Team Bios - Our Leaders

Patrice Ventura, MA - Director

Patrice's extensive experience in Organizational Development and Human Resources includes organizational culture assessment and development, executive and leadership coaching, talent management, employee relations, workforce engagement, designing innovative learning experiences, and change leadership. Patrice has spent significant time designing internal corporate universities throughout her career and is proud that Meridian Health is the winner of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association's 2009 Outstanding Employer of the Year award for Team Meridian University. This award is presented to companies that demonstrate a creative and forward-looking approach to managing their human resources. In 2010, Patrice's Organizational Effectiveness team was recognized by the 3M organization for a custom designed program called Scrub Club Theater, which was a finalist for an Innovation Award.

Patrice was trained in quality tools and methodologies while working at IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., and has earned certification in Crosby's Structured Problem Solving Methodology. Patrice has presented at several conferences and has previously chartered and launched Toastmasters within an organization. Patrice is a DDI Master Trainer, Achieve Global Certified Facilitator, and is academically qualified to interpret and coach on the Myers Briggs Type Indicator®, the Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, and other developmental assessments. Patrice is a certified facilitator for The Leadership Challenge® Workshop, which focuses on 25+ years of evidence-based leadership practices.

Patrice has designed and delivered numerous learning experiences for business executives and leaders, as well as physicians and nurse leaders in the areas of leadership, service excellence, team building, process improvement, and eLearning design. Patrice has her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology along with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Political Science, both from Seton Hall University.

Marie Feiter, RN - Senior Consultant

As a Registered Nurse, Marie Feiter has 34 years of clinical experience and nearly 20 years of leadership experience in a variety of healthcare specialties. Marie has been a nurse leader in perioperative services, ambulatory services, and a family health center. She has transitioned her strong leadership abilities to the Organizational Development arena where she coaches and counsels health care leaders on how to increase employee engagement, improve processes, enhance patient satisfaction, as well as bottom line results. She conducts workplace cultural assessments and creates customized interventions to assist workgroups in performing at a higher level. Marie designs and delivers learning experiences that capture the hearts and minds of participants so that they can in turn provide the best health care experience to the patients and families they serve. Marie's passion is evident in each session she teaches as she exemplifies true leadership in the very important field of health care.

Marie has presented at the Nursing Management Congress on Process Improvement delivering a customize workshop: Creative Problem Solving ~ The Meridian Maze℠.

Marie is a Certified Facilitator in The Leadership Challenge ® Workshop, Development Dimensions International (DDI), and a Master Facilitator for TeamSTEPPS (Strategies &Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety). Marie received her BSN from Thomas Edison State College.

Sandra Isaksen, MPA - Senior Consultant

Sandra has 15 years experience in Organizational Development and Human Resources and brings a rich understanding of talent assessment, selection, and onboarding, in addition to workplace needs assessment, leadership coaching, and program design. Her unique experience has provided a strong foundation that allows her to work closely with leaders at all levels to develop team interventions focused on increasing team member engagement. Sandra possesses strong process improvement facilitation expertise utilizing Deming's PDCA structured problem solving methodology, and is a certified DDI Facilitator. Sandra's upbeat, high energy style encourages class members to maximize their potential.

Sandra has presented at the Nursing Management Congress on Process Improvement delivering a customized workshop: Creative Problem Solving ~The Meridian Maze℠.

Sandra is a certified facilitator for the Leadership Challenge workshop, which focuses on 25+ years of evidence based leadership practices. Sandra has her Masters Degree in Public Administration and Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Kean University.

Susan St. Peter, RN - Senior Consultant

Susan St. Peter is a Registered Nurse possessing over 30 years of varied clinical experience, and nearly 20 years' experience as a nurse leader. As a manager in the areas of cardiac rehabilitation, critical care, and surgical services overseeing over one hundred employees, she has brought to these positions an eclectic blend of leadership skills and practical experience. Based on her roles in very complex environments, Susan has successfully established herself as an Organizational Development professional who brings a sincere passion and dedication to the position. Susan utilizes a mixture of masterful skills in developing and designing customized learning experiences that have the ability to engage employees at all levels. Her efforts in the coaching and the counseling of leaders relative to employee engagement, process improvement, organizational culture, and service excellence have consistently resulted in the enhancement of professional performance.

Susan is a certified facilitator in The Leadership Challenge Workshop, Development Dimensions International (DDI), and a master facilitator for TeamSTEPPS (Strategies to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety). Sue received her BSN in Nursing from Thomas Edison State College.