2025 Annual Meeting
Sept. 25-26 | Cheyenne Mountain Resort | Colorado Springs
Thursday, Sept. 25
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch
12:15 – 12:30 p.m.
Welcome Remarks
Jeff Tieman, President and CEO, Colorado Hospital Association
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Opening Keynote: UNSTOPPABLE
Alex Weber, Actor, American Ninja Warrior
What would you do if you were UNSTOPPABLE? What could you lead? Who might you become? What could you achieve? Everyone hits setbacks, fears, and failing – but not everyone knows how to overcome their challenges with a reliable and consistent system. Most people hesitate, delay, or stop altogether. And with it, they lose valuable time, energy, resources, and even give up on their goals. Not on Alex Weber’s watch! Alex knows both sides. As an American Ninja Warrior, Award-Winning Host for NBC, acclaimed Author, and US Lacrosse Coach of the Year, Alex has reached record-breaking achievements as a Leader and Peak Performer. But with these accomplishments, he’s also had to face intense pressure, hard failures, and his own limitations. It is this sincere knowledge of both sides of achieving that makes Alex one of the most impactful keynote speakers today. Alex cultivated his system through one of the most intense and rigorous environments in the world as both an award-winning host and elite competitor for NBC’s Emmy-nominated American Ninja Warrior. Based on Alex’s debut book, Alex gives you his system to become UNSTOPPABLE. For yourself, and the people who need you. When most people stop, you will keep going, growing, and getting better, so you accomplish your goals that matter most. This is how you win in your work, your relationships, and in your life! (1.0 ACHE qualified credit)
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Countdown to 2026: Politics, Policy, and Possibilities
Moderator: Shaun Boyd, Reporter, CBS News Colorado Panelists: Rep. Matthew Martinez Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet Sen. Janice Rich (1.0 ACHE qualified credit)
Get an insider’s view of Colorado’s legislative landscape as we head into 2026. This panel of legislative leaders will break down the outcomes of the recent special session, spotlight key budget priorities, and share what to expect in the upcoming legislative session. From hospital funding challenges to emerging health policy debates, attendees will gain an understanding of the issues that will directly impact Colorado’s health care system. Join us for a fast-moving, informative discussion designed to help hospital leaders anticipate and navigate what’s next at the Capitol.
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Networking Break
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Clinical Excellence: Bridging the Gap: Elevating Perinatal Care in the Emergency Department
Rebecca Alderfer, CEO, Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative; Amber Johnson, DNP, Director, Clinical Quality Improvement, Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative; and Stefka Fabri, MD, OB/GYN, Denver Health
Emergency Departments are often a critical but overlooked entry point for pregnant and postpartum people—particularly in maternity care deserts or during transitions in care. This session will explore how EDs can play a more active role in improving maternal health outcomes, with insights into screening strategies, statewide quality improvement efforts, and opportunities for hospital-wide alignment. Panelists will share experiences from the front lines and system-level QI and policy work, offering a compelling case for why perinatal safety must be shared across hospital departments.
Advocacy Track - The H.R. 1 Effect: Navigating New Fedearl Health Care Changes with Alston & Bird
Michael Park, Partner, Alston & Bird
Join us for an in-depth session with Michael Park from Alston & Bird, CHA’s trusted federal partner, as we explore the key impacts and detailed provisions of HR 1. This presentation will break down how the legislation affects hospitals across Colorado, highlighting compliance requirements, funding opportunities, and strategic considerations. Attendees will gain valuable insights to better understand the evolving federal landscape and prepare for implementation challenges ahead.
Finance and Data Track - Visualizing Impact: A First Look at the Maternal Health Dashboard
Essey Yirdaw, Vice President, Data Analytics and Health Equity, CHA
Join us for a preview of CHA’s new dashboard initiative focused on maternal health. This session will offer a high-level overview of its purpose, design principles, and potential applications in clinical and strategic settings. Feedback and dialogue encouraged.
