Awards Hall of Fame

2019 Distinguished Career Awards

This award was specifically created to honor those who significantly dedicated often their entire careers and their vast talent to the Profession of Nursing:

• Both in professional career path and through active volunteer service in professional organizations.
• Frequently they are people who have influenced and mentored many.
• Have served with distinction in varied capacities across their profession and who have service beyond employment to the nursing community.

Deb Gumbardo | Seattle Childrens Hospital

Deb is a remarkable nurse leader who deeply cares for the community she serves. She is a strong advocate for vulnerable and underserved patients, while supporting clinical staff to serve this population that can be both challenging and difficult at times.

Sandy Giffin | Oregon Health & Science University

Both in Oregon, as well as on the national stage, Sandy has been an iconic figure in her unique subspecialty of nursing and her contributions to her field have been significant and prolific.

To say that she is one of the most recognized national faces in the field of toxicology would not be an exaggeration yet her humble presentation and quiet humility would never reveal her celebrity!

2019 Transformational Pioneer Award

This award is given to a highly respected leader with characteristics consistent with a "Professional Trailblazer" such as:

• Demonstrates exceptional skill at synthesis. Is able to connect and bring together seemingly disconnected points of view into a cohesive whole.
• Has skill in making the collective stronger than the individual and demonstrates creativity and innovation in thought and in accomplishments.
• Is a creative, courageous, and resilient risk taker has actively moved his/her organization/initiatives from good enough to better or excellent.

Candy Canga | St. Charles Medical Center Madras

Candy Canga is a true transformational pioneer who blends her entrepreneurial passion and leadership skills to make a difference in the community she serves. Her boundless energy, honesty, respect for others and enthusiasm is infectious and it is a joy to be able to work with her in achieving her goals.

2019 Emerging Nurse Leader Awards

This award is given to a nurse with less than five years of experience as a formal leader who clearly demonstrates the behaviors necessary to advance their nursing impact on healthcare leadership by setting an example for all to follow:

• Promotes open communication with those that s/he serves and is viewed as approachable and respectful of others.
• Demonstrates current and contemporary understanding of the requirements and dynamics at the point of care.
• Is able to generate enthusiasm for the creation of healthy work environments and for the achievement of excellence in professional practice and patient care.

Christa Arguinchona | Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

Christa developed the newly designated Region 10 Special Pathogens Unit (SPU) located at Sacred Heart; one of 10 nationwide granted federal designation to treat Ebola or other highly infectious pathogen patients on time and meeting all DOH requirements.

Amanda Free | Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center

In the three years Amanda has co-led the Progressive Care Unit with her Nurse Manager, she has facilitated positive change in her unit, our hospital and our organization. Amanda leads with passion, positivity, and a solid foundation of We can do anything.

2019 Award for Leadership Excellence in a Frontline Nurse Clinician

This award is given to a nurse clinician who displays leadership excellence and is renowned for their direct clinical impact:

• Recognized by her/his peers, co-workers, patients, clients, and their families, as an excellent clinician, clinical educator, and clinical role model.
• Is an exemplar of the understanding of, and advancement of evidence based practice plus demonstrates creativity and innovation in thought and in accomplishments.
• Has demonstrated clinical leadership through his/her role modeling, and through the leadership of quality or patient safety initiatives, or through his/her leadership of clinical innovation projects or clinical research.

2019 Authentic Leadership Award

This award is given to a nurse leader of distinction who overtly and consistently demonstrates the following characteristics consistent with authentic leadership:

• Acts with the highest level of personal integrity while being visibly open, authentic and straightforward with others.
• Is a creative and resilient risk taker has actively moved his/her organization from good enough to better or excellent.
• Holds his/herself accountable to professional and behavioral standards while known for making things happen, and getting the job done.

Kitty Rogers | Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center

Although Kitty has only been practicing and leading in the Pacific Northwest for two and a half years, she has made significant contributions to the culture of her unit, team, hospital, organization, and the Portland/Vancouver community.

