Board Members

RiverStone Health Foundation is governed by a diverse Board of Directors.  In addition to the Board’s governance responsibilities, they also work to ensure that financial resources are available to fulfill its mission of Improving Life, Health and Safety through Philanthropy.

The Board is representative of our generous community.

Alexander Martin
Chair

Career: Vice President of Accounting, WMK & Western States Steel Erection Co’s
Year joined board: 2014
Why you’re committed to serving on the board: I believe that RiverStone Health is an avenue for individuals to create better lives for themselves, their family and their community.  Not everyone has the financial wherewithal to receive healthcare, but this should not exclude them from access to care.  The Foundation supports a system where one gets more than just a checkup, they get a holistic approach that includes the education needed for a better life.

Type 2 diabetes prevention and prenatal care are two areas in which education could help people make healthier choices.

I think a major issue for consumers on the horizon is healthcare costs in general. The way the healthcare system is set up, consumers are voicing their concerns on the price of healthcare, but operating a healthcare facility is not inexpensive. The United States will try to find the “happy medium” between cost and operation of a healthcare facility, but it will be too difficult to solve. We are already seeing independent healthcare facilities merging with major hospitals to reduce operating costs so the focus can be on the patient which should be the concern for any healthcare facility.

John Felton
Vice-Chair

John joined RiverStone Health in May, 2004. Prior to joining the organization he spent eight years as CEO of Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center, a non-profit freestanding radiation therapy center; six years as Vice President of Professional Services at a rehabilitation and sub-acute care facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was a member of both the Board of Health and Yellowstone Health Partnership Board. John has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Montana, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound. John has been a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2000.

Spencer Larsen
Secretary

Career: Community Leader

Joined board: 2017

Why you’re committed to serving on the board:  The more I learned about RiverStone Health, the more I wanted to get involved and help. I am impressed by the level of care they provide and their overall mission. I am excited to witness what the future holds for RiverStone Health.

Greg Wing
Treasurer

Career: Retired Vice President and CFO, Stillwater Mining Company
Year joined board: 2016
Why you’re committed to serving on the board: My wife and I share a long-standing interest and involvement in assuring the excellence of healthcare in the communities where we have lived. Having resided in Yellowstone County for more than 12 years, we have been impressed with the quality of healthcare facilities and the dedicated service of healthcare professionals in this area. It is my hope that through service on the RiverStone Health Foundation board of directors I can help ensure that the high standards of professional care we have experienced will be continued and strengthened into the future for all residents of this community.

Debra Jones, MD

Career: Physician, Anesthesia Partners of Montana
Year joined board: 2019

Why you’re committed to serving on the board:

I have been blessed to be a member of the medical community in Billings since 1991, working at St. Vincent Healthcare as an anesthesiologist.  In this role, I have been able to appreciate the outstanding care provided, and the wide range of services available at all of the healthcare institutions here. Together, we provide top-tier services with attention to health maintenance as well as high technology procedures. We  all depend first and foremost upon face-to-face  contact with the community, something that RiverStone does especially well. I want to support the ability of all patients to access the healthcare system easily and with confidence. I am honored by the opportunity to serve the extraordinary staff and patients at RiverStone Health as a member of the Foundation, working to support every person, every patient, every day with dignity.

Ryan Nordlund

Career:  Attorney, City Vineyard
Year joined board: 2019

Why you’re committed to serving on the board: As a former Deputy County Attorney for Yellowstone County, I saw firsthand the devastating effects lack of access to healthcare, especially mental healthcare, can have on our community. I am grateful to be part of RiverStone Health’s mission to provide quality healthcare to the community and ensure that those most in need of crucial services do not fall through the cracks.  RiverStone Health continues to make our community a better place to live in ever-expanding ways, and I am excited to contribute to its growth.

Joan M. Thullbery, RN

Career: Director of Acute and Ambulatory Clinical Informatics, St. Vincent Healthcare
Year joined: 2010
Why you’re committed to serving on the board:

I am committed to serving on the RiverStone Board of Health and the RiverStone Health Foundation Board as part of my personal desire to give back to my community.  By being a part of the RiverStone Health family, I have unlimited opportunities to serve.  Since joining the Board of Health, I have had the pleasure of participating in

  • advocacy for our patients at the local and state government level,
  • data driven clinical improvement
  • public health policy improvements after understanding the community needs and finding creative solutions,
  • leadership at a community level
  • ongoing personal learning about community needs across a wide spectrum

I continue to be impressed with the RiverStone Health leadership and staff as they work daily to improve the programs and services they offer.  They live their message to improve life, health and safety without concern for a person’s ability to pay.  I am moved to see the care they provide to anyone who arrives at their door, and then to watch them find ingenious ways to reach those who are homeless or too poor to believe that they can have access to high-quality medical care.

I am honored to be able to participate in this small way.

Bill Underriner

Career: Owner Underriner Motors
Year joined: 2018
Why you’re committed to serving on the board: RiverStone Health is instrumental in serving all of Billings. No matter a person’s age or stature in our community, healthcare is something we all need. We are fortunate to have RiverStone Health as part of OUR community. I’m on the board because I want to make a difference.

Steve Wahrlich

Career: Owner, Best Western Plus ClockTower Inn

Year joined board: 2008
Why you’re committed to serving on the board: I invest my time and resources in organizations that improve our community and make a difference in downtown Billings. RiverStone Health is important to me. We need to make sure quality healthcare is accessible to everyone within our community.

Kristie Asay, CFRE

Kristie joined RiverStone Health Foundation in January, 2012. Prior to joining the organization, she was with Alberta Bair Theater. Kristie has held certification as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since June, 2016. She joins only 28 Montanans who have met a series of standards including tenure in the profession, education, and demonstrated fundraising achievement for nonprofit organizations. A graduate of the University of Mary with a Master of Science–Management degree, Kristie has over 22 years of nonprofit management and fundraising experience. She earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Wyoming and Dickinson State University. Kristie chairs the Yellowstone County Guardianship Council and is past-President of the Billings Rotary Club and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Through Rotary International Kristie is a Paul Harris Fellow +3.