Hospice of Helping Hands, Inc. Board of Directors

Liz Steinhurst, President

Steinhurst joined the Hospice of Helping Hands’ Board of Directors in April of 2009 and accepted the Board President position in July 2013.

Steinhurst has worked in public accounting in the West Branch area since 1988 after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Central Michigan University. She began her career with Weinlander Fitzhugh in 2008 when she merged her practice with the West Branch office.   Steinhurst is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Steinhurst is active in many local civic and business-related organizations. Beyond her role as President of the Hospice of Helping Hands’ Board of Directors, she is a board member of Ogemaw County North Central Michigan Community Foundation, Ogemaw Land Bank Authority, and Ogemaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.  She is a member of the West Branch Business and Professional Women and is active in the West Branch Area Chamber of Commerce. She is the financial advisor for the Ogemaw Kids Club and is also very active in her church, having served as church accountant and on church council continuously for over 15 years.

When asked why she volunteered to serve on the Hospice of Helping Hands’ Board of Directors, Steinhurst replied, “I have been active in the community for many years.  I came to a point in my life where my children were primarily grown and I wasn’t as active in their sport groups and activities.  This was a new way to meet new people and reinvest in the community that I have lived in my entire life.”

Christine Juarez, Vice President 

Juarez proudly joined the Hospice of Helping Hands’ Board of Directors in July 2011. As a West Branch native, Attorney Christine Juarez graduated from Ogemaw Heights High School. She then attended the University of Michigan and completed law school at the University of Southern California. Juarez practiced law for 10 years before opening her own practice, Juarez & Juarez, P.C., in 2005 with her husband in West Branch. 

 “Some of my practice involves probate and estate planning.  Therefore, my clients often are faced with either their own health issues or their family member’s decline,” says Juarez.  “When asked to serve as a board member, I thought that I may be able to provide some insight from the legal stand point.”

Bob McGrail, Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer, WBRMC

McGrail has longevity in serving on the Hospice of Helping Hands’ Board of Directors as a part of his position at West Branch Regional Medical Center (WBRMC) – Chief Financial Officer.

McGrail has served as Assistant Chief Financial Officer/Controller and, more recently, Chief Financial Officer at WBRMC since 1989.  Prior to his work at WBRMC, he was the Controller for 7 years at, what was then, National City Bank.  McGrail received his BSBA with majors in Accounting and Business Administration from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He also is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Glen Painter, Secretary 

Over 15 years ago, Glen Painter agreed to lead Hospice of Helping Hands’ volunteers as their Guild Chairman.  This chairmanship automatically placed him on the Board of Directors.  Since then, the Hospice of Helping Hands’ Volunteer Guild has dissolved their committee, but Painter has remained a member of the Board of Directors.

Painter retired from teaching at Bangor Township schools after 31 years of service. He is now an ordained Deacon for the Diocese of Gaylord and assists at Holy Family and St. Joseph Catholic Churches.

“I wanted to become a Hospice volunteer when I retired as a result of watching the Hospice in Bay City take care of my sister before she passed away,” explains Painter.  “I was very impressed with the services provided by them and wanted to contribute here in Ogemaw County.”

Ed Napierala
Chief Executive Officer, WBRMC

In 1991, Ed Napierala was hospital appointed to the Hospice of Helping Hands' board as the Chief Operating Officer at West Branch Regional Medical Center (WBRMC.) Today, Napierala is the Chief Executive Officer at WBRMC and continues to serve on the Hospice of Helping Hands' board with a keen interest.

Prior to his work at WBRMC, he was the Chief Operating Officer at St. Mary’s of Michigan from 1972-1991 and the Project Director at the University of Michigan Hospital System’s Improvement Program from 1968-1972. Napierala received both his B.S. in Engineering and Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Michigan.

Napierala has prioritized and urged collaboration between the John Tolfree Health System’s entities (West Branch Regional Medical Center, Hospice of Helping Hands, and the Tolfree Foundation) to make us a stronger health care system.  “United as a health system, we are able to draw from each entity’s strengths,” states Napierala. “This allows us to provide compassion, excellence, and support to our community at an exceptional level.”