Emergency Preparedness Track - The Hotel-2-Hospital (H2H) Modular Disaster Hospital Surge Project
Charles M. Little, DO, Medical Director, Emergency Preparedness, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
The Department of Defense in preparation for overseas Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) funded three projects enhancing hospital surge. The H2H project designed and constructed a demonstration project including ICU capability, med/surg beds, lab, radiology and pharmacy. This process is feasible for LSCO but also prolonged hospital surge such as another pandemic or hospital loss in a region. We cover the major points of the project and the key features of the complete playbook will be demonstrated.
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Clinical Excellence: Labor and Sex Trafficking in Colorado: A Training for Health Care Professionals
Michelle Metz, forensic nurse program manager, Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking
Join the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking for a discussion about what human trafficking look like in rural and urban Colorado and how to recognize it when it shows up in a health care setting. The crime of human trafficking intersects with many other vulnerabilities and experiences. Those who experience trafficking may also be victims of other crimes like wage theft, child abuse, or domestic violence; they may be experiencing homelessness, or they may suffer from mental illness or substance misuse. Because these vulnerable populations often come into the purview of health care providers, public health, and their social services community partners, it is vital for these professionals to receive this training. This training will explore the root causes of trafficking and the myriads of intersecting identities, vulnerabilities, and social and systemic inequalities that can lead to trafficking. Understanding root causes and complex trauma is key to recognizing the crime in its many forms.
Advocacy Track - Escape the Audit Challenge
Megan Axelrod, Vice President, Regulatory Policy and Federal Affairs, CHA; and Phoebe Blessing, Manager, Public Policy, CHA
Step into the ultimate compliance escape room no padlocks, just puzzles. In this fast-paced, hands-on session, small groups will race against the clock to “unlock” correct regulatory requirements using clues, codes, and real-world CHA regulatory resources. Each puzzle corresponds to an actual compliance task, from pinpointing the right reporting period, to finding the correct CHA contact, to spotting common pitfalls before they trigger an audit. You’ll sharpen problem-solving skills, strengthen your knowledge of regulations, and leave better prepared to navigate the challenges of real-world reporting. Can your team escape in time?
Finance and Data Track - A Lumbar Puncture Is Not a Loaf of Bread
John Higgins, Principal, West by North Consulting, LLC
Our industry is under fire from frustrated constituents who can’t understand why health care doesn’t work like everything else they buy. It is imperative that we do a better job explaining to people who are not health care insiders those factors that make health care so different. This light-hearted presentation will provide attendees with some thoughts on how we can explain what makes health care different and advocate for providers in these trying times.
Emergency Preparedness Track - Lessons Learned: Disaster Response and Family Reunification in Health Care Facilities
This session will examine health care facilities’ crucial role in family reunification during and after disasters. It highlights challenges, protocols, and best practices for various emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, and public health crises. Topics include agency coordination, communication, patient tracking, privacy, and staff training. Real-world case studies will demonstrate how hospitals can prepare for and manage the emotional and logistical complexities of reuniting patients with loved ones. This session is ideal for hospital administrators, emergency managers, emergency planners, health care providers, and public health professionals.
4:45 – 5 p.m.
Networking Break
5 – 5:45 p.m.
Medicaid Financing in Colorado: Navigating H.R. 1 impacts and the CHASE Program
Tom Rennell, Senior Vice President, Financial Policy and Data Analytics, CHA and Ryan Westrom, Vice President, Finance, CHA
This session will help participants understand the potential impacts HR 1 could have on the Colorado Medicaid program. We will dive into potential OBBA impacts if the hospital provider tax and state-directed payment cuts are enacted in 2028 as required by legislation and discuss the implications of what these cuts could mean to health care in Colorado. Additionally, we will discuss the current Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) activities and provide updates on the progress of the State Directed Payment pre-print filed on June 28 and on the 2025 and 2026 CHASE model changes. (0.75 ACHE qualified credit)
5:45 – 6 p.m.
Donor Alliance Awards
6 – 7:15 p.m.
Networking Reception – sponsored by Jackson Physician Search
Friday, Sept. 26
7:00 – 8:30 a.m.
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Breakfast
8:30 – 8:45 a.m.
Welcome Day 2
Margo Karsten, Western Region President, Banner Health
8:45 – 9:45 a.m.
