2024 Annual Institute Speakers

Claudine holds a graduate degree from the University of Reading, UK, in Information Design and serves on the Executive Board for the International Institute of Information Design and the Board of Directors for the International Design Network of Emergency Management. She is currently a full professor at Chapman University and Program Director of the Design Program. Her work and research have served the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, NAPSIG, and CalFire, and she continues to work with the California Governor's Office, NOAA, and city emergency management programs to improve clarity, understandability, and accessibility with public-facing evacuation information. She integrates the study of cognitive stress processing, collective behavior, and disaster psychology as critical considerations in her design practice. Claudine has a record of invited talks and publications in interdisciplinary fields including a co-edited book in 2023 with Routledge Press, “Design for Emergency Management”—a first of its kind in the field. She is currently dedicated to disability studies and the role design has in changing inequities in evacuation privilege.

Skanda Skandaverl has over thirty-two years of progressive experience in all stages of the healthcare industry and is currently serving as the Division Director of CommonSpirit Health. He oversees Facility Management, Energy and Infrastructure in Midwest divisions. Skanda strives to enhance the healthcare industry to ensure that all healthcare services are delivered with efficiency. Prior to his career in healthcare, Skanda worked in the electrical construction industry, where he acquired invaluable skills and extensive international experience in construction. He has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to improving the quality of the healthcare industry.

Skanda is active, regionally and nationally, in various healthcare organizations. He has been an active member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) since 1990 and continues to hold various positions with ASHE. He graduated from the ASHE Leadership Institute in 2008. Skanda was the President of the Kansas City Area Healthcare Engineers (KCAHE) and Kansas Hospital Engineers Association (KHEA) from 2003 to 2005 and 2005 to 2006 respectively. ASHE selected Skanda as the Region Eight Emerging Leader in 2004. When Skanda was in Virginia, working for Sentara Healthcare System, he served as the President of Virginia Society Healthcare Engineers (VSHE) Hampton Chapter and represented region three on the ASHE board. Skanda was the president for Nebraska Society of Healthcare Engineers (NSHE) in 2017. He served on the ASHE Healthcare Executive Leadership Council, was on the faculty of many healthcare engineering conferences, including ASHE. Skanda has written numerous articles, spoken at many conferences and served on the ASHE Board 2018 to 2021, representing region eight. Skanda continues to serve on ASHE committees. Skanda is the current ASHE President

Skanda is an Electrical Engineer with a bachelor’s degree in Management and an MBA. He is a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM), Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) and a Fellow Member of ASHE (FASHE). He is a member of American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and a firm believer in continuing education and professional growth to further his contributions within the healthcare industry.

Krista is the National Electrical Engineering Practice Leader at HGA Architects and Engineers. She is a licensed electrical engineer with 30 years’ experience specializing in healthcare electrical design and has obtained her SASHE. Krista has extensive experience with infrastructure upgrades and facility assessments and applies her knowledge of codes to real world design. Regarded as a technical expert, Krista is an avid presenter and author for national and regional conferences and trade publications. Krista currently serves on the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 70 National Technical Committee-Code-Making Panel 13, which serves as the principal consensus body responsible for developing and regularly updating the NEC (National Electrical Code) articles pertaining to emergency power systems. She is a special expert for NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code Technical Committee on Electrical Systems (HEA-ELS) and serves on task forces for NFPA to evaluate implementation of microgrids and alternate energy sources. She is a member of the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) guidelines committee for the Hospital Book and on the Alternate Care Facilities and Emergency Preparedness task forces. She is a member of ASHE (American Society for Healthcare Engineering) and served as the co-chair of their Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion task force. Krista received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Iowa in addition to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Clarinet Performance. In her spare time, she plays in the Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra.

Connor graduated with a master’s degree of Architectural Engineering from the Durham School of Engineering at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He is a licensed engineer with almost 10 years of experience, primarily working on healthcare design projects and infrastructure studies. As a representative of ASHE, Connor serves on the NFPA 70 Technical Committee – Code Making Panel 15, which has purview over the NEC Article 517 – Healthcare Facilities. Connor is also involved with the Architectural Engineering Institute and has published articles in various trade publications.

Mark Rojas is the Executive Director of Plant Operations and Engineering Services for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center located in Los Angeles, California. He has over 25 years of experience maintaining healthcare facilities. He is passionate about maintaining the best possible facility to assure patient safety. In his free time, Mark loves classic cars and spending time with his family.

