Featuring Janice Grewatz, BS, CSFA, CST, CSPDT, FAST; Erin White-Mincarelli, PhD, CST, FAST; and Ron Ehlers, BSCS
The ARC/STSA Board of Directors recently elected three members to its Executive Committee: Janice Grewatz (president), Erin White-Mincarelli (vice president) and Ron Ehlers (secretary/treasurer). Get to know them in the feature below, including their unique perspectives and what they are most looking forward to in serving as officers of the board.
Janice Grewatz, BS, CSFA, CST, CSPDT, FAST
ARC/STSA President
Janice Grewatz is the surgical technology program director at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, and has served as a panel member for the “Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, Seventh Edition,” a site visitor for the ARC/STSA, and a technical reviewer for the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) textbook, “Surgical Technology for the Surgical Technologist: A Positive Care Approach.” She graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology from Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska, and a bachelor’s degree in workforce education and development from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Currently, she is pursuing her master’s degree in workforce education and development at the same institution.
Erin White-Mincarelli, PhD, CST, FAST
ARC/STSA Vice President
Erin White-Mincarelli is an assistant professor and surgical technology program coordinator at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and has maintained a CST credential for more than 20 years. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership from Alvernia University, a Master of Science from West Chester University, a Bachelor of Science from Delaware Valley College and a diploma in surgical technology from the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Surgical Technology Program.
Ron Ehlers, BSCS
ARC/STSA Secretary/Treasurer
Ron Ehlers is an enterprise IT executive and consultant with more than 40 years of experience. He is the CEO and principal of his own company, Specialty TECH Solutions, and his work has received multiple industry awards. Previously, he served on the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Board of Directors in which he provided direction and leadership in the creation of the organization’s first strategic information systems plan.
In getting to know these individuals, we asked: “Based on your professional background, what unique perspective do you bring to the table and what do you look forward to in serving on the executive committee this year?” Read their responses below.
JG: My experience as a surgical technology program director, service to the board for the last three years and as vice president for the last two, has provided me with the experience to step into this role. As a participant in the development of ARC/STSA’s recent strategic plan, I am looking forward to working with the board in moving our goals forward, while supporting all surgical technology and surgical assisting programs to ensure the standards for quality education are being met.
EWM: My perspective comes from three distinct areas: a health care background as a clinician in the operating room, professional experience in surgical technology education/administration and through my academic studies to earn a doctorate in educational leadership, which included a dissertation surrounding the mandatory certification of all surgical technologists.
In serving on the executive committee, I look forward to assisting ARC/STSA in promoting the education and credentialing of all surgical technologists to ensure the highest quality of patient care for surgical patients. Assuring that all surgical technologists are skilled, competent and ready to meet the demands of the operating room benefits not only the patient, but also the workforce, the community and the profession. My hope is to provide the impetus for change and the leadership necessary to continue to advance the profession.
RE: As the public member and now also serving in the secretary/treasurer role on the ARC/STSA Board of Directors, I will be able to provide experienced business, financial and information technology leadership to assist the organization in serving its constituencies efficiently and effectively. This will allow me to contribute to the continued growth and success of the education programs serving the surgical technologist and surgical first assistant communities.
