Event Details

Agenda: 

The program will focus on talent acquisition and retention strategies when hiring transitioning military personnel and their spouses.  Speakers will present the following topics:

·         Information on the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, which provides delivery of health care to more than 57,000 Veterans and ensures outpatient and inpatient services are available to more than 158,000 Veterans residing in an official catchment area of Clark, Lincoln and Nye Counties.

·         Initiatives that the 360 Alliance is leading to assist America’s military service members and veterans connect  to employment opportunities in their communities as they transition from military service.                             

·         One Veteran's Experience Transitioning from the Military - "My Story" of Lessons Learned and Expectations versus Reality
 

Posting of the Colors & Singing of National Anthem:
TSA Honor Guard, McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas NV

Opening & Welcome Remarks:
Peggy Kearns, MS, FACHE
Director/CEO
VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System

Peggy W. Kearns, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Director of Department of Veterans Affairs’ Southern Nevada Healthcare System.  Ms. Kearns is responsible for a $464 million annual operating budget and the overall operations of a Medical Center, four large Primary Care Clinics; a Community Resource and Referral Center; a Veterans Recovery Center; an Outpatient Clinic in Pahrump, Nev.; and a Rural Outreach Clinic in Laughlin, Nev. The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System provides delivery of health care to more than 57,000 Veterans and ensures outpatient and inpatient services are available to more than 158,000 Veterans residing in an official catchment area of Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties.  
Ms. Kearns began her career with the VA as a Dietetic Intern at the Hines (Ill.) VA Medical Center in 1983 and, prior to her current appointment, served as Director of the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Mich. She has a Master’s Degree in Adult Health Education from Indiana University, a Master’s Degree in Organization and Management from Capella University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition from Purdue University.  Ms. Kearns is also board certified as a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives and a VA Certified Mentor.
With more than 2,200 staff and facilities in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Laughlin and Pahrump, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is an acute care teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research.  Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, secondary, and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics, and extended care.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
2016 – Present Director, VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, North Las Vegas, Nev.
2013 – 2015 Director, Aleda E. Lutz, VA Medical Center, Saginaw, Mich.
2009 – 2013 Associate Director, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver
2006 – 2009 Associate Director, VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare System, Reno, Nev.
2001 – 2006 Director of Business Office, VA Minneapolis Medical Center

EDUCATION:
1999 Master’s Degree in Organizational Development, Capella University, Minneapolis
1989 Master’s Degree in Adult Health Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.
1978 Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

1st Presenter’s name:
Kelly Folliard
RP/6 Site Manager 
USO Las Vegas 

Kelly Y. Folliard is the RP/6 Site Manager for the USO Las Vegas. The RP/6 program is operated out of Nellis Air Force Base. Mrs. Folliard has been working with the USO Las Vegas for 5 months. Prior to working with the USO Mrs. Folliard held the position of Regional Chapter Field Officer for USA Cares, a national non-profit that assists military families in crisis. She remains on their Nevada Chapters Board of Directors. Mrs. Folliard is also a State of Nevada Certified Veterans Advocate and Co-Chairs the Southern Nevada Veterans Community Engagement Board. 
The USO Las Vegas RP/6 program was built in order to assist our service members as they transition out of the military. The program provides assistance with employment, education, VA benefits, legal assistance, family programs, wellness and volunteerism. By working one on one with clients and providing a concierge service RP/6 is able to ensure that our service members are successful during their transition to civilian life. 
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
2016 – Present RP/6 Site Manager, USO Las Vegas, Nellis AFB
2014 – 2016 Regional Chapter Field Officer, USA Cares, Las Vegas, NV
2012 – 2014 Director of Admissions, The Salter School, Malden, MA 

EDUCATION:
2016 Master of Science, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Southern New Hampshire University 
2014 Bachelor of Arts, Abnormal Child Psychology, Southern New Hampshire University

2nd Presenter’s name:  

Craig L. Willcutt Jr.

Human Resources Specialist

VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System

Craig Willcutt is a Human Resources Employee and Labor Relations Specialist (ER/LR) at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Southern Nevada Healthcare System.  Mr. Willcutt provides guidance and consultation to various levels of management and staff on issues of employee relations. Additionally, Mr. Willcutt provides technical assistance and advice on labor relations and how that relates to the labor organization Master Agreement as well as existing laws, rules, regulations and policy.

Mr. Willcutt has enjoyed a variety of different opportunities throughout his career within the Department of Veteran Affairs. Mr. Willcutt began his career at the Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, California as a Housekeeping Aide in 2002. In 2006 Mr. Willcutt was promoted to Housekeeping Supervisor. In 2007 Mr. Willcutt was selected to enter into the VA’s Technical Career Field (TCF) Intern Program and began training to become an Environmental Management Service Line Chief. While assigned to the Cheyenne, Wyoming VA Medical Center Mr. Willcutt studied at other VA medical centers located in Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota, and Utah. Mr. Willcutt would ultimately work at VA medical centers located in Leavenworth, Kansas and San Francisco, California. In 2012 Mr. Willcutt changed career fields and became an ER/LR Specialist. Always seeking new experiences, Mr. Willcutt arrived to the Las Vegas VA Medical Center in September 2016.    

The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System provides delivery of health care to more than 57,000 Veterans and ensures outpatient and inpatient services are available to more than 158,000 Veterans residing in an official catchment area of Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties.  With more than 2,200 staff and facilities in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Laughlin and Pahrump, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is an acute care teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research.  Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, secondary, and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics, and extended care.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

• 2016 - Present – Human Resources Employee and Labor Relations Specialist - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER – Las Vegas, Nevada
• 2014 - 2016 – Human Resources Employee and Labor Relations Specialist - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER – Loma Linda, California

• 2011 - 2014 - Assistant Chief, Environmental Management Services/ ER/LR Specialist - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER – Leavenworth, Kansa
• 2010 - 2011 - Assistant Chief, Environmental Management - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER – San Francisco, California
• 2009 - 2010 - Assistant Chief, Environmental Management Services - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER – Leavenworth, Kansas
• 2007 - 2009 – Technical Career Field (TCF) Intern – Environmental Management Services - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER – Cheyenne, Wyoming
• 2002 - 2007 – Housekeeping Aide/ Housekeeping Supervisor - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER – Loma Linda, California

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