Christopher Riccardi is the Manager of Emergency Management and Business Continuity for CHOC (Children’s Health of Orange County) in Orange, California. His responsibilities include the development, implementation and management of Emergency Management planning and exercises and of the enterprise-wide Business Continuity Program. Chris brings 20 years of industry experience resulting in a rare combination of hands-on practice coupled with natural leadership. He serves as Chair of the Southern California Pediatric Disaster Coalition developing best practice resources for pediatric hospitals. Chris also serves as Chair of the Health Care Coalition of Orange County’s Hospital Advisory Committee. He was the visionary behind the 15 ‘til 50 project – a nationally recognized best practice in healthcare mass casualty incident response planning. Chris is a certified healthcare safety and emergency management professional.

Josh Reeder has worked in the healthcare space for six years with Siemens as a sales executive, specializing in automation and controls systems and working directly with hospital end-users. Prior to joining the healthcare field, he spent 13 years in the Navy as both a pilot and engineer. During this time, he led both operations and maintenance teams in daily operations. He also holds an MS in Systems Engineering, with a focus on product development. His engineering research focus is creating and implementing Conditions Based Maintenance (CBM) / Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) Programs.

Eric Kim has been in the Energy Management and HVAC services industry for 12 years. He has had the opportunity of working with highly qualified facilities teams and also the opportunity to help develop lowly technical facilities teams. When Next Level EMS opened five years ago, the intent was to help educate stakeholders (engineers, contractors, facilities team members, etc.) on how to advance technical competency and take advantage of the technical tools and support around. Better educated support makes for better run facilities.

Mark Reed, CHPA, is currently the Director of Campus Support Operations at City of Hope National Medical Center overseeing Security, Transportation, Parking, Patient Transport, Exterior Management, Waste Management, and other programs. He was previously the Director of Support Services at MLK Jr. Community Healthcare in Los Angeles, CA. Mark spent 15 years working in Law Enforcement at various Federal, State, and local correctional facilities.  Mark was also Honorably Discharged after serving 8 years in the United States Army.

Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Arizona State University.  Mark is also certified in Homeland Security from Arizona State University and a Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator through the International Association Healthcare Security & Safety. Mark is currently the Chair of the Southern California Chapter of IAHSS and previously served as the Chair for the Hospital Association of Southern California Security & Safety Committee, on the IAHSS Foundation Board, IAHSSF Research Committee, and is a current member of the IAHSS Guidelines Committee. Mark was recognized by Campus Safety Magazine as the 2019 Director of the Year and 2020 Security Magazine’s Most Influential. Under Mark’s leadership, the MLKCH Public Safety team was recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Security Team at the OSPAs presented by ASIS and received the 2020 Lindberg Bell Award presented by IAHSS.  

Mark enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, hiking, and appreciating the great outdoors.

Charles Clay has 20 years of healthcare leadership experience in Ancillary and Support Services, including; Facilities Management, Project Management, Plant Design, Engineering, Research, Business Development, and Program Design.

Charles's academic accomplishments include an Associate in pre-engineering courses, a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, and an Executive master's in business administration, all collimating to a desire to achieve a deeper understanding of finance, economics, enterprise sustainability, business theory and its application in healthcare at a doctoral level.

Mark has worked at some of the most interesting and complex facilities in the country, including Texas Children's Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and The University of Arkansas For Medical Sciences where he served as Vice Chancellor of Campus Operations from 2008 - 2018.

In his 40 years of operational experience Mark has been an agent of change, developing flood protection strategies, facilities commissioning guidelines, and job order contracting strategies to improve outcomes, reduce energy consumption, and reduce risk

With over 25 years of healthcare industry experience, I am able to understand a project from the clinical perspective which adds a unique value when discussing workflow, future operations, training, risks, mitigation plans, budget planning, space activations, and decommissioning. I enjoy my work and the challenges of implementing and sustaining future changes that will provide safe and quality care to patients who will be served by new healthcare facilities and spaces.

As a Sr. Project Manager for Stanford Medicine Children's Hospital for the Strategic Space Planning and Transition Strategy, Steve is the hospital's lead facilitator for the decade long project to renovate their 30 year old hospital building, including but not limited to managing facility impacts, interdepartmental coordination and operational planning, space transitions, and space decommissioning and activations.

Bryan started at Stanford Medicine Children's Health's Engineering and Maintenance department in 2015 and currently leads the approvals and investigations work to support the Packard 3.0 West Building remodel projects. He works closely with our Space Planning Department, EH&S, IPC, Sustainability, PD&C, and all clinical departments in our hospital and clinics. He has worked as a Maintenance Engineer, HVAC-R tech, Assistant Chief Engineer, and Facilities Engineer. His responsibilities have included performing preventive maintenance, quick response, managing mechanical and plumbing team members and systems, project management, overseeing utility shutdown requests, construction coordination, and supporting the daily operation of the Facilities team. Before getting into Healthcare Bryan worked in auto mechanics, offroad racing, fabrication, and construction management.

