Working to help you succeed!
U.S. Career Institute instructors and employees are dedicated to you.
We want to:
- Bring you high quality education
- Support your learning journey
- Help you achieve your career goals
Leadership Team
Leadership Team/ USCI
The Leadership Team at U.S. Career Institute is a group of dedicated, qualified, and knowledgeable individuals committed to providing valuable insights for potential students. Our team offers comprehensive information about program curricula, requirements, and outcomes. Possessing a profound understanding of the societal impact of career training, we serve as a guiding force in the development and implementation of career training, associate degree, and high school programs. Our aim is to empower individuals through education and contribute to their career success.
Our Leaders and Instructors
Janet Perry
Vice President of Academics and Compliance
Janet has served adult students in non-traditional education settings for over 30 years.
Janet’s Bio
Jill Bear
Dean of Faculty
Jill’s passion is to empower students to meet their goals and dreams.
Jill's Bio
Megan Bowen
High School Director
Megan Bowen serves as USCI’s High School Director.
Megan's Bio
Our Qualified Instructors
Beth Sack-Rogers, LMT, RCR, NCBTMB
Beth is the owner and project direct at Contatto Wellness Education Center. There, she heads the massage therapy program, designs its curriculum and coordinates instruction. In years prior, Beth earned vast experience as an instructor and overall educator. She holds several massage therapy related certifications.
Brandy Palacios DPT
Brandy Palacios received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Mary. She is a professional physical therapist with more than 14 years of experience in outpatient orthopedics, home health, acute care, and workers’ compensation. With a broad knowledge base across programs, she provides effective treatments and modalities restoring function and mitigating disability for diseased and injured patients. Brandy holds a deep commitment to delivering quality care and achieving superior patient outcomes through collaborative multidisciplinary case-management teams.
Curtis Belgrave, Master Plumber
Curtis Belgrave holds a Class II Non-Restricted Master Plumbing License from the State of Georgia, a Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester certification and OSHA 30 General Industry certification. He attended the five-year vocational-trade apprenticeship program at the Mechanical Trades Institute in Atlanta. Curtis owns and operates Exceptional Plumbing Services in Kennesaw, GA, a commercial and residential plumbing company. His professional experience includes roles as a plumbing service manager, plumber and pipefitter, journeyman contractor, and plumber, and he has nearly twenty years of experience in the plumbing industry.
Cynthia (Cindy) Bracy, MPH, RHIA
Cindy Bracy earned her Master of Public Health Informatics (MPH) degree from the University of Chicago. Cindy holds a certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA). She has over 15 years of experience as a medical coder and has worked as a practice management specialist before becoming an instructor for health information management. Cindy is in the process of obtaining her Master of Health Analytics from Northwestern University.
Jeanie Sutter, M.S.
Upon completion of her master’s degree in Exercise Science from Boise State University, Jeanie Sutter pursued personal training and started Mind Body Design to help people with their health and fitness goals. Jeanie founded the company to educate clients on movement, nutrition, personal motivation and long-lasting health and wellness. She brings expert personal training to clients and works with individuals and groups of clients outdoors and at various locations. Jeanie completed her bachelor’s degree in Science from Colorado Mesa University, and has experience as a personal trainer, wellness consultant and manager for a variety of fitness establishments.
Jan Ervin, CHDS
Jan Ervin holds Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) and Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) certifications from the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity. She has completed college courses in creative writing, marketing, editing, anatomy and medical terminology at San Antonio College. She has also completed a legal transcription course. Jan has diverse experience spanning a large spectrum within the transcription and secretarial professions, from the medical field to marketing firms. Jan’s professional experience in medical transcription includes significant healthcare systems and remote third-party transcription service providers. She is a self-employed CHDS specialist who works remotely for several transcription service providers.
Jessica Cain, Ph.D. Early Education and Teaching Candidate (ABD)
Jessica Cain earned her A.S. in Interdisciplinary Early Child Education from the Bluegrass Community and Technical College. She then attended Eastern Kentucky University, earning her B.S. in Criminal Justice and M.A. in Special Education, Emphasis in Early Education. Jessica is finishing her Ph.D. in Early Education at Northcentral University, San Diego, CA. Jessica has over 23 years of experience in early childhood education, including working with her local Head Start and as a contractor for special projects at various state agencies. Jessica has worked for the past four years as a program manager with the Kentucky Division of Child Care. She is a Master Trainer for the Strengthening Business Practices Training. She contracted with the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance (NCECQA) to provide this training series to other state agencies. Jessica has also worked as a content director. She is now co-founder of the Early Child Training Center & and Early Childhood Consumer Education and Technical Assistance Center (ECCTC), a nonprofit Child Care Resource and Referral Agency for southern Kentucky.
