PRESIDENT: Chante Yearby, CST
Chante lives in Romeoville, IL and graduated from Bryman College in Phoenix, AZ with an AAS Degree in Surgical Technology in 2001 and relocated to the Chicago area in 2004. She has earned a BS degree in Psychology from Lewis University and an MBA in Healthcare Management from Western Governor's University in Salt Lake City. Chante is employed at Rasmussen College as a Program Director and previously was at Advocate Healthcare and Adventist Hinsdale Hospital within the orthopedic and neurosurgery specialties. She has served as a preceptor for students and as a member and chair of the OR's Unit Based Council. In the spirit of giving back to the profession, Chante has served as a delegate and currently serves as a member of the National Examination Review Committee for the NBSTSA. She has served the ISA as a delegate, Board of Director and one term as the Treasurer.
Chante lives in Romeoville, IL and graduated from Bryman College in Phoenix, AZ with an AAS Degree in Surgical Technology in 2001 and relocated to the Chicago area in 2004. She has earned a BS degree in Psychology from Lewis University and an MBA in Healthcare Management from Western Governor's University in Salt Lake City. Chante is employed at Rasmussen College as a Program Director and previously was at Advocate Healthcare and Adventist Hinsdale Hospital within the orthopedic and neurosurgery specialties. She has served as a preceptor for students and as a member and chair of the OR's Unit Based Council. In the spirit of giving back to the profession, Chante has served as a delegate and currently serves as a member of the National Examination Review Committee for the NBSTSA. She has served the ISA as a delegate, Board of Director and one term as the Treasurer.
VICE PRESIDENT: Brooke Oliver, 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 an Assistant Professor of Surgical Technology at Richland Community College since 2010. 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 Academic Standards Committee, Employee Relations and Development Committee, and on the AQIP Strategy Forum team. She has served the ISA as a delegate, Board of Director, and Secretary. In her free time, Brooke enjoys spending time with her husband, fourteen-year-old son, and three dogs, as well as playing volleyball and practicing yoga.
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 an Assistant Professor of Surgical Technology at Richland Community College since 2010. 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 Academic Standards Committee, Employee Relations and Development Committee, and on the AQIP Strategy Forum team. She has served the ISA as a delegate, Board of Director, and Secretary. In her free time, Brooke enjoys spending time with her husband, fourteen-year-old son, and three dogs, as well as playing volleyball and practicing yoga.
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: Kendall Woods (Little), CST, Ph.D
Kendall Woods completed her certificate of Surgical Technology from Nashville State Community College, Nashville, TN. in 2003. After earning her certification from NBSTSA and becoming a member of AST she realized the importance of carrying a national certification and of education within the operative field. In 2012, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Ashford University in Clinton, IA. In 2014 she earned her Master’s in Public Administration and Public Health from South University in Savannah, Ga. and in 2019, she earned her Ph.D from the University of Charleston, Charleston, WV. While Kendall has been in school earning her degrees she has managed to scrub, open Surgical Technology Programs in different States, sit on various boards, and continue to be a single parent to her two amazing children, showing that the field of surgical technology can take you as far as you will allow it to take you.
Kendall Woods completed her certificate of Surgical Technology from Nashville State Community College, Nashville, TN. in 2003. After earning her certification from NBSTSA and becoming a member of AST she realized the importance of carrying a national certification and of education within the operative field. In 2012, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Ashford University in Clinton, IA. In 2014 she earned her Master’s in Public Administration and Public Health from South University in Savannah, Ga. and in 2019, she earned her Ph.D from the University of Charleston, Charleston, WV. While Kendall has been in school earning her degrees she has managed to scrub, open Surgical Technology Programs in different States, sit on various boards, and continue to be a single parent to her two amazing children, showing that the field of surgical technology can take you as far as you will allow it to take you.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Sonya Conton, CST
Sonya lives in Peoria, IL and graduated from the Surgical Technology program at Illinois Central College and has attended Bradley University. She is employed at UnityPoint Health in Peoria and is also an adjunct faculty member at Illinois Central College. Sonya is a mother of three and volunteers her time with the Urban League and the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council and Junior Achievement. She enjoys reading, learning new hobbies, and traveling. Sonya is a Registered Surgical Technologist in the State of Illinois and has been a member of AST since 2012. Sonya is serving the ISA in her first term as a Board of Director.