Daniel Troup has over 7 years of collective experience in healthcare including facilities management; environmental, infection control, and engineering programs; process improvement; change management; project management; construction coordination of occupied hospital utility tie-ins; organization-wide disaster preparedness; organizational steering committees, CMS/Joint Commission/regulatory compliance. Daniel believes emotional intelligence skills are foundational in social and professional interactions to support effective collaboration with diverse and inclusive teams.

David LaRose is the Director of Business Development Healthcare for Everon. David brings extensive knowledge in strategic security and patient centric technology services to the Healthcare Industry. David is a Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator (CHPA) and Certified Protection Professional (CPP). He also holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration management and a bachelor’s degree in criminology.

David has demonstrated senior leadership experience in risk mitigation, public safety, and enterprise security solutions that made him one of the top voices within the healthcare industry and a trusted advisor with his clients. David is a former Principal with the Everon Enterprise Security Risk Group, a former System Director of Public Safety for Lee Health System in Florida. He is also a Past-President of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Executive Board of Directors.

David is currently Vice Chair of the ASIS Crime Prevention Council, and a member of the IAHSS Guidelines Council, and ISC Education Committee. He is a former member of the ASIS Healthcare Committee.

Mark Reed, CHPA, is currently the Director of Campus Support Operations at City of Hope National Medical Center overseeing Security, Transportation, Parking, Patient Transport, Exterior Management, Waste Management, and other programs. He was previously the Director of Support Services at MLK Jr. Community Healthcare in Los Angeles, CA. Mark spent 15 years working in Law Enforcement at various Federal, State, and local correctional facilities.  Mark was also Honorably Discharged after serving 8 years in the United States Army.

Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Arizona State University.  Mark is also certified in Homeland Security from Arizona State University and a Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator through the International Association Healthcare Security & Safety. Mark is currently the Chair of the Southern California Chapter of IAHSS and previously served as the Chair for the Hospital Association of Southern California Security & Safety Committee, on the IAHSS Foundation Board, IAHSSF Research Committee, and is a current member of the IAHSS Guidelines Committee. Mark was recognized by Campus Safety Magazine as the 2019 Director of the Year and 2020 Security Magazine’s Most Influential. Under Mark’s leadership, the MLKCH Public Safety team was recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Security Team at the OSPAs presented by ASIS and received the 2020 Lindberg Bell Award presented by IAHSS.  

Mark enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, hiking, and appreciating the great outdoors.

As the leader of energy and utility initiatives at Sutter Health, Wayne conceives, directs and coordinates energy efficiency and energy supply efforts for the network of 30 hospitals and over 200 medical offices and clinics. On the supply side, his team has successfully implemented wholesale gas and electricity procurement for cost reduction, as well as a very popular on-site solar PV program. Energy efficiency efforts are accomplished through a coordinated program of retro-commissioning, capital improvements, and operator training; his team has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach by improving facility energy performance to target EUI values.

Wayne began his 36-year career in aerospace testing, evaluating aircraft survivability technologies. Subsequent energy efficiency engineering, utility energy consulting, and sustainability program development prepared him for the past decade guiding Energy Management at Sutter Health. Wayne promotes a collaborative approach to improving facility Total Cost of Operation through energy performance.

With 30 years of industry experience, Mr. Nyenhuis has a broad perspective of how energy projects successfully come together. His experience in the energy consulting and ESCO fields has given him a deep knowledge of how to successfully deliver energy master planning services, energy consulting, savings, and financial analyses, scope of work development and demand management and response. This background allows him to work effectively with clients to understand their needs and goals and design the most appropriate offering given each client’s unique requirements. His knowledge of healthcare, the federal government, higher education, and manufacturing markets has aided him on several successful projects, including the Sutter Health RCx Program, San Francisco Community College, NASA/Ames-Moffett Field, Pomona Unified School District, and Fort Hunter Liggett.

As the Director of Energy Engineering and Performance Assurance, Mr. Nyenhuis is responsible for the technical development of energy projects, including coaching and leading project developers, energy engineers, and measurement and verification specialists. By providing strategic support to Southland’s energy business development organization regarding strategies, markets, and specific project opportunities, Mr. Nyenhuis ensures that each team member is equipped to approach clients of varying market segments and develop innovative solutions that deliver long term value. Before joining Southland Industries, Mr. Nyenhuis has held energy engineering, M&V and energy development roles at SAIC, Siemens Industries and AECOM.

Brent brings over 30 years of successful project delivery experience to his role as Business Development manager at Southland. Brent’s career is highlighted by assisting customers in executing high-value, large-scare and technically challenging infrastructure projects that provide measurable benefits to clients including improved operational efficiency, lower operating costs and reduced impact on the environment. Functioning as the “quarterback” for client engagements, Brent has delivered successful end-to-end infrastructure projects through customer focus, detailed needs assessment, comprehensive programming and design, financial analysis and approval support.

