Staff
Ron Ross
President
Ron Ross and Roger Petrik started RHD in 1990. As President of RHD, Ron provides leadership for the staff and their facilities.
“I believe the biggest reason for our success has been in delivering value to our customers. We enjoy an excellent reputation based on our ability to meet the needs of our clients, at a fair price.”
Ability and desire- the two traits necessary to get a job done! There is no substitute for experience and expertise, however, when we add the additional ingredient of passion, we have the recipe for success. “Our clients deserve to contract with a company that has the skills and the drive necessary to make sure that quality work gets done in a timely manner.”
Ron served the State of Nebraska when Governor Mike Johanns appointed him to his Cabinet in 1999. His entrepreneur spirit helped him lead the Department of Health and Human Services (Nebraska) for five years at a time when the national economy forced State Government to improve programs with fewer resources. When the Nebraska State Treasurer resigned, the Governor asked Ron if he would fill out the remaining three years of the term. There were many candidates for this position but the Governor had confidence in Ron's integrity and work ethic.
Since returning to RHD in 2007, Ron continues to help grow the company. “We have expanded into Kansas and Wyoming, and with our facilities in Iowa and Nebraska, RHD is starting to have a significant presence in the Mid-west.”
Matt Ross, N.H.A.
Vice President, Operations Consultant, and Regional Manager
Matt has been the Administrator of Glen Haven Home and Linnwood Estates in Glenwood, IA, since October of 2008. Matt grew up in Cambridge, Nebraska and graduated from Doane College in 2001 with a degree in Business Finance/Management. Matt's first job out of college was working for the Nebraska State Treasurer's Office to implement the State's centralized child support collection program. This led to a Program Specialist position with the Department of Health and Human Services, where he continued to work with Nebraska's child support program. Matt was soon hired for a Business Analyst position with HHS, and worked there until he made the move toward obtaining his Nursing Home Administrator's license. Matt has been working as the Administrator at Glen Haven since receiving his license.
Matt has enjoyed working with the elderly over the last few years, and is thankful for the great opportunity he has been given to make a difference in their lives. Glen Haven has made considerable progress in the last few years, and Matt appreciates the outstanding efforts his staff and Department Heads have made, as well as the support the facility has received from RHD.
Matt enjoys golfing, playing cards, going to music concerts, and hanging out with his dog, Ace.
Sue Booe, R.N.
Nursing Consultant
Sue Booe graduated from Lincoln General School of Nursing in 1971 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has been actively licensed as a registered nurse as well as worked in acute care for 4 years. Sue spent eighteen years as a Director of Nursing in LTC. Her experience includes 10 years working with veterans in a 329-bed skilled facility, working in a 48-bed assisted living facility, supervising a nursing staff of 250, and preparing and managing a budget of 9 million dollars. Sue is responsible for opening a 48-bed assisted living facility, just one of the many ways she has shown her leadership capabilities as well as her commitment to this field. Other experience includes: teaching, mentoring, chairing multiple committees, and working directly with union representatives and stewards. Sue currently enjoys practicing as a nurse consultant for Rural Health Development.
Walt Dye, N.H.A.
Regional Manager
Walt has been Administrator at Mitchell Care Center since January of 1997. Since 2006, he has been involved with several other facilities in Western Nebraska in the financial area. Walt has also been involved in training several new Administrators, who have developed into very talented and capable Administrators within the company and outside the company. In 2012, he was designated to be the Western Regional Manager, overseeing Rural Health Development contracted facilities in Western Nebraska, Eastern Wyoming, and Northwest Kansas.
Walt has a passion for the profession of long-term-care, and strives to ensure that the facility is able to maintain a balance between the ability to provide quality care, and to maintain the facility’s financial viability.
A native of Southwest Nebraska, he graduated from Trenton High School, and Central Community College with a degree in Health Care Administration. Walt had previously been a production supervisor for a farm equipment manufacturer from 1969 to 1978. From 1978 to 1994, he owned and operated a drive-in restaurant at Trenton, Nebraska.
Walt and his wife, Barbara, have 3 children and 8 grand-children, which they enjoy very much. They enjoy golfing together, attending sporting events, and hanging out with family.
Jo Fuller, N.H.A.
Office Management Consultant
Jorena (Jo) Fuller began her employment with Rural Health Development (RHD) in September of 1999. Originally, she was hired to help with rural health clinic consultations, as Jo has over 12 years of experience serving as director of 5 hospital-based rural health clinics. Shortly after joining RHD, she also became involved with long-term care facilities, receiving her Health Administration Degree and Nebraska State License in May of 2002. Since that time, Jo administered a small skilled-nursing facility/assisted living in Southwest Nebraska. For two years Jo had a multi-license, serving two skilled-nursing facilities as their administrator. Along with her administrative duties, she continued to help other long-term care facilities with their Medicare billing issues, as well as helping with rural health clinics, including some independent RHC cost reporting.
