AARC’s 2025 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) provided respiratory therapists with a prestigious opportunity to develop connections with a mentor and other RT professionals worldwide. The program helps participants focus on what it takes to be a leader in the profession. The 19 highly qualified individuals below were selected for the 2025 program based on stringent criteria.
Activities that the ELP recipients took part in 2025 included:
- Presentations at Summer Forum and Congress
- AARC Committee meetings
- State Affiliate meetings
- Regular one-on-one meetings with their mentor and other ELP participants
AARC thanks Draeger for its support of the 2025 Emerging Leaders Program.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 Emerging Leaders and their mentors. These leaders will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony at Congress 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
| Emerging Leader | Mentor |
| Nathan Pounds, MSRC, RRT, RPFT, AE-C | Kristen McHenry, EdD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC |
| Jamie Markham, BS, RRT, RRT-NPS, RPFT | William Croft, EdD, PhD, RRT, RCP, FAARC |
| Jamie Rice, BSRT, RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C | Lenny Nyangwara, DBA, RRT, FAARC, LSSGB |
| Jessica Ferguson, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C | Martin Koehnlein, MHA PMP, CPPS, CPHQ, LSSBB, CCMP, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, AE-C, CCT |
| Shana Kent-Smith, EdD, BS, RRT | Scott Reistad, BA, RRT, CPFT, FAARC |
| Ali AlKhiry, MSc, RRT, RRT-NPS | Karsten Roberts, Sc, RRT, FAARC, FNAP |
| Branden Stokes, RRT, RRT-NPS | David Bowton, MD, FCCP, FCCM |
| Ciera Winter, BSRT, RRT, RRT-NPS | Peter Kot, MBA, RRT |
| Jordyn Summer Thomas, MS, RRT, RRT-NPS-AE-C | Amanda Leightner, PhD, RRT, RRT-SDS, RPSGT, CCSH, FAARC |
| Jessica Patel, MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, CLSSGB | Laura Packard, MBA, RRT, RRT-ACCS |
| Amanda Perera, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS, CPFT, VA-BC | Gail Moore, BS, RRT, RRT-NPS, CPFT |
| Benjamin Caldwell-Chadwick, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS | Jennifer Jackson Stevens, MEd, RRT |
| Madison Clinger, BS, RRT, RRT-NPS | Craig Rooks, MMHC, RRT |
| Jasmine Williams, BSRT, RRT, RRT-NPS | Rodney Bevis, MBA, MA, RRT, CSSGB |
| Kamel Sadr, BSHCA, RRT-RRT-ACCS | Kristi Burns, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS |
| Jessica Wilson, BA, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS | Jamey Wasrud, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS |
| Jessica Missavage, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS | Jerin Juby, DMgt, RRT |
| Mallory Shears, MBA, RRT | Ryan Bellomy, MBA, BS, RRT, RCP, LSSGB, FAARC |
| Grant Gerwit, MBA, RRT | Kerry George, MEd, RRT, FAARC |
| Geoffrey Nolan, MBA, BSRC, RRT-RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS |
The AARC congratulates the ELP Class of 2025 and looks forward to seeing their accomplishments in the future! The Class of 2026 ELP applications will be available in early 2026. Keep an eye on your email and the website for more information and submission deadlines.