For the past 15 years, Brent’s focus has been on delivering value in special-purpose environments, including Waste Water/Water Treatment and Healthcare, where successful projects require the close coordination of regulatory approval, rising utility costs, capital funding and complex construction. Successful client engagements include City of San Luis Obispo WERF, Cambria Community Services District WWTP, Sutter Health (multiple projects) and City of Chico WPCP (multiple projects). Prior to Southland, Brent spent more than a decade with PG&E where he developed and implemented the highly successful Sustainable Solutions Turnkey (SST) Program that executed > $100 million in project value resulting in >$10 million in recurring utility and operational savings.

Mr. Chris Tokas is Deputy Director for the Office of Statewide Hospital Planning & Development of the California Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI). In this capacity Mr. Tokas serves as the Chief Building Official for all California hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. He is a Fellow of the Structural Engineers Association of California and has over 39 years of experience in structural engineering and design, with special emphasis in the areas of seismic evaluation, analysis, and retrofit. He has designed and managed seismic upgrade projects for a wide variety of public, private, and institutional clients, on structures ranging from unreinforced masonry buildings to highway bridges to reinforced concrete high-rise structures. Mr. Tokas has been involved in all phases of seismic risk reduction programs including development of criteria, evaluation of existing structural capacity, schematic design, and preparation of construction documents. He is experienced with the latest earthquake protection technology for buildings including seismic isolation and energy dissipation. He is the author and co-author of several papers related to earthquake resistant design of structures. He has been teaching seminars for professional organizations and courses related to earthquake resistant design of structures for University of California, Davis and California State University in Sacramento. In his long tenure with OSHPD he has served in the position of the Northern California Deputy Division Chief, the Principal Structural Engineer and that the Supervisor for the Seismic Retrofit Program for Hospital Facilities of California.

Dr. Altoontash completed his graduate education at Stanford University in 2004 and is a registered civil and structural engineer in California. As a private sector engineer and project manager, he oversaw the design or review of structural systems and elements utilizing a variety of building materials, including concrete, steel, masonry, wood, aluminum, cold-formed metal, acrylic, fiber-reinforced polymers, and glass. His expertise includes static/dynamic linear or nonlinear structural analyses, seismic design/retrofit/vulnerability assessment, base isolation and supplemental damping, liquid-containing/soil retaining structures, utility lines’ seismic bracing, equipment seismic anchorage, laboratory testing of structural material/components/systems, and performance-based design, structural investigations. As a lecturer, he has developed and taught advanced and introductory Structural Steel Design courses at the University of California, Irvine. Arash is currently the HCAI Deputy Division Chief for Southern California, overseeing the Inspection Services, Fire Prevention, Architectural and Engineering, and Field Operations units.

Sasan Asadyari is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in hospital design and construction, capital planning, risk management, and inter-departmental coordination. With a proven track record of successfully managing projects valued at over $1 billion, Sasan has established himself as a trusted leader in the healthcare industry. He currently serves as the Director of Corporate Construction at Scripps Health, a $4.3 billion not-for-profit health care organization, with over 70 facilities, including hospitals, medical office buildings, clinics, and specialty centers. Before joining Scripps Health, he served as the Deputy Director of Facilities Management and Engineering Team Chief at Naval Medical Center San Diego, overseeing the property and fiscal management of 2.4 million square feet. He was responsible for strategic planning, with an annual budget of $150 million, to ensure effective and efficient organizational growth. Throughout his career, he has provided leadership for over 75 healthcare projects, ensuring adherence to schedules, budgets, and quality standards. His in-depth knowledge of HCAI building codes, permitting, and construction requirements has been instrumental in achieving successful project outcomes.

Frank Shadpour is the Founder and President of SC Engineers and brings over 40 years of mechanical, plumbing, and building automation system engineering expertise to the firm. Mr. Shadpour is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate of the University of Southern California and holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Redlands, California.

Michelle Shadpour is a Senior Project Manager at SC Engineers with extensive experience and expertise in healthcare facility design, including ground-up facilities, major retrofits, and campus infrastructure upgrades for acute care facilities. Recognized as DiscoverE’s “2017 New Face of Engineering,” 2018 “Top 10 in Their 20s,” and Engineered Systems’ 2020 “20 to Watch: Women in HVAC,” Michelle is leading the charge of the new generation of engineers focused on decarbonization and innovation. As the chair of the ASHRAE Technical Committee 1.4, Control Theory and Application, YEA Committee, she also brings extensive expertise in building automation and its future integration with artificial intelligence initiatives. The ASHRAE San Diego President-Elect, Michelle has served as a speaker and chair of numerous seminars at ASHRAE Society conferences and has been nominated as an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer.