Current job: Assistant administrator, Patient Care Services, Newton Medical Center in Covington.

Family: Married for 35 years to Larry. Three sons: Burt, Chris and Daniel. Two daughters-in-law: Natalie and Erica. Two grandchildren: Kaya and Brody.

What makes a good leader? “Passion and commitment. A leader must believe wholeheartedly in what they are doing and have a vision of where they inspire their group to go.

“They must have the commitment to stand up for their principles but [they] must also be good listeners and acknowledge that they do not have all of the answers.”

What are you most proud of in your career? “My commitment to high-quality, compassionate patient care. Nursing is so much more than just the technical skills; it is the caring and compassion that bring the heart to nursing.

“As a nurse, our most important role is to be the voice of the patient, and I am proud that I have been seen throughout my career as that voice.”

Who has inspired or mentored you? “My father was an inspiration to me. As an FBI agent for 20-plus years, he had a tendency to see things in black and white. He taught me to stand up for what I believe and never be afraid to hold on to my convictions.”

What’s your favorite thing to do away from work? “Spend time with my family and play with my grandchildren.”

Who’s your favorite fictional nurse? “Sue Barton [the central character in a seven-book series]. She is really the only fictional nurse that I remember, since watching medical shows is generally not something that I do.”

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure? “Reading fiction. Health care continues to change rapidly, and [staying] on top of issues requires a large amount of reading.

“I have always loved to be transported to another time and place through a good book, even though I feel guilty for not reading work-related material.”

Tell us something that nobody at work knows about you: “I won the state doubles tennis championship in high school.”

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Compiled by John Brieske, Pulse managing editor. Do you work with someone who’s an exceptional leader? If so, please send email to jbrieske@ajc.com.