Pioneer Valley Chapter of AACN

Board of Directors


Board of Directors

Cathie Manning

Cathie Manning BS,RN,CCRN

President

MICU/NCCU Staff/STAT/CHG nurse for almost 38 years and CCRN certified for 32. I've had the pleasure of being a member of PVC for 20+ and honor of being a board member for well over half that time. It is truly an honor to serve all of you. I've served on the CCRN test task force, CSI Academy, NTI planning committee 2020/2021, Fundamental Skills for Preceptors Pilot Testing Group, and as of this year, appointed to the  Chapter Advisor Team (CAT) to Region 4 encompassing Virginia, W. Virginia and D.C. I've been retired from the Air Force Reserves as a flight nurse after serving over 21 years. My hobbies are reading, and baking. Married for 35 yrs, mom of 3 young men and  proud mom of a Bernese Mountain dog, Arlo, which will continue the tradition of me being the only female in the house.

Jennifer Salina

Jennifer Salina

Membership Chair

Kimberly Connly

Kimberly Connly RN, BSN, CCRN

Treasurer

Katherine Walles

Katherine Walles MSN, RN

Board Member

William Donnelly

William Donnelly RN PMBA BS CCRN

Board Member

Bill Donnelly RN PMBA BS CCRN (ret.) 

 Nursing has been a most rewarding career, especially as a member of the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. 

 As a board member of PVC and 2 terms past president, small AACN volunteer opportunities arose and progressed over the years to a dozen review panels, work groups, and committees.   

 It also led to seven published reviews of Clinical Pearls in AJCC as well as speaking engagements at NTI and Horizons, Two terms on AACN’s Evidence-Based Practice Resource Work Group provided mentorship and growth defining AACN’s Mission. 

“Commotio Cordis and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy” and their counter-intuitive nature became a special topic of interest in my program designed to communicate prompt recognition and intervention in sudden cardiac arrest in athletes and victims of trauma.    

Working with talented exemplary Nursing experts who generously share their knowledge and comradery in providing the best Critical Care to our Patients has been an immeasurable rewarding and enlightening experience.  

Alisha Spano

Alisha Spano RN BSN

Board Member

Ember Johnson

Ember Johnson MSN, RN, NI-BC, CV-BC

Webmaster

Ember Johnson MSN, RN, NI-BC, CV-BC – Webmaster, AACN Pioneer Valley Chapter

I am an informatics nurse for the Heart & Vascular Department at Baystate Medical Center and serve as the webmaster for the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). I hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Informatics and am double board-certified in Cardiovascular Nursing and Nursing Informatics.

The AACN PVC holds a special place in my heart. In 2019, I attended the National Teaching Institute (NTI) conference, where I heard a nurse present an inspiring project in nursing informatics. That presentation opened my eyes to a field I had never known existed, and it became a turning point in my career. Shortly after, I enrolled in a master’s program for Nursing Informatics, a decision to attend NTI re-energized my passion for nursing and saved me from burnout.

AACN represents everything I believe nursing should embody—advancing nursing standards, lifelong learning, mentorship, research, and fostering healthy work environments. I recommend that every nurse attend the NTI conference at least once; it is truly a source of inspiration and a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

On a personal note, I am a proud mom of two boys and a Goldendoodle. I consider myself a DIYPI (Do-It-Yourself Private Investigator) and love immersing myself in true crime podcasts. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and tackling DIY projects around the house—often getting in over my head but loving every second of it.

Linda Horton

Linda Horton BSN, RN,CCRN

Board Member

Julie Rooney

Julie Rooney RN

Board Member