Breakthrough Branding: Separating Your Brand in a Sea of Sameness
Ryan Donahue, Owner and CEO, Golden Advisory
In record droves, health care consumers tuned into COVID messaging and the unified front presented by health care brands to fight the pandemic. But now what? There is much noise and distraction as brands try to message about everything and anything, seemingly all at once. Consumers seem more confused than ever about their choices and how they fit into the bigger picture of health and health care: a picture that seems out of focus. This session will clear the clutter with a reset on what consumers want from health care brands now. Hint: it’s different than in 2019. We’ll attack the ‘sea of sameness’ by diagnosing how it starts and sharing fresh ideas and actionable strategies that can break through contemporary health care marketing and advertising. We’ll explore three examples of brands that are currently finding ways to distinguish themselves against daunting competition. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to craft their own authentic brand strategy that stands out from the crowd. (1.0 ACHE qualified credit)
9: 45 – 10 a.m.
Networking Break
10 – 10:45 a.m.
The Power of Cultural Validation
Julissa Soto, CEO and Founder of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting
In this presentation, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how cultural validation can be a transformative tool in addressing systemic challenges and fostering inclusive environments. They will learn practical strategies for integrating cultural recognition into their practices, how this can enhance engagement, and its profound impact on both individual and collective well-being. (0.75 ACHE qualified credit)
10:45 – 11:30 a.m.
The Health Care Cyber Threat Landscape: Risk, Impact, and Preparedness
Scott Gee, Deputy National Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk, American Hospital Association
Cyber-attacks against hospitals and health systems have increased dramatically over the last several years, with nation-state and criminal cyber adversaries targeting health care organizations with a record number of hacks. These attacks involve the theft of massive amounts of patient data and medical research. Most concerning, high-impact ransomware attacks have struck hospitals and health systems at an alarming rate, shutting down critical systems and causing significant disruption and delay of health care delivery, creating a risk to patient safety. Join American Hospital Association’s Scott Gee, Deputy National Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk, veteran of the U.S. Secret Service, as he provides his unique national and international perspectives on the latest cyber threats, including those arising from geopolitical tensions, third-party providers, and supply chain disruptions. John will discuss how best to prepare for, respond to, and recover from these disruptive cyber-attacks on a local, regional, and national level also providing his insights on the latest cyber legislative and policy developments. Scott will also offer practical insights tailored to the unique challenges faced by rural hospitals. As he always says, “It’s not a matter of if you experience a cyber incident, it’s a matter of how well you are prepared to recover.” (1.0 ACHE qualified credit)
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Clinical Excellence: It’s Just Culture: A Practical Update to Getting It Right When Things Go Wrong
Patrick Kneeland, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Dispatch Health
15 years after the concept of “Just Culture” made its way onto the health care quality and safety priority list, the application of its concepts can remain elusive and/or inconsistent. This is especially true in a world of numerous competing pressures and resource constraints. This session will review the conceptual model and highlight the real-world, practical, and even unexpected venues where “Just Culture” can be integrated to support team well-being and performance.
Advocacy/ Finance and Data Tracks - Business Leaders
Moderated by Jeff Tieman, President and CEO, CHA
Emergency Preparedness Track - Colorado's ESF8 for medical, an overview of the state structure
Eileen Brown, Medical Operations and Hospital Preparedness Program Manager, CDPHE and Deb Wetherill, Medical Operations Lead, CDPH
This presentation provides an overview of the emergency preparedness system in Colorado and what licensed facilities, in particular hospitals, should know about baseline expectations and what support may be available.
12:15 – 1:30
Networking Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Clinical Excellence/Finance and Data/Advocacy Track - Leveraging Clinical Expertise to Impact Rev Cycle Performance
Candice Hoshi, Vice President, Revenue Cycle, and Margaret Reidy, MD, Chief Medical Officer, UCHealth
Emergency Preparedness Track - Recent Lessons Learned: Porter Evacuation, Baxter IV Fluid Shortage and Grand River Full Scale
Julie Negron, Director, Safety and Emergency Management, Craig Hospital Becky Needham, Trauma Program Manager, Aspen Valley Health
Enduring resource shortages look different for an independent specialty hospital. Unable to have a direct ordering contract with Baxter, we were left unable to order any allocations of limited supplies of IV fluids post-Hurricane Helene. This session will walk you through our response, recovery, and lessons learned from this event.