Justin Calkins, POST
Justin Calkins earned his Associate of General Studies in 2001 from the Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, Colorado. Following graduation, he began his career with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department in 2002 as a deputy sheriff, where he continues to work today. Justin also holds several specialized roles at the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, including Arrest Control Instructor since 2008, Field Training Officer beginning in 2015, SWAT Operator since 2016, and Firearms Instructor ever since 2017. He also held the position of K-9 Agitator at the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office from 2007-2014. Justin has been recognized as an award-winning patrol deputy for exemplary job performance in the line of duty.
Kelly Wingo, MA, BS
Kelly earned her Master of Arts in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma and her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She also has a diploma in Paralegal studies with an emphasis on litigation. She holds added education in conflict resolution, crisis management and motivational management, among others. Professionally, Kelly comes with a deep background in the private and public sectors. She has served as a Senior Paralegal, handling legal research, contract negotiation and paralegal training for the North American large infrastructure construction sector of a Fortune 500 transportation company whose affiliated parent company is based worldwide. Additionally, Kelly has over two decades of experience, including as an adjunct faculty member teaching paralegal study and as a judicial assistant, which included contributions to publishing court opinions.
Kenshara Cravens-Knoxson, LMSW, CCM, LCDC(CI)
Dr. Kenshara Cravens-Knoxson serves as an Instructor with the United States Career Institute (USCI), bringing more than a decade of experience in social work education, clinical practice, and community programming. She holds a Ph.D in Social Work and is a Lincsed Social Worker.
Dr. Cravens-Knoxson owns a private practice and leads a nonprofit organization focused on expanding access to mental health care, advocacy, and education. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes empowerment, reflection, and practical application helping students connect academic concepts to real-world experiences.
Outside of teaching, she enjoys writing, mentoring future social workers, and developing youth and wellness initiatives. She values creativity, family time, and community service.
KimDao Collier, B.A., PharmD
KimDao Collier is a staff pharmacist at SCL Health Lutheran Outpatient Pharmacy and also fills in as the Pharmacist at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy as needed. KimDao gained experience working as a Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy Intern and then Staff and Floater Pharmacist while working for Walgreens from 2005 until 2016. KimDao helps future pharmacists by mentoring and evaluating assignments as the Writing Preceptor for the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. KimDao received her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy in 2010. She also received a Bachelor of Arts Humanities (Psychology/Asian studies) from the University of Colorado in 2006.
Lance Elmore CMA, EMT-B
Lance Elmore is a phlebotomist with more than 15 years of experience. He currently works as a Phlebotomist Site Lead for Quest Diagnostics. He previously taught phlebotomy courses at IBMC, such as Phlebotomy Skills and Techniques, Basic Phlebotomy Anatomy and Physiology and Components of Blood/Safety Protocols. Lance received certificates in Emergency Medical Technician from Front Range Community College and Medical Assisting from Institute of Business and Medical Careers.
Lisa Hatch, AACWP, Certified Master Wedding Planner
Lisa Hatch has earned certifications as an Accredited Event Designer and Certified Master Wedding Planner. Professionally, Lisa brings over two decades of experience, having planned, organized and successfully launched weddings, corporate functions, huge conferences and major non-profit fundraisers. As the Director of an event planning firm since 2018, she’s led innovative teams to put on flawless events while managing meticulous budgets and logistics. Previously, she worked as Director of Sales and Catering for two major hotels. Finally, Lisa is committed to helping her community. She’s volunteered extensively with major organizations and continues to do so, particularly for non-profit fundraisers.
Melia Lewis MEd, BSDH, RDH
Melia Lewis earned her Master of Education, Learning and Technology from Western Governors University and her Bachelor of Dental Hygiene from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. She is licensed as a Registered Dental Hygienist with the State of Utah Division of Professional Licensing. She is currently practicing RDH at Provo Family Dentistry, Provo, UT. Her professional experience includes roles as an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University and clinical instructor/adjunct professor at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. She is the co-creator and chief marketing officer of Hygiene Edge, an online educational website for dental professionals. Melia is an experienced lecturer on dental hygiene with articles published in the industry. She is a member of such professional organizations as the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Utah Dental Hygienists’ Association, the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, the Utah Oral Health Coalition, the American Dental Education Association and the International Federation of Dental Hygiene. Her diverse background includes both international and community volunteerism, being a legislative committee member of the Utah Dental Hygienists’ Association and a member of its Central Component Presidency.
