Bret Kolman
Chief Executive Officer
Bret Kolman has served as CEO of Centerpoint Medical Center since 2018. Providing executive leadership for over 2,000 staff members for a 285-bed hospital, which includes a Level II Trauma Center.
Bret started his healthcare career in 1992 as a financial analyst for HCA Midwest Health (then Health Midwest). He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer at Lafayette Regional Health Center in Lexington, Missouri, a position he held from 1992 – 2003. In 2003, he was also appointed Chief Executive Officer at Lafayette Regional Health Center where his many accomplishments over a 10- year period included ranking in the top five percent in HCA inpatient satisfaction surveys in 2010 and 2011; ranking in the top 10 percent in HCA’s physician satisfaction scores.
In 2013, Bret was tapped as Chief Executive Officer of HCA’s Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington, Louisiana, which converted to a campus of Tulane Medical Center in May 2017. Bret earned a Bachelors in Finance and Accounting from Kansas State University and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Darryl Nelson
Chief Medical Officer
Darryl K. Nelson, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician who has taken care of Lee’s Summit families for more than 20 years. A smalltown physician with an old-fashioned bedside manner and a drive to advance the quality of medical care. Dr. Nelson was named Centerpoint’s Chief Medical Officer in 2018. Previously he served as the Chief Medical Officer for HCA Midwest Health. Dr. Nelson has been instrumental in leading HCA Midwest Health System’s ambulatory electronic medical record (EMR) development and launch in Kansas City and has served as the national senior medical director for the ambulatory EMR initiative for HCA.
Dr. Nelson received his medical degree from the University Of Missouri - Kansas City School Of Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians and the Kansas City Academy of Family Physicians
Dan Astleford
Chief Operating Officer
Dan Astleford is the Chief Operating Officer for Centerpoint Medical Center. In this role, he provides executive oversight of hospital ancillary and support functions, service line development, ethics and compliance, and campus construction. Some of Dan’s accomplishments include expanding cardiovascular, neurosurgical, oncology service lines, increasing employee and physician engagement, and enhancing patient care and satisfaction. Dan became COO of Centerpoint Medical Center in 2019. Dan holds a B.B.A in Health Services Administration from the University of South Dakota and both a Master of Business Administration and Masters of Health Administration from the University of Iowa.
Ronnie Thompson
Chief Financial Officer
Ronnie Thompson has served as CFO of Centerpoint Medical Center since 2022. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Belton Medical Center. Ronnie also served as Centerpoint’s Controller from 2012 to 2015.
Ronnie is an experienced financial and business leader with nearly 25 years in the healthcare industry – the majority of those at facilities within HCA Midwest Health. In his role as CFO, he oversees all financial management aspects for Centerpoint Medical Center, including accounting, materials management, staffing, case management, and information technology initiatives relating to patient access and medical records. Ronnie earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from DeVry University in Kansas City.
Suzanne Ford
Chief Nursing Officer
Suzanne Ford, Chief Nursing Officer, RN, MSN joined Centerpoint Medical Center in 2022. As Centerpoint’s Chief Nursing Officer, Suzanne provides executive nursing leadership to over 600 nurses. From 2018 to 2022, Suzanne served as HCA Midwest Health Division Vice President of Nursing Operations where she created and implemented a 1st Year Nursing Graduate program, introduced LPN and Patient Safety Attendant (PSA) alternative care models, and successfully led nursing operations during the pandemic, among other accomplishments. Suzanne holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of San Diego, a B.S.N from Galen College of Nursing, and a Masters in Health Administration from Webster University
Board of Trustees
- Brad Speaks — President/CEO Speaks Family Legacy Chapels
- Bret Kolman — CEO, Centerpoint Medical Center
- Dr. Alan Schneider — Physician, Midwest Heart and Vascular Specialists
- Randy Castle — President, Central Bank of the Midwest
- Zach Walker — City Manager of Independence, MO
- Dr. Christie Brock — Physician, Advanced Surgical Associates
- Tracey Mershon — Co-Owner, Mershon & McDonald
- Carson Ross — Mayor, Blue Springs
- Cindy McClain — President, McClain Restaurant Group/CRM Stores
- Latrece Holloway — Nurse Practitioner
- Dr. Jeffrey Krempec — Physician, Orthopedic Health of KC; President of Medical Staff