Staff

LEADERSHIP. PURPOSE. VISION.

These core values define the qualities of our team and represent the foundation for our Association.

Our leadership provides members of our Association with educational events, resourceful reimbursement navigation, quality improvement programs, and the legislative advocacy needed to make a positive impact on the lives of long-term care residents in North Carolina.

NCHCFA staff pictured (L to R): Karen Lennon, Adam Sholar, Mark Gogal,
Bekka Cheek, Eric Kivisto, Sarah Williams, Jenny Evans, and Sam Clark. 

Bekka Cheek

Director of Regulatory and Clinical Services
rebekkac@nchcfa.org

Bekka is responsible for the development and coordination of programs and systems to monitor, evaluate, and improve the regulatory and enforcement environment. This includes compliance in member facilities and services and derivative quality and clinical programming and all applicable regulations of the NC Division of Health Service Regulation (NC DHHS/DHSR) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), such as licensure, requirements of participation, and life-safety. She is also responsible for assisting members in navigating and resolving issues with regulatory compliance and for engaging in productive dialogue with the NC DHHS/DHSR and CMS in conjunction with NCHCFA’s President & CEO.

Samuel B. Clark, CPA

Vice President of Finance
samc@nchcfa.org
Phone Extension 206

Sam is primarily responsible for issues related to reimbursement of nursing facility services. In addition to acting as an information resource on matters pertaining to reimbursement, Sam is the staff contact for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Certificate of Need and Life Safety Code. Sam is the staff liaison for the NCHCFA Payment for Services Committee.

Jenny Evans, MFA

Communications, Marketing and Events Manager
jennye@nchcfa.org

Jenny manages the communications and industry marketing for the Association. This includes branding, graphic design, social media, website design and maintenance, and content editing for the Association. She is the managing editor of the membership newsletter Update Weekly and quarterly NCHCFA/PAC newsletter Grassroots. Jenny is the point of contact for NCHCFA/PAC contributions and the Annual Awards. She also manages the planning and execution of in-person and virtual events, including the Annual Convention & Expo, Legislative Conference, Fall Symposium, and the NCHCFA/PAC Annual Autumn Classic.

Mark Gogal, MBA

Vice President of Workforce Development
markg@nchcfa.org

Mark is responsible for efforts to improve the workforce pool in skilled nursing facilities including growing the pipeline for nursing and other positions, building and strengthening relationships with workforce development and education institutions, and developing policy solutions to achieve those ends. Mark is no stranger to NCHCFA as he has been actively involved with the NCHCFA Institute for Long Term Care Leaders and this involvement will continue. As VP of Workforce Development, he will also build and strengthen relationships by serving as the NCHCFA representative to various groups working on direct care or health care workforce improvement initiatives, develop policy solutions and help to advocate for them along with other NCHCFA officials and stakeholders, and explore grant funding opportunities in conjunction with FutureCare of North Carolina related to workforce improvement or pipeline improvement initiatives.

Eric J. Kivisto, MSW

Director of Quality Improvement Programs
Erick@nchcfa.org
Phone Extension 207

Eric is primarily responsible for projects that provide members with information, resources, and direction as to how best to access various Quality Improvement Programs. In addition to acting as a resource on Quality Improvement matters, Eric is the staff contact for questions related to CMS’s Five Star Ranking System, AHCA LTC Trend Tracker, Quality Award Program, and Criminal Background Check requirements. Eric also serves as the Director of the NCHCFA Institute for LTC Leaders and the Executive Director of NCHCFA’s foundation, FutureCare of North Carolina, Inc.

Karen Lennon

Vice President of Operations 
karenl@nchcfa.org
Phone Extension 204

Karen plans, directs, coordinates, and oversees operation activities in the association, ensuring development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet the association’s strategic goals, mission, and values.  She oversees day-to-day company operations and works with the President and CEO to define and implement operation strategies, structures, and processes and monitors performance to proactively identify efficiency issues and propose solutions.  Karen also assist in managing the annual budgeting process and is responsible for the association’s accounts payables and receivables.

Karen directs the planning and executing of NCHCFA’s Annual Convention & Expo, Legislative Conference, Fall Symposium, ongoing educational seminars (held in-person and virtually), and other special events and meetings. She oversees the membership database, the membership directory, and coordinates new member recruitment. She assists members daily with questions, concerns, and provides information needed. She is the staff liaison to the Education and Programs Committee and the Associate Advisory Committee.

Adam Sholar

President and CEO
adams@nchcfa.org
Phone Extension 205

Adam is the Chief Executive Officer, responsible to the Board of Directors for the effective conduct of the affairs of the Association. He advances the Association’s goals, objectives, and policies and apprises members of issues affecting them. He is responsible for the effective use of the physical and financial resources of the Association, and he represents the Association before governmental bodies, as well as allied groups and constituencies.

Sarah Williams

Marketing and Events Coordinator
sarahw@nchcfa.org
Phone Extension 214

Sarah supports NCHCFA by coordinating the Association’s marketing and member communications, membership database, and community outreach efforts. Sarah serves as editor of the membership newsletter Update Weekly and quarterly NCHCFA/PAC newsletter Grassroots. In addition to offering administrative support to the Association, Sarah assists with the NCHCFA/PAC contributions and planning and execution of in-person and virtual events, including the Annual Convention & Expo, Legislative Conference, Fall Symposium, and the NCHCFA/PAC Annual Autumn Classic.