PRESIDENT: Chante Yearby
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
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
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: Marsha Brook
Marsha lives in Morton, IL and graduated from Illinois Central College in 1996 with her Certificate in Surgical Technology and an Associates in General Education in 1998. She has been a CST and member of AST for nearly 22 years. Marsha has extensive surgical experience and started the pediatric surgery team at Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. Marsha is employed at OSF St. Francis hospital in the GI lab and has been employed at OSF for 22 years. She has also been a Clinical Instructor for the ICC Surgical Technology program and enjoys spending time with her family, friends and her two beautiful boxers. Marsha has served the ISA on numerous committees, planned many seminars and meetings, served as a delegate, a Board of Director for two terms, as President for two terms and was very involved in the Registration Act legislation for Illinois Surgical Technologists.
Marsha lives in Morton, IL and graduated from Illinois Central College in 1996 with her Certificate in Surgical Technology and an Associates in General Education in 1998. She has been a CST and member of AST for nearly 22 years. Marsha has extensive surgical experience and started the pediatric surgery team at Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. Marsha is employed at OSF St. Francis hospital in the GI lab and has been employed at OSF for 22 years. She has also been a Clinical Instructor for the ICC Surgical Technology program and enjoys spending time with her family, friends and her two beautiful boxers. Marsha has served the ISA on numerous committees, planned many seminars and meetings, served as a delegate, a Board of Director for two terms, as President for two terms and was very involved in the Registration Act legislation for Illinois Surgical Technologists.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Tiffany Allen
Tiffany lives in Taylorville, IL and graduated from Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, IL with her AAS in Surgical Technology and her AA in General Education and Liberal Arts in 2014. She has been a member of AST and a CST since 2014. She has a 13-year-old son and two dogs. Tiffany has been a clinical site assistant for LLCC's surgical technology program and currently works at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL on the Plastics, Burn and Neurosurgery team. Tiffany is serving the ISA in her first term as a Board of Director and she is looking forward to working hard to get CST's recognized through further legislation.
Tiffany lives in Taylorville, IL and graduated from Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, IL with her AAS in Surgical Technology and her AA in General Education and Liberal Arts in 2014. She has been a member of AST and a CST since 2014. She has a 13-year-old son and two dogs. Tiffany has been a clinical site assistant for LLCC's surgical technology program and currently works at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL on the Plastics, Burn and Neurosurgery team. Tiffany is serving the ISA in her first term as a Board of Director and she is looking forward to working hard to get CST's recognized through further legislation.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Phyllis Biever
Phyllis lives in Minier, IL and graduated from a surgical technology program in Evansville, IN in 1983. She has been a CST and member of AST for 35 years. Phyllis has experience in many different specialties, including vascular, general surgery, Labor and Delivery and been a member of several open heart teams. Phyllis also has been a clinical instructor at a community college where she discovered a passion for working with ST students. She is currently employed at Unity Point in Peoria, IL where she is a member of the general surgery team and serves as a clinical preceptor for ST students and as a mentor for new employees. She also works with the clinical educator ensuring employees are current in departmental in-services and performs audits for continued quality in patient care within the surgery department. Phyllis has served the ISA as a delegate, two terms as the Treasurer and is currently serving a second term as a Board of Director.
Phyllis lives in Minier, IL and graduated from a surgical technology program in Evansville, IN in 1983. She has been a CST and member of AST for 35 years. Phyllis has experience in many different specialties, including vascular, general surgery, Labor and Delivery and been a member of several open heart teams. Phyllis also has been a clinical instructor at a community college where she discovered a passion for working with ST students. She is currently employed at Unity Point in Peoria, IL where she is a member of the general surgery team and serves as a clinical preceptor for ST students and as a mentor for new employees. She also works with the clinical educator ensuring employees are current in departmental in-services and performs audits for continued quality in patient care within the surgery department. Phyllis has served the ISA as a delegate, two terms as the Treasurer and is currently serving a second term as a Board of Director.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR: Sonya Conton
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
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: Kendall Woods