Michael Adams, MBA, MSCIS
Michael Adams is a Contract Specialist with the United States Government. In this position he is responsible for developing contracts and their supporting documents. He has spent time working in Marketing as well as Information Systems Development at HSBC, a large international financial services company. During his time with HSBC, Michael helped develop sales and marketing training materials and sales tracking database systems. He has recently written several study guides for Marketing and Business courses.
Rachel Haywood, BS
Rachel Haywood is a Business and Human Resources instructor at U.S. Career Institute, where she teaches across the HR and business curriculum, specializing in employment law, compensation and benefits, talent development, labor relations, organizational behavior, and workforce readiness. She has brought more than 20 years of combined experience in leadership, compliance, coaching, employee development, and military service.
Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management/Marketing from Columbia Southern University and is a member of the Omega Nu Lambda National Honor Society (Eta Chapter), recognizing academic excellence in online education. Prior to transitioning into education, she proudly served nearly 20 years in the United States Army with multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her military experience shaped her values around mentorship, accountability, and service which are principles she carries into her work with students every day.
Her teaching philosophy centers on empowerment through practical, career-focused learning. Rachel believes education should open doors and create opportunities, especially for adult learners navigating career transitions or advancement. She is passionate about building learner confidence, strengthening workforce skills, and helping students connect academic knowledge to real-world application.
In addition to teaching, Rachel is also an entrepreneur and founder of Divine Embrace LLC, a human resources consulting and training company, and 17/20 Collective, a mission-centered lifestyle brand. Originally from Georgia, she enjoys writing, mentoring, building new creative ventures, and spending time with her family. She remains committed to lifelong learning and to helping students build sustainable, purpose-driven careers.
Rebecca Grayheart, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CNL
Rebecca Gayheart earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Wheeling Jesuit University, her Master of Science in Nursing: Clinical Nurse Leader from Sacred Heart University and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Berea College, Kentucky. Rebecca most recently completed her DNP from Aspen University in August 2024. Rebecca has over 20 years of experience spanning a large spectrum within the medical profession, from registered nurse to nurse practitioner to nursing instructor and clinical educator. She is currently a clinical educator for Archive Health, where she develops educational materials for NP and PA providers and is a nursing instructor at Southern New Hampshire University.
Ricky Sparks, CRAT
Ricky Sparks has a Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT) certification and has become a proven healthcare professional with over 15 years of experience, including specialties in adult and pediatric cardiology, cardiac devices, rhythm analysis and emergency/critical care. Ricky currently works in Cardiovascular Surgery as a perfusion monitor, managing cardiac devices ansythms intraoperatively. To that, Ricky operates multiple machines and technologies to keep patients hemodynamically stable throughout procedures—all while working towards another board certification as a Perioperative Blood Management Specialist.
Ryan Dreiling, BS, Master Electrician
Ryan Dreiling is a Colorado State Master Electrician with a quarter century of experience in the field. He belongs to the International Association of Electrical Inspectors. His education includes an associate degree in Electrician Trades from Red Rocks Community College and a bachelor’s in project management from Colorado State University.
Stacy Swartz, MFA, RHIA, CCS, CPC
Stacy Swartz is a seasoned health information management professional, educator, and author with over two decades of experience in healthcare operations, medical coding, and revenue cycle management. Throughout her career, she has trained and mentored physicians, coding teams, and healthcare leaders nationwide, helping organizations improve compliance, documentation accuracy, and reimbursement integrity.
An accomplished writer and communicator, Stacy is the author of Mastering Evaluation and Management Services in Healthcare and has contributed numerous articles, newsletters, and educational materials in the areas of medical coding, clinical documentation, and healthcare leadership. Her passion for clear, purposeful communication led her to expand her academic focus into the field of writing instruction.
Stacy holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a degree in Health Information Management, along with multiple professional certifications in coding and auditing. She now teaches English Composition and Writing, combining her extensive experience in technical and professional communication with a strong foundation in creative and academic writing. Her teaching philosophy centers on clarity, connection, and empowering students to find their authentic voice in every written form.