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at “Shots Fired” — a bold, community-wide live active shooter exercise conducted in a small, rural critical access hospital. From initial shock to full-scale execution, this session dives into how one team turned a daunting directive into a powerful preparedness initiative. Learn what worked, what didn’t, and how collaboration turned chaos into confidence.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Closing Keynote: The Tip Jar Culture: What Piano Bars Teach Us About Building Teams That Play to Win
Greg Offner, Founding Partner of the Global Performance Institute
These days it seems like employee entitlement is at an all-time high, while engagement is at an all-time low. But what most leaders see as problems with workforce culture are actually just symptoms of the real problem. In this unforgettable keynote, former dueling pianist and award-winning speaker Gregory Offner will demonstrate three principles of engagement—found in a piano bar—then discuss the strategies and stories of organizations who’ve applied these principles to business with phenomenal results. Attendees will leave inspired, entertained, and equipped to put these principles into action and create a Tip Jar Culture™️ of their own. (1.0 ACHE qualified credits)
Closing Remarks
Jeff Tieman, President and CEO, CHA
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Exhibitors
The high-caliber speakers and activities at the 2025 Annual Meeting would not be possible without the continuing support of the Association’s exhibitors and sponsors. CHA thanks these organizations and encourages attendees to become acquainted with them.
Who Should Attend
All hospital and health system leaders, including senior executives, administrators, trustees, finance and data professionals, nurse and physician leaders, emergency preparedness professionals, policy and advocacy professionals, and quality improvement and patient safety professionals.
Location
Cheyenne Mountain Resort | 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 | 719.538.4000
Hotel Information
The conference will be held at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Reservations may be made online for the discounted room rate of $209 per night (plus a resort fee, taxes, and other fees) until 5 p.m. MT on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
After that time, all reservations will be made on a space-available basis and at the current best available rate.
Continuing Education Credits
By attending the 2025 CHA Rural Conference at the Annual Meeting offered by Colorado Hospital Association, participants may earn up to 7.25 American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Qualified Education Hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.
Americans with Disabilities Act
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, CHA will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your request. For any special requests, contact Colorado Hospital Association at [email protected] or 720.330.6034 before the meeting dates.
Registration Fees
2025 CHA Annual Meeting Sept. 25 – 26 | Member Rate | Non-Member Rate | Non-exhibiting Associate Partner |
Early Bird: By Friday, Sept. 5 | $559 | $2,236 | $1,115 |
Standard: Friday, Sept. 5 – Friday, Sept. 12 | $635 | $2,311 | $1,190 |
Onsite: After Friday, Sept. 12 | $659 | $2,336 | $1,215 |
Trustee from CHA Member Hospital or Health System | $150 | ||
Significant Other, Spouse, or Guest | $275 | ||
Faculty | $559 | ||
Student | $280 | ||
Additional Program | |||
ACHE of the Rockies Breakfast (Friday, Sept. 26) | $125 | ||
By registering, participants agree to refrain from marketing services and products during the 2025 CHA Annual Meeting unless they are under contract as an official 2025 CHA Annual Meeting exhibitor and/or sponsor.
Cancellations
All cancellations and/or attendee substitutions must be submitted in writing to CHA via email at [email protected]. All cancellations received before Wednesday, Sept. 17, will be refunded less a $155 cancellation fee. After Wednesday, Sept. 17, no refunds will be processed. Registration fees cannot be transferred to another CHA program.
Important Dates
- Tuesday, Sept. 2: The CHA discounted hotel rates at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort (the venue where the Annual Meeting will be held) are available through this date for a limited number of rooms. Discounted rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis – please book early to ensure your spot.
- Friday, Sept. 5: Early-bird registration deadline – higher fees will apply after this date.
- Friday, Sept. 12: Standard registration deadline – higher fees will apply after this date.
- Wednesday, Sept. 17: Pre-registration deadline – all registrations after this date must be handled on-site and higher fees will apply.