Ben Farber, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP is the Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California. A servant-leader at heart, Ben is passionate about empowering nurses, strengthening healthcare teams, and creating environments where caregivers can thrive while delivering exceptional patient care.

Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong clinical cultures, mentoring emerging leaders, and driving operational excellence through strategic initiatives and process improvement. Ben is a recipient of the Catholic Health Association’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Award and continues to advocate for leadership development and innovation in nursing.

Cody Legler, DNP, APRN, NP-NEA-BC, CNL, is the Senior Vice President & System Chief Nursing Officer at Maimonides Health. With over 15 years in formal nursing leadership and experience across clinical, educational, and executive roles, Cody is dedicated to advancing nursing practice and leadership. He has served as adjunct faculty in MSN and DNP programs and volunteers as a primary care nurse practitioner.

Courtnay Caufield is the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Cottage Health and an accomplished nurse executive with a passion for leadership, mentorship, and human-centered healthcare. With experience spanning frontline nursing, informatics, and executive management, Courtnay is recognized for fostering trust, resilience, and excellence in nursing teams. She is committed to nurturing curiosity, empathy, and innovation in healthcare leadership.

Deborah R. Sober, MSN, MBA, RN
Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (Montage Health). With over 31 years at the organization—including roles from ICU staff nurse to CNO since 2018—Deborah is a dedicated nurse leader focused on patient safety, nurse support, and community-centered care in a nonprofit hospital setting. She brings deep insights on leadership growth, navigating change (from COVID to unionization), and keeping ego in check to prioritize patients and teams.

Dr. Anne Marie Watkins, DNP is the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at UCI Health and Assistant Dean of Nursing Education at the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. A transformational healthcare leader, she specializes in advancing quality, workforce development, and operational excellence across complex health systems.

With extensive experience in hospital leadership and clinical operations, Dr. Watkins is known for building high-performing teams, driving innovation in patient care, and leading large-scale organizational change. Her work focuses on strengthening nursing practice, improving patient outcomes, and developing resilient healthcare leaders for the future.

Dr. Joy N. White, DNP, MBA, RN, WHNP-BC, PMHNP, is Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Legacy Health Good Samaritan Medical Center. With over two decades of experience in clinical operations and nursing leadership, she is known for her human-centered approach, transformational leadership, and commitment to patient and employee experience. Dr. White is a sought-after speaker, educator, and mentor, dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare and empowering emerging nurse leaders.

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Dr. Pat Patton is the Chief Nurse Officer for Swedish Health System, with extensive experience in healthcare leadership spanning pediatric, adult, and emergency care. He has served in the Army, earned his nursing degree at Florida A&M University, and advanced to executive leadership roles, including CNO and COO positions. Pat is passionate about leadership development, emotional intelligence, and mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Dr. Rendi Solis, DHA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CLSSGB, FACHE is an accomplished healthcare executive and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Antelope Valley Medical Center. She brings extensive experience from bedside nursing to executive leadership and is dedicated to advancing nursing excellence, operational effectiveness, and patient-centered care. Known for her approachable and people-first leadership style, Dr. Solis mentors emerging leaders and fosters strong, collaborative healthcare teams.

James Jackson serves as Chief Executive Officer of Alameda Health System in Oakland, California. With over 35 years of experience in healthcare administration, James has held leadership roles across multiple hospitals, including COO of Seton Medical Center & Seton Coastside and CAO of San Leandro & Alameda Hospitals. A lifelong Oakland resident, James is dedicated to serving his community with integrity, ethics, and a focus on meaningful healthcare impact.

Jennifer Cord, MBA DNP NE BC is Chief Nursing Officer at Providence Mission Hospital, leading over 1,100 nurses and shaping patient care across her community. With decades of experience in clinical and executive roles, Jennifer is passionate about nursing excellence, mentorship, and advocating for the profession. She believes in lifelong learning, perseverance, and the power of purpose to transform healthcare.

Karen Descent, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CEN, is the Chief Nursing Officer at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital. A transformational leader and patient advocate, Karen brings over 20 years of clinical and operational leadership experience, specializing in team building, organizational culture, process optimization, and mentorship. She is passionate about leading with heart, creating supportive work environments, and developing the next generation of nursing leaders.

Karrie Powell is the Chief Executive Officer of ATC Healthcare, a leader in healthcare staffing and contingent labor solutions. With more than two decades of experience in nursing and healthcare leadership, Karrie has held key roles at organizations such as Kaiser Permanente and HCA, guiding teams to improve outcomes while emphasizing mentorship, continuous learning, and community-focused care. She is passionate about empowering healthcare professionals to lead with purpose and impact.

M. Carina Menjivar, DNP, MBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, LSSGB, is the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. A seasoned healthcare executive, Carina has led complex hospital operations while driving quality, safety, and organizational performance. She is passionate about mentorship, continuous improvement, and developing high-performing teams. Carina is also a past president of the ACNL-IE Chapter and a JJNIF Nurse Innovation Fellow.

Dr. Nancy Blake is a highly accomplished nurse scientist and retired Chief Nursing Officer of Los Angeles General Medical Center, with over 45 years of leadership experience in patient care services, clinical operations, and staff development. She has led hospitals through critical transformations, including pandemic response, Magnet designation, and workplace culture initiatives, while mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders.

Nicolette Fiore-Lopez, PhD, RN, CENP, FAONL, FAAN is the Chief Nursing Officer at St. Charles Hospital, part of Catholic Health in Long Island, New York, where she has served in executive leadership for more than two decades. She is also an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Graduate Studies in Nursing at Stony Brook University. A nationally recognized nurse leader and Fellow of both the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Fiore-Lopez is deeply committed to mentorship, professional development, and advancing the future of nursing leadership.

Sharon Howe, MBA-HCA, BSN, RN, is the Chief Nursing Officer at Stockton Rehabilitation Center and a seasoned critical care and nurse leadership professional. With more than 15 years of ICU bedside experience and extensive leadership roles across major health systems, Sharon is known for her commitment to patient safety, staff advocacy, and developing the next generation of nurse leaders. Her career was shaped by hands-on clinical excellence, transformative experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a passion for supporting nurses through the emotional demands of the profession. She is currently advancing her education with doctoral studies beginning in January.