Sonya lives in Peoria, IL and graduated from the Surgical Technology program at Illinois Central College and has attended Bradley University. She is employed at UnityPoint Health in Peoria and is also an adjunct faculty member at Illinois Central College. Sonya is a mother of three and volunteers her time with the Urban League and the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council and Junior Achievement. She enjoys reading, learning new hobbies, and traveling. Sonya is a Registered Surgical Technologist in the State of Illinois and has been a member of AST since 2012. Sonya is serving the ISA in her first term as a Board of Director.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Keesha Watts, CST
Keesha lives in Country Club Hills, IL and graduated from the Surgical Technology program at Prairie State College in 2004. She has been scrubbing for almost 13 years. Her first job following graduation was at Little Company of Mary for seven years and up until recently was working agency around the Chicagoland area. Keesha is currently employed by Ingalls Hospital in Harvey, IL where she is the only leader of the ENT department. Earlier in her career she worked in the orthopedics and ENT specialties. Keesha hopes to bring more light to the profession by continuing to encourage her co-workers, comrades and future techs to be proud ST's and CST's, to get involved and get in the know. When Keesha is not scrubbing she can be found at her second job working the lanes, bowling that is! Keesha currently serves as a Board of Director for the ISA.
Keesha lives in Country Club Hills, IL and graduated from the Surgical Technology program at Prairie State College in 2004. She has been scrubbing for almost 13 years. Her first job following graduation was at Little Company of Mary for seven years and up until recently was working agency around the Chicagoland area. Keesha is currently employed by Ingalls Hospital in Harvey, IL where she is the only leader of the ENT department. Earlier in her career she worked in the orthopedics and ENT specialties. Keesha hopes to bring more light to the profession by continuing to encourage her co-workers, comrades and future techs to be proud ST's and CST's, to get involved and get in the know. When Keesha is not scrubbing she can be found at her second job working the lanes, bowling that is! Keesha currently serves as a Board of Director for the ISA.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Jill Teodoro, CST
Jill is from Lockport, Illinois. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master of Education degree in elementary education both from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. She received her certificate in surgical technology from College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL and has been a certified surgical technologist for 15 years. She has also been teaching surgical technology for 11 years. Jill recently became the clinical coordinator at Rasmussen College’s Romeoville campus. Jill expresses that being able to see the students’ progress from their first day in the program to their last day at clinicals is extremely rewarding. She wants her students (as students and as graduates/CSTs) to get more involved with the organizations that support and promote their future profession and she feels the best way to do that is to model it. Jill is serving the ISA in her first term as a Board of Director. In her free time she likes to bake and play outside with her four year old son. Jill also loves to travel and enjoys going to concerts and comedy shows with her husband.
Jill is from Lockport, Illinois. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master of Education degree in elementary education both from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. She received her certificate in surgical technology from College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL and has been a certified surgical technologist for 15 years. She has also been teaching surgical technology for 11 years. Jill recently became the clinical coordinator at Rasmussen College’s Romeoville campus. Jill expresses that being able to see the students’ progress from their first day in the program to their last day at clinicals is extremely rewarding. She wants her students (as students and as graduates/CSTs) to get more involved with the organizations that support and promote their future profession and she feels the best way to do that is to model it. Jill is serving the ISA in her first term as a Board of Director. In her free time she likes to bake and play outside with her four year old son. Jill also loves to travel and enjoys going to concerts and comedy shows with her husband.
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.