PRESIDENT: Brooke Oliver, M.Ed., CST
Brooke lives in Decatur, IL and graduated from Richland Community College with an AAS degree in Surgical Technology. She earned her BS in Organizational Leadership from Millikin University and her her master's degree in Allied Health Education from Widener University. She has been a Professor of Surgical Technology at Richland Community College since 2010 and became Program Director in June of 2021. Prior to becoming an educator, Brooke was employed at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL in the CVOR. Brooke has served on numerous committees at Richland, including the BETA Committee, Employee Relations and Development Committee, AQIP Strategy Forum team, and is chair of Academic Standards. She has served the ISA as a delegate, Board of Director, Secretary, and Vice President. In her free time, Brooke enjoys spending time with her husband, seventeen year-old son, and four dogs. Brooke is an avid yogi and enjoys swimming, volleyball, and traveling.
Brooke lives in Decatur, IL and graduated from Richland Community College with an AAS degree in Surgical Technology. She earned her BS in Organizational Leadership from Millikin University and her her master's degree in Allied Health Education from Widener University. She has been a Professor of Surgical Technology at Richland Community College since 2010 and became Program Director in June of 2021. Prior to becoming an educator, Brooke was employed at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL in the CVOR. Brooke has served on numerous committees at Richland, including the BETA Committee, Employee Relations and Development Committee, AQIP Strategy Forum team, and is chair of Academic Standards. She has served the ISA as a delegate, Board of Director, Secretary, and Vice President. In her free time, Brooke enjoys spending time with her husband, seventeen year-old son, and four dogs. Brooke is an avid yogi and enjoys swimming, volleyball, and traveling.
VICE PRESIDENT: Sonya Conton, CST
Sonya Marie Conton has been a member of AST for 12 years. She has served on the Board of Directors for the ISA, and is chairman for community outreach. Her background includes employment at Hy-Vee, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, -Environmental Science and Engineering, and Caterpillar, though the most rewarding job is being mom and raising her children. She is presently employed as a Registered Certified Technologist with Unity Point Health and as an adjunct faculty member with Illinois Central College Health Careers Department instructing classes in surgical technology. Her community service includes memberships in several local and national organizations such as Tri-County Urban League Guild, NAACP, and my church. Acting as Community Outreach Chairman has given her significant insight into the needs and solutions for our community. To help maintain a balance in her life she enjoys reading, learning new hobbies, and traveling. With her children spread throughout the country successfully pursuing their graduate and post graduate career goals she is looking forward to new and varied challenges within the organization, including meeting new people, developing working relationships to meet our goals.
Sonya Marie Conton has been a member of AST for 12 years. She has served on the Board of Directors for the ISA, and is chairman for community outreach. Her background includes employment at Hy-Vee, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, -Environmental Science and Engineering, and Caterpillar, though the most rewarding job is being mom and raising her children. She is presently employed as a Registered Certified Technologist with Unity Point Health and as an adjunct faculty member with Illinois Central College Health Careers Department instructing classes in surgical technology. Her community service includes memberships in several local and national organizations such as Tri-County Urban League Guild, NAACP, and my church. Acting as Community Outreach Chairman has given her significant insight into the needs and solutions for our community. To help maintain a balance in her life she enjoys reading, learning new hobbies, and traveling. With her children spread throughout the country successfully pursuing their graduate and post graduate career goals she is looking forward to new and varied challenges within the organization, including meeting new people, developing working relationships to meet our goals.
TREASURER: Phyllis Vols, CST/CSFA
Phyllis lives in Port Byron, IL and graduated from the Robert Packer Hospital Surgical Technology program in 1980. She is a CST and CSFA with over 30 years of experience. Phyllis is employed as a Surgical Assistant with American Surgical Professionals and has worked all over the United States. She is also a Registered Surgical Technologist and Registered Surgical Assistant with the State of Illinois. Phyllis has served the ISA as a Board of Director and as the Education Chair and currently serves as the Treasurer.
Phyllis lives in Port Byron, IL and graduated from the Robert Packer Hospital Surgical Technology program in 1980. She is a CST and CSFA with over 30 years of experience. Phyllis is employed as a Surgical Assistant with American Surgical Professionals and has worked all over the United States. She is also a Registered Surgical Technologist and Registered Surgical Assistant with the State of Illinois. Phyllis has served the ISA as a Board of Director and as the Education Chair and currently serves as the Treasurer.
