- October 9, 2021
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Hutchinson Police Chief Jeffrey Hooper welcomed four new members into the department last week.
Employees sworn in to new positions included Police Officer Dustin Davis, Dispatcher Michaela Juan, Animal ShelteTechnician Jasmine Merrell, and IT Technician Tyson Weber.
Officer Davis grew up in Little River, living most of his life with my grandparents. He enlisted in the military at the age of 17 and did several deployments. During that time, Davis said. “I learned that I love helping people and making a difference.”
After leaving the military, Davis said, “there wasn’t a job that felt like I was helping much anymore or making a difference. That’s when the application popped up on my computer, and it felt like the right thing to do. I’m excited to start this journey in my life and look forward to meeting and growing with a very exciting community of people.”
Bob Fee, president of Fee Insurance Group Inc. in Hutchinson, was installed as chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America board of directors for 2021-22 at its recent Fall Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Founded in 1896, the association, known as the Big “I”, is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing more than 25,000 agency locations united under the Trusted Choice brand.
Fee has held numerous positions at both the state and national levels for the association.
At the state association level, he has served on the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents (KAIA) Board of Directors and as the Kansas director on the national association board. He has also served on several KAIA committees, including the Government Affairs Committee, and was the 2007-2008 KAIA president.
At the national level, he served on the Government Affairs Committee and the Trusted Choice Board of Directors, including a term as the Trusted Choice board chairman. He received the Big “I” Chairman’s Citation in 2011.
“Bob’s longtime dedication to the association, along with his commitment to honoring our industry’s roots while forging ahead toward future growth, will serve Big ‘I’ members well,” says Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “We are fortunate to have him at the helm as the independent agency channel continues to face the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.”
“Independent agencies have gone above and beyond the past year and a half in serving their communities through tough times, and that same resilience will carry us through the rapid-fire changes our industry is undergoing,” Fee stated. “During my term, we’ll focus on moving forward and remaining responsive to both challenges and opportunities.”
Jarrod E. Urban, RN MSN, has been promoted to Nursing Director for Emergency Services at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center after serving nearly seven years as the hospital’s Director of Quality Patient Experience.
In this position, Urban will oversee a staff of 50 in the Hutchinson Regional Emergency Department, which provides 24/7 emergent care to more than 27,000 patients annually for medical issues ranging from stroke to cardiac emergencies to vehicular accidents and falls.
The Emergency Department is designated a Level III Trauma Center, which is mandated to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, and stabilization to patients seeking care.
Urban is a 2011 graduate of Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. In 2016, he received a Master of Science in Nursing in Leadership & Management from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minn.
Urban launched his 18-year career in healthcare while serving in the United States Army as a Combat Medic with the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
In July 2011, Urban joined Wesley Medical Center in Wichita as Assistant Nurse Manager for the hospital’s Emergency Department. Primary among his responsibilities was to lead a team of 130 to develop rapid-style-cycle quality improvement projects. Urban’s successes at Wesley include reducing staff turnover, as well as door-to-EKG times for chest pain patients.
Urban’s next career stop was Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where, in January 2015, he was named Director of Quality Patient Experience. Since then, Urban has collaborated with entities that make up Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System to implement evidence-based leadership tactics to improve employee and patient engagement. Simultaneously, Urban has worked with all levels of leadership to coach and mentor Quality/Performance Improvement initiatives.
Urban said he is anxious to hit the ground running in his new position and said he is impressed with the staff of healthcare professionals in the Emergency Department.
“Frequently, leadership positions at Hutchinson Regional are filled following national searches, so it is especially gratifying when we find the right candidate already working in the organization,” said Ken Johnson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System. “Jarrod has impeccable credentials and skills required to administer a unit of this magnitude. His infectious enthusiasm and knowledge will take this department to a new level of excellence.”
Urban and his wife Tara are the parents of two children, a son Dalton and daughter Kennidee. He grew up in Wichita.
NEWTON – Reece D. Hiebert has joined Adrian and Pankratz, P.A. as an Associate Attorney.
Hiebert graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 2021. During law school, he served as an executive officer for two terms with the Agricultural Law Society, and as an executive officer with the Oil and Gas Law Society. Hiebert also was awarded two certificates of concentrated study in Oil and Gas Law and Natural Resources.
Hiebert grew up on his family’s farm outside of Walton, where he has enjoyed farming and raising cattle. After graduating high school in Goessel, he attended Bethel College in North Newton, graduating with a dual degree in Business and Communications.
During college, Hiebert was a writer and editor for the college newspaper and was involved in concert choir and concert band.
Outside of work, Hiebert enjoys working on the farm, spending time with his wife and family, and being involved in his church and hometown community. He is excited to serve his home community and the surrounding area through his practice.
Hiebert joins Tom Adrian, Randy Pankratz, Tim Hodge, Cindy Wiens, and Joe Uhlman in their general practice firm.
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LARNED – A face familiar to many patients and their families in central Kansas is now the new chief of staff at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.
“This is a great place to practice medicine,” said Crystal Hill, MD, recently appointed to the position. “I am truly honored to represent and lead such a remarkable medical team.”
In the role, Dr. Hill leads the Medical Executive Committee, serves as a member of the hospital’s Board of Directors, is a liaison between the board and hospital administrator on medical matters, and oversees performance and quality related to medical care.
“As I serve in these capacities, we will continue to provide quality care to the community and promote the services we offer through primary-care and specialty providers,” Dr. Hill said. “I will listen to the needs of the community and respond accordingly.”
Dr. Hill has cared for and treated patients for more than five years in her family-medicine practice at Pawnee Valley Medical Associates. She is board certified in family medicine, hospice care, and palliative medicine.
Her special interests include preventive care and physician-assisted weight loss.
Dr. Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in human biology in 1997 at The University of Kansas and her medical degree in 2002 at The University of Kansas School of Medicine. She completed her Via Christi family-practice residency at Wichita in 2005.
Honors over the years include the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Diabetes Provider; nomination for Kansas Family Physician of the Year; and AMA Physician Recognition Awards.
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GREAT BEND – Paige Edwards is one-of-a-kind in her new position at Renue Salon, Spa & Fashion Boutique, 1419 Main. Her official title is “esthetician,” which means Edwards is a skincare professional.
“I offer facials, waxing and body treatments,” Edwards said. “Skincare is so important and many people are unaware there are products and treatments that can help them. For example, some have sun damage, dryness, acne, or dark circles. They can come in for a free consultation to determine which specific products and/or services could relieve some of their concerns.”
Edwards was licensed in California before moving to Great Bend about a year ago. Now she has a Kansas license through the Kansas Board of Cosmetology.
While in Valley Springs, Ca., Edwards owned her own spa business for three years; she grew up in Tracy, Ca. She previously worked at another local salon “but for a long time, I had wanted to come to Renue. This is a beautiful, full-service facility.”
Edwards and her husband, Skyler, a Great Bend firefighter, have two children, Chase, 4, and Payton, 1.