Tammie Pearce, BS, DVM
Tammie Pearce earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine with specialized training in Avian and Rabbit Medicine from Colorado State University and her Bachelor of Science in Animal Health Science from the University of Arizona. She is the Director of Veterinary Science and Technology at AskVet and owner of Tucson In Home Pet Services/Tucson Animal Allergy, a mobile veterinary service. She is also a veterinary research consultant for therapeutics development at Sierra Bioresearch. Tammie is a freelance writer on veterinary topics with articles published for partner companies in the veterinary industry. Her professional experience includes roles as clinical director of veterinary technician training, manager of medical staff, director of medical and technical consultation, chief of staff and associate veterinarian.
Teresa Rufi, BA, CRCST, IHI
Teresa Rufi is a Sterile Processing Technician Program Instructor at the U.S. Career Institute -WDL Distance Learning. Teresa has worked in Sterile Processing for thirty years and maintains both CRCST and CHL certifications. She graduated in 2020 from Idaho State University with her bachelor’s in health science degree. Teresa has worked in Hospital settings as well as Ambulatory Surgical Centers as a leader, manager, and colleague. Teresa strongly believes that education in Sterile Processing is critical to the success of the department in delivering exceptional assistance to the areas that rely on sterile supplies. She is determined to provide the most accurate and current guidelines pertaining to Sterile Processing as well as assistance in implementing changes as they develop. Sterile Processing is the “Heart” of providing patient safety through decontamination and sterility of medical and surgical instrumentation making training and education key components to compliance and excellence. In addition to being an instructor, Teresa currently manages the Sterile Processing Department at Ten Mile Surgery Center in Meridian Idaho. When she is not working, she enjoys the mountains and the Boise River where she spends her days hiking, skiing and walking her dogs.
Thomas Carlton, HVACR, EPA
Thomas Carlton holds his certification in HVAC with additional certifications as a journeyman HVAC, refrigeration service EPA Types II and III, EPA 608 Universal and the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES). He also holds New York FDNY Q01 Refrigeration Engineer certification. He earned his Certificate in HVACR Technology from the Lincoln Technical Institute in New Jersey. Thomas has 20 years of work experience in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration profession. This experience includes environmental engineering firms, educational institutions and property management firms. He is an assistant chief engineer at a property management firm and an HVAC/R instructor.
Tredessa Travers, AIC, CPCU
Tredessa T. Travers, MBA, CPCU, AIC, is an Adjunct Instructor for the Claims Adjuster Program at the U.S. Career Institute.
Tredessa is a seasoned insurance professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She is a proud graduate of Old Dominion University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, and Olivet College, where she obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Insurance.
Tredessa began her career as a sales agent immediately after college and soon transitioned into claims, where she has spent the majority of her career. Her extensive expertise spans multiple claims departments and a wide variety of claim types, including complex Auto, Property, Fire/Theft, Bodily Injury, General Liability, PIP, Subrogation, Arbitration, Liability, and Litigation claims. She has handled claims involving Excess & Surplus, Commercial, Business, Farm, and Personal Lines policies, showcasing her versatility and depth of knowledge in the field.
Currently, Tredessa serves as a Senior Claims Resolution Manager at Gallagher Bassett. She is also a certified CPCU, CE, licensing course instructor and shares her passion for insurance education. Tredessa has moderated and produced numerous webinars on various insurance claims topics and proudly refers to herself as an "insurance nerd" due to her enthusiasm for the industry and her dedication to mentoring the next generation of insurance professionals.
Tredessa is actively involved in professional organizations and currently serves as the President of the Richmond CPCU Chapter in Virginia, the Vice-Chair of the CPCU Insights Publication Committee, and is a member of the Society of Insurance Trainers and Educators (SITE).
In her spare time, Tredessa enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, attending community events, and traveling to explore new destinations.
Valerie Monahan, MBA, CPA
Valerie Monahan, has more than 25 years of progressive experience in the field of accounting, including payroll, auditing and tax. She has worked in public and private practice and owns her own company, assisting clients in bookkeeping and tax by providing advice, guidance and training for employees. She has extensive knowledge of all types of accounting software, including Quickbooks, NetSuite, Ajera and various other add-ons to accounting software packages.