SECRETARY: Tanisha Bonner, CST
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Melissa Jensen, CST
Melissa lives in Rockford, Illinois and graduated with honors from the Parkland College Surgical Technology program. She is currently employed at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center and working on the orthopedic surgery team. She is a mom of two and enjoys sharing her love of surgery with her kids and those around her. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her French Bulldogs, reading, and most of all spending time with family. Melissa is a fairly new CST but is looking forward to being involved with the state assembly. Working in the operating room has always been her dream, and she is excited to have the opportunity of educating others about our profession.
Melissa lives in Rockford, Illinois and graduated with honors from the Parkland College Surgical Technology program. She is currently employed at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center and working on the orthopedic surgery team. She is a mom of two and enjoys sharing her love of surgery with her kids and those around her. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her French Bulldogs, reading, and most of all spending time with family. Melissa is a fairly new CST but is looking forward to being involved with the state assembly. Working in the operating room has always been her dream, and she is excited to have the opportunity of educating others about our profession.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Kayla Sternbergh, CST
Kayla lives in Springfield, Illinois and graduated from Richland Community College with an AAS in Surgical Technology in 2017. She has been employed at Memorial Medical Center in the CVOR since graduation and absolutely loves it! She is currently being trained to first assist on open heart, thoracic, and vascular procedures, and will soon be harvesting great saphenous vein endoscopically for CABGs. She is currently pursuing her BSN. She hopes to have the credentials of FARN-CST in 5 years. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her daughter and family. She also loves being outside and exploring with her dogs.
Kayla lives in Springfield, Illinois and graduated from Richland Community College with an AAS in Surgical Technology in 2017. She has been employed at Memorial Medical Center in the CVOR since graduation and absolutely loves it! She is currently being trained to first assist on open heart, thoracic, and vascular procedures, and will soon be harvesting great saphenous vein endoscopically for CABGs. She is currently pursuing her BSN. She hopes to have the credentials of FARN-CST in 5 years. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her daughter and family. She also loves being outside and exploring with her dogs.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Jennifer Jordan, CST
Jennifer is from Marion, Illinois. She has been a CST for 7.5 years, graduating from Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market Surgical Technology Certificate program. She has since continued her education receiving an Associates of Science at John A. Logan College (Carterville, Illinois) in May 2018 and her Bachelors of Science at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, Illinois) in December 2019. She is currently the Program Director at the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market, in Herrin, Illinois, and really enjoys teaching students and preparing them for a career in Surgical Technology. In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her family. She has a husband, two adult sons, one adult daughter and a teenage daughter. Jennifer and her husband are active parents in our children’s lives attending all their sporting events and activities including softball and travel softball. When she is not at softball games/tournaments Jennifer enjoys camping, family vacations, kayaking, hiking or just simply having a family dinner all together around the same table with her entire family.
Jennifer is from Marion, Illinois. She has been a CST for 7.5 years, graduating from Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market Surgical Technology Certificate program. She has since continued her education receiving an Associates of Science at John A. Logan College (Carterville, Illinois) in May 2018 and her Bachelors of Science at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, Illinois) in December 2019. She is currently the Program Director at the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market, in Herrin, Illinois, and really enjoys teaching students and preparing them for a career in Surgical Technology. In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her family. She has a husband, two adult sons, one adult daughter and a teenage daughter. Jennifer and her husband are active parents in our children’s lives attending all their sporting events and activities including softball and travel softball. When she is not at softball games/tournaments Jennifer enjoys camping, family vacations, kayaking, hiking or just simply having a family dinner all together around the same table with her entire family.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Emily Gregg, CST
Emily lives in St Joseph, IL and graduated from Parkland community college with an AAS degree in Surgical Technology. She earned her BS in Organizational Professional Development from Eastern Illinois University. She has been employed at Carle Health in Urbana, IL since 2008 and employed as adjunct faculty for Parkland college since 2010. Emily works as a CST, ST/SA Educator and OMFS/ENT service line coordinator at Carle. In her free time, Emily enjoys hunting, canoeing and spending time outdoors with her husband, 3 year old son and her yellow lab.
Emily lives in St Joseph, IL and graduated from Parkland community college with an AAS degree in Surgical Technology. She earned her BS in Organizational Professional Development from Eastern Illinois University. She has been employed at Carle Health in Urbana, IL since 2008 and employed as adjunct faculty for Parkland college since 2010. Emily works as a CST, ST/SA Educator and OMFS/ENT service line coordinator at Carle. In her free time, Emily enjoys hunting, canoeing and spending time outdoors with her husband, 3 year old son and her yellow lab.