Program Lead, North Highland

peter.cotterrell@northhighland.com

Peter has been a consultant for over 25 years. For the past twelve years, he has been part of the North Highland Tallahassee office serving Public Sector clients in Florida, and across the US. This is Peter’s sixth year working on the FLEX program with Florida CAHs. Peter is leading the North Highland team supporting the FLEX program, with a focus on the financial and operational improvement analysis and recommendations. Peter has a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Leeds.

Quality Program Manager, Alliant Health Solutions

melody.brown@allianthealth.org

Melody has more than 45 years of healthcare experience, including extensive service in diverse roles at Alliant Health Solutions. She currently leads and supports projects with hospitals, nursing homes, and physician practices, focusing on quality improvement, performance optimization, and the implementation of evidence-based interventions that improve clinical outcomes and patient-centered care. 

Director, Office of Rural Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support, Florida Department of Health

kayleen.pafford@flhealth.gov

Kayleen serves as the Director of the Office of Rural Health at the Florida Department of Health, bringing over five years of dedicated experience in state government. With an extensive background in healthcare systems and strategic program development, she is committed to strengthening the infrastructure that supports Florida’s rural populations.

A staunch advocate for community engagement, Kayleen leverages her firsthand experience to drive initiatives that improve healthcare access and patient outcomes. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to building resilient health systems that meet the unique needs of rural residents. Having worked in and currently living in a rural community, her mission is rooted in helping those who need it most by meeting them where they are.

Kayleen holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Human Services and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Florida State University.

Flex Analyst, Office of Rural Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support, Florida Department of Health

kendall.henry@flhealth.gov

Kendall serves as the Flex grant analyst at The Florida Department of Health in the Office of Rural Health helping rural and critical access hospitals in Florida with grant funding, technical assistance, and improving quality measures. As a former professional accountant with the Florida Department of Health in the Office of Budget & Revenue Management, she uses her past experience in accounting to assist and analyze the most effective ways hospitals can meet critical financial needs, quality improvement, and operational goals in an effort to better serve rural communities.   

FLEX Coordinator, State Office of Rural Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support, Florida Department of Health

Person Bio - TBD

Client Lead, North Highland

katie.williams@Northhighland.com

Katie Williams has been with North Highland since 2023 and brings more than 20 years of experience helping healthcare and community organizations improve access to care, strengthen organizational capacity, and support rural and underserved communities across Florida. She holds a Master of Public Health from Florida State University and is a certified Project Management Professional specializing in rural health strategy, program design, project management, workforce development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.