions that achieve optimal results. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago and an undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Outside of her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Holly enjoys reading, traveling, kayaking and gardening. She is excited to contribute to Joyful Journeys and work with fellow board members to deliver joyful experiences and meaningful connections to nursing home residents.
Michelle Thomas, MPHSW
Board Member
Michelle Thomas is a highly motivated and empathetic professional, recently serving as the Growth and Sales Engagement Leader of Carelon Digital Solutions within Elevance Health. With an impressive background in the healthcare industry, Michelle plays a pivotal role in driving strategic growth and fostering meaningful partnerships. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Michelle is actively involved in empowering young women and promoting education. She serves on the board for TWST for Girls, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and supporting girls in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Michelle also held the position of Program Committee Chair, where she leverages her expertise to design impactful initiatives. Outside of her professional commitments, Michelle finds joy in exploring the world through travel, rejuvenating her spirit with nature through hiking, and making a difference in the lives of aspiring young women through mentoring. As a first-generation graduate, Michelle has set a remarkable example by pursuing her education at Tulane and LSU Universities and holds a Master of Public Health, Community Health and Preventive Medicine from Tulane University and a BS, Management from Louisiana State University. Michelle is recognized for her level-headedness and ability to navigate complex situations with grace. Her strengths lie in building relationships, driving results, and fostering a collaborative environment.
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Doreen Salek, RN, MBA
Board Member
An accomplished healthcare executive with over 15 years of experience in clinical and operational leadership, Doreen currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer at AMC Health, where she leads clinical strategies to improve patient care outcomes. In her previous role as Senior Director of Clinical Outreach and Engagement at Capital Blue Cross, she focused on enhancing patient engagement and outreach efforts in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area.Prior to these roles, she spent over eight years at Geisinger Health System in various leadership capacities, including Senior Director of Care Trajectory/Utilization Management and Director of Population Health Business Intelligence. Her responsibilities included overseeing care management, business operations, and population health initiatives.She holds an MBA in Health/Healthcare Administration from American Sentinel College and an RN in Nursing from the Geisinger School of Nursing, which has provided her with a strong foundation in both clinical practice and healthcare management.
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Kathy Sigmund, CPA
Board Member
Kathy Sigmund is a seasoned financial professional with over 25 years of experience in nonprofit financial management. She began her career in the retail industry while working her way through college, where she developed a strong foundation in business operations. After earning her degree, Kathy joined a public accounting firm, specializing in auditing local nonprofits and governmental entities. During this time, she earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license from the State of Missouri, solidifying her expertise in financial compliance and reporting. After four years in public accounting, Kathy transitioned to the nonprofit sector, where she discovered her true passion for supporting organizations dedicated to social impact. Over the years, she has refined her skills in financial planning, budgeting, and strategic resource management, with a special focus on nonprofits. Kathy currently serves as the Finance Director for a multi-faceted nonprofit organization based in Granite City, Illinois, where she leads the financial operations and helps shape the organization’s fiscal strategy for long-term sustainability and growth. In this role, she leverages her expertise in nonprofit financial reporting, budgeting, grant compliance, and audit preparation. Kathy is an active member of the Missouri Society of CPAs and the National Grants Management Association. She also serves on the Parish Finance Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Family Advocacy and Community Training (F.A.C.T.) in St. Charles, Missouri. Throughout her career, Kathy has demonstrated a deep commitment to the nonprofit sector and a belief in the power of financial transparency to support organizational success. Her ability to align financial strategies with mission-driven objectives has made her a trusted leader in the sector.