NWONL Leadership Legacy

2015

Authentic Leadership

Kathleen Buhler

Authentic Leadership

Karin Luce

Authentic Leadership

Heather Barr

Authentic Leadership

Kathy Mertens

Authentic Leadership

Pam Cortez

Distinguished Career

Jennifer Jacoby

Distinguished Career

Kay Lanier

Distinguished Career

Elaine Couture

Emerging Nurse Leader

Marlene Elliott

Emerging Nurse Leader

Mark Highland

Emerging Nurse Leader

Shawna Blix

Emerging Nurse Leader

Michelle Dear

Leadership Excellence in a Frontline Nurse Clinician

Lindsay Larson

Leadership Excellence in a Frontline Nurse Clinician

Anne Elizabeth Hansen

Leadership Excellence in a Frontline Nurse Clinician

Melanie Mitchell

Transformational Pioneer

Karla Hall

2014

Authentic Leadership

Jean Durnin

Authentic Leadership

Gallit Eni

Authentic Leadership

Terry Carter

Authentic Leadership

Christi Sifri

Distinguished Career

Cindy Evans

Distinguished Career

Diane Cecchettini

Emerging Nurse Leader

Shannon Ogden

Emerging Nurse Leader

Daniel Davis

Emerging Nurse Leader

Cathy Casaus

Excellence in Health Care or Nursing Advocacy

Christina Cowgill

Leadership Excellence in a Frontline Nurse Clinician

Skarlette Strengholt

Leadership Excellence in a Frontline Nurse Clinician

Jonna Bobeck

Transformational Pioneer

Kristine Larison

2013

Authentic Leadership

Elise Fornadley

Authentic Leadership

Sharon Stohecker

Authentic Leadership

Debbie Robinson

Authentic Leadership

Jeannie Eylar

Authentic Leadership

Barbara Hyland Hill

Authentic Leadership

Preet Singh

Distinguished Career

Peggy Malone

Emerging Nurse Leader

Stacy Aggabao

Emerging Nurse Leader

Steven Kreps

Transformational Pioneer

Cheryl Nester Wolfe

Excellence in Health Care or Nursing Advocacy

Carolyn Blayney

Excellence in Health Care or Nursing Advocacy

Team of Bill Berko, June Alteras, Patty Cochrell, & Laurie Brown

Leadership Excellence in a Frontline Nurse Clinician

Misti Flanagan

2012

Authentic Leadership

Pam Smith

Authentic Leadership

Mady Murrey

Authentic Leadership

Angela Thompson

Distinguished Career

Frankie Manning

Distinguished Career

Lucille Kelley

Distinguished Career

Estrella Pillar

Distinguished Career

Gretchen Schodde

Emerging Nurse Leader

Lucas Hopkins

Emerging Nurse Leader

Julie Ostrom

Emerging Nurse Leader

Kerry Ranae Stewart

Excellence in Health Care or Nursing Advocacy

Meredith Gould

Transformational Pioneer

Linda Tieman

Transformational Pioneer

Elizabeth McNamara

Transformational Pioneer

Gretchen Schodde

2011

Authentic Leadership

Marcia Johnson

Authentic Leadership

Linda Latta

Authentic Leadership

Heather Schoonover

Authentic Leadership

June Altaras

Distinguished Career

Patti Crome

Distinguished Career

JoEllen Vanatta

Emerging Nurse Leader

Keith Sprague

Excellence in Health Care or Nursing Advocacy

Tracy Dunham

Transformational Pioneer

Ruth Hansten

2010

Authentic Leadership

Kim Williams

Authentic Leadership

CJ Merrill

Authentic Leadership

Kimberly McNally

Distinguished Career

Carol Kunau

Distinguished Career

Tracey Kasnic

Distinguished Career

Kay Buitenveld

Transformational Pioneer

Jean Sullivan

2009

Authentic Leadership

Floss Maumbourgh

Distinguished Career

Barbara Trehearne

Distinguished Career

Kristine Campbell

Distinguished Career

Kathy Smith

2008

Authentic Leadership

Charleen Tachibana