Jo became Office Management Consultant for RHD in the spring of 2010. Her primary duties include helping all business offices of RHD facilities with their financials, billing, and Medicare (both SNF A and B) claim filing. Finance is her love, as well as the challenges of Medicare and Medicaid.
Jo lives in Cambridge, Nebraska. She is the mother of three married children, and is blessed with two grandsons and two step-granddaughters. Jo is a councilman for the City of Cambridge, and has been for several years. She is a member of the First Congregational Church in Cambridge, NE where she has served as their Moderator and Choir Director. Jo loves sports, music, and a good book.
Mike Harris
Special Projects
Mike started working part-time for Rural Health Development in June 2010. Since that time, he has served as interim administrator at six RHD facilities in Nebraska and Wyoming, plus he worked part-time on various other projects. With RHD expanding rapidly, Mike was offered full-time employment in May 2012 with the responsibility for special projects.
Mike retired after a 32 year career with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in December, 2008. As policy administrator of many major Nebraska programs including Food Stamp, TANF, Medicaid, and Child Support Enforcement, Mike was responsible for developing, implementing and communicating policies to over 850 local office staff to serve the citizens of Nebraska.
Mike brings experience working with federal, state and local officials. “My goal is to support all staff in RHD by completing the special projects that are needed to strengthen this organization.” Mike is also a Senior Vice President in Quality Government Solutions, a firm that consults with governmental agencies to improve operations and performance.
Ashly Lannin
Graphic Designer & Marketing Assistant
Ashly joined Rural Health Development in July of 2011 as the Graphic Designer & Marketing Assistant. Ashly attended Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE, where she earned an A.A.S. in Visual Publications in 2008, and a Bachelors Degree in Information Systems Management from Doane in 2012.
During her free time, Ashly enjoys being outdoors, playing with her dog, Forester, snowboarding in the winter, riding her motorcycle in the summer, spending time with her friends and family, and doing creative projects around the house.
Janet Lytton, R.H.I.T., N.H.A.
Director of Reimbursement
Janet Lytton has lived in rural America all her life and worked in Rural Health Care the last 27 years. She lives on an acreage near Shelton, NE with her husband, Gary. She has been the Director of Reimbursement for Rural Health Development for the last 20 years. Janet has worked with both Provider Based and Independent RHCs across the United States. Janet consults on RHC feasibility, certification, billing, coding and does many IRHC cost reports annually, as well as gives workshops and speaks on RHC topics across the country. She consults on Critical Access Hospitals and assists in their implementation. She has completed and assisted in numerous feasibility studies and operational analyses for IRHCs, PBRHCs, nursing homes, skilled nursing homes, hospitals and FFS clinics across the U.S. She is also a licensed Nebraska Nursing Home Administrator and a Registered Health Information Technologist.
Anna McClain
Accountant
Anna joined Rural Health Development in April of 2013 as the Accountant. Anna attended Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE, where she earned her A.A.S. in Business Accounting in 2008, and a Bachelors Degree in Business Accounting from Doane in 2012.
During her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to music concerts, playing softball, traveling, and being outdoors.
Margaret Messersmith
Office Manager
Margaret Messersmith's official title at Rural Health Development is “Office Manager” however, with this title, she wears many hats. Margaret is the receptionist, secretary, human resource director, payroll clerk, accounts receivable/accounts payable clerk, and corporate accountant. With us from the beginning, Margaret has seen Rural Health Development grow from three employees and one managed facility into the healthcare magnate it is today.
Rozanne Phillips, R.N.
Nursing Consultant
Rozanne (Roz) Phillips has worked in the Long Term Care Industry since 1978. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Mount Marty College in Yankton S.D. As a nurse, she has worked in rehabilitation, infection control, quality assurance, conducted mock surveys, trained staff, and was a Director of Nursing of a 159 bed skilled nursing facility for 18 years. As the DON, she assisted with planning and moving into a new facility, worked with the Veterans Administration, supervised a nursing staff of 75, was contract manager for psychology, pharmacy and therapies, and was a member of and chaired multiple committees. She also served as an adjunct instructor at Mount Marty College. She joined RHD in March 2011.
Emily Plageman
Marketing Director
Emily attended the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and got her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2006. Throughout college, she worked for the Nebraska State Patrol in their Criminal Identification Division. Following her graduation from the University, Emily has had several State of Nebraska jobs including working for the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care and the Department of Corrections in their Human Resources Department. Following her time at the State, Emily was employed with CEDARS as a Family Partner in the Emergency Shelter, working with families and youth.
Emily began working for RHD as a Marketing Director in the spring of 2010. Emily loves the opportunity that she's been given to meet so many wonderful people at the facilities that RHD manages, including staff and residents, and looks forward to working with many more talented and inspiring people.
During her free time, Emily enjoys being outdoors, gardening, reading, and cooking.
