FORT COLLINS, Colo., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Firefly Medical, Inc. announced today it has elected five members to its Board of Directors. New Directors include: Dr. Leah Curtin, RN, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Management Magazine; Kirk Dando of Dando Advisors in Loveland, Colorado; Margo Karsten, PhD(c), MSN, COO of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver; C. Gerard Nalezny, President of Fort Collins Commerce Bank; Kent Watson, Controller for Columbine Health Systems; and Terry White, FACHE, of Team White, a healthcare consulting firm in Littleton, Colorado.
Firefly Medical, established in 2005, designs and develops innovative products for the durable medical equipment industry. Steve Schmutzer, a former critical-care nurse, is the Founder of Firefly Medical and currently serves as Chairman of the Board. Firefly Medical has several products on the drawing board. Its first product is slated for a 2007 introduction.
Dr. Leah Curtin is an internationally recognized speaker and consultant in the nursing industry. She currently holds the position of Clinical Professor of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health, and for the last 20 years has been Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Management Magazine. She also serves as managing partner at Metier Consultants, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Clinical Systems Management, and director of Cross Country Education’s Nurse Manager Boot Camp. Dr. Curtin graduated from Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton, Ohio and the University of Cincinnati, and received an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York. In 2002, The Medical College of Ohio awarded her a second honorary doctorate for her humanitarian services. She has been listed in Who’s Who in America since 1991 and in Who’s Who in the World since 1992, and has authored more than 200 articles, 240 editorials, and seven books.
In addition to helping Firefly Medical manage their business, property, and affairs, as a Director, Dr. Curtin says she is excited to help with product development. “Firefly Medical’s products must be cost effective as cost constraints continue to get much tighter,” stated Dr. Curtin. “Their products will also be more efficient, safer for patients and personnel, and will help significantly reduce storage space in healthcare facilities.”
Kirk Dando is the founder of Dando Advisors, a business strategy consulting group based in Loveland, Colorado. Mr. Dando has a national reputation for helping entrepreneurs and business owners recognize and overcome obstacles that arise as part of a company’s success and growth. He started his business consulting career while working with Arthur Andersen and has since developed his own model for determining the performance level at which a business is operating. Mr. Dando currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Poudre Valley Hospital Foundation in Fort Collins, Colorado. He is a Colorado native and graduated from Colorado State University College of Business.
“Firefly Medical will bring a critical component to the healthcare market,” said Mr. Dando. “I believe in their mission and I look forward to helping them move to the next level of performance.”
Margo Karsten is the Chief Operating Officer of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. She brings more than 20 years of healthcare experience to Firefly Medical, including: Chief Executive Officer and President of Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado; Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Nursing at Poudre Valley Health System in Fort Collins, Colorado; and Chief Nursing Officer at the Medical Center of Aurora, in Aurora, Colorado. She is also the founder of Karsten Consultants, a company that consults with healthcare organizations to help improve their work environments by engaging employees and aligning human resource systems with the strategic goals of the organization. She is currently completing a PhD in organizational development at the Colorado State University Graduate School of Education. Ms. Karsten received her MSN degree from the University of New Mexico Graduate School of Nursing and her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota.
“My focus as a member of the board will be to bring quality to the team and keep the perspective of products for patients made by nurses,” said Ms. Karsten. “I am very excited about being a part of a company that has limitless opportunities for the healthcare community.”
C. Gerard Nalezny has been a prominent and well-respected fixture in the financial services community for 22 years, 13 of those in Colorado. Mr. Nalezny’s experience includes credit analysis, loan production, and corporate banking. He has also served as a bank president, most recently at Community First National Bank of Fort Collins and Greeley. Mr. Nalezny is co-founder of the Fort Collins Commerce Bank, where he serves as CEO. He graduated from Carleton College in Minnesota with a degree in economics. He is an active member of the community, serving on the boards for United Way of Larimer County and Partners Mentoring Youth, and on the Colorado State University President’s Leadership Council.
“Firefly Medical has a great concept for helping improve patient care,” stated Gerard Nalezny. “My goal as a member of their board is to help bring this great concept to reality by advising on product delivery and offering financial guidance.”
Kent Watson is the Controller for Columbine Health Systems in Fort Collins, Colorado. He brings more than 27 years of business experience to the Firefly Medical team, including roles as CEO, president, controller, and other managerial positions in the real estate, property management, accounting, fitness, health, and resort industries. He has also been involved in the successful startup of more than 40 business entities. Mr. Watson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Abilene Christian University in Texas.
“In a time when healthcare providers are striving to provide technological advances in medicine and care of the patient, how is it we have managed to overlook the very tools we use every day -- the tools which have changed very little since inception?” asked Kent Watson. “Firefly Medical is meeting those needs with exiting products changing forever the way we view the patient room and the tools we use to care for our patients.”
Terry White, a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives since 1987, serves as Managing Director and Founder of Team White, a healthcare consulting and strategic planning company. He is also managing director with TIVIS Healthcare, where he has been influential in establishing SmartCare facilities nationwide and introducing new healthcare technologies into China. Previously, Mr. White held positions as executive vice president and co-founder of Centura Health, the largest healthcare system in Colorado; CEO of PorterCare Health System of Denver; and President of Castle Medical Center in Kailua, Hawaii. Mr. White received a degree in medical technology from Pacific Union College in California and a Masters of Public Health in healthcare administration from Loma Linda University in California.
“The opportunities for innovation, creativity, and plan to improve healthcare are enormous,” said Terry White. “Firefly has the experience, insights, and vision to bring products to market that will have a lasting impact on healthcare around the world. It is exciting to be a part of that team.”
For more information, visit the News page at www.fireflymedical.com.
About Firefly Medical
Firefly Medical, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a company whose mission is to change the durable medical equipment market by developing revolutionary solutions. Established in 2005, Firefly Medical is committed to improving the experience of the patient and the caregiver in clinical healthcare markets by developing equipment based on inspirational design to reduce liabilities for healthcare institutions, improve patient care, and enhance work environments.
Firefly Medical, Inc.
CONTACT: Steve Schmutzer, Founder & Chair of Firefly Medical, Inc.,+1-970-472-5323, steve.schmutzer@fireflymedical.com
Web site: http://www.fireflymedical.com//