Lanette Lumbardo
Chief Nurse Executive, WBRMC

Dan Stonebeck

Stoneback has a strong commitment to the John Tolfree Health System serving on boards for both West Branch Regional Medical Center and Hospice of Helping Hands.  Since 1985, Stoneback has been serving on the Hospice of Helping Hands’ board of directors.  His contributions to Hospice of Helping Hands have surpassed his board commitments as he has: visited countless patients providing spiritual care services, shared his charisma and talent of public speaking at many memorial services, and continues to volunteer at various HOHH fundraisers.

Stoneback is an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and currently serves as pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Rose City. Stoneback graduated in 1978 from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania and has lived in West Branch since 1984. Stoneback is involved in many community organizations including the Ogemaw County Clergy Fellowship, North/West Lower Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Ogemaw County Fair.

Per Stoneback, “Hospice of Helping Hands holds a special place in my heart and it has been a privilege to serve as a part of their team.”

Ruth Golden

Golden joined the Hospice of Helping Hands’ board of directors in 2009.  Following her retirement from a banking career at Firstbank, Golden extended her commitment to Hospice of Helping Hands by becoming an active volunteer. 

Golden volunteers at various levels for HOHH including participation in fundraisers, office support, and assistance at promotional events.  With a true heart for hospice Golden states, “Volunteering at Hospice of Helping Hands provided me with another way to give back to those in our community with a great need.  I recognize I am helping others, but it is so rewarding in return.”

Kevin Whisman

Hospice of Helping Hands welcomed Kevin Whisman to their Board of Directors April 17, 2014. Whisman attended Ferris State University from 1988-1993, working on a Biology Major and Chemistry Minor.  In 1994, he was finishing up his education degree when he entered the insurance business.  He has thrived in this business, spending the last ten years at Diebold Insurance Agency as a Life/Benefits Specialist in West Branch. 

When asked why he agreed to joining the Hospice of Helping Hands Board of Directors, he responded, “I was asked if I was interested, and I’ve always felt the importance of contributing to the community as much as possible.  I also felt my experience in the Medicare arena could benefit the organization.”

Sarah Somerfield

Somerfield joined the Hospice of Helping Hands’ Board of Directors July 31, 2013.  She works as a Nurse Practitioner at McLaren Evergreen Clinic in West Branch.  Somerfield received her MSN from Saginaw Valley State University and her BSN from Ferris State University.  As a graduate of Standish Sterling High School, her roots are in Northern Michigan.

“It was a great honor to be nominated to join the board of directors,” says Somerfield. “I choose to accept the nomination as this is a group of people who are striving to ensure the best end-of-life measures for members of this community and surrounding communities.”

Donnelle Napier, Director
EX-Officio Member

Napier was hired as Hospice of Helping Hands’ Executive Director in July 2012. 

As the Executive Director of Hospice if Helping Hands, Napier funnels her passion to providing a holistic hospice care approach to all members of the Hospice of Helping Hands Team. Her role is to partner with the professional team of Hospice of Helping Hands and the Board of Directors to ensure that the needs and wishes of each patient and family are met.

Napier came to Hospice of Helping Hands with a unique education – her RN, BSN and MBA in Healthcare Administration.  Her background includes nursing in ER, ICU, Medical Surgical Unit, Home Health and Hospice, and Home Health and Hospice Administrator.

Since her move to Northern Michigan, Napier has already made community involvement a priority as she has joined the Houghton Lake Moose, Houghton Lake Elks, Kirtland Community College Nursing Advisory Committee, and the West Branch DDA Board of Directors.

“At Hospice of Helping Hands, I and the hospice team want to make things as easy as possible for our patients and their families,” explains Napier.  “I am proud to be a member of such a wonderful team that gives of themselves so unselfishly on a daily basis.”