Leadership

  • Executive Team
  • Board Of Directors
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Sharon R. Frenchman
Chief Administrative Officer

Bio
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Mona Zuffante
Public Health Administrator

Bio
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Jim Rixner
Chairperson

Mr. Rixner has a B.A. degree from Duquesne University and MSW from University of Maryland. He has served as the Mental Health Director for the IHS Hospital on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation for four years and the Winnebago IHS Hospital for twenty years. He was also Director of Siouxland Mental Health Center in Sioux City, Iowa for twenty years retiring in 2017. Mr. Rixner is currently the EAP counselor for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, serves as the Board of Directors Chairperson for the Winnebago Comprehensive Health Care System and Chairperson of the Governing Body for the Twelve Clans Unity Hospital.

Mr. Rixner was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jim has been married to Bernadette for just over fifty years and they are proud parents of three sons and nine grandchildren.

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Victoria Kitcheyan

Ms. Kitcheyan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Haskell Indian Nations University. Her work has been focused on national advocacy for systematic changes to the Indian Health Service and overall improved healthcare outcomes for tribal health organizations. Ms. Kitcheyan is a member of the National Indian Health Board and serves on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tribal Advisory Committee.

Ms. Kitcheyan is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and Chairwoman of the Winnebago Tribal Council. 

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Coly Brown

Coly Brown is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. He formerly served as a Commissioner for the Winnebago Tribal Gaming Commission. Mr. Brown currently serves on the Winnebago Tribal Council. 

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Rowen K. Zetterman, MD, MACP, MACG

Rowen K. Zetterman, MD is an internist, gastroenterologist, and hepatologist and an Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) where he is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning.  He is a former Chair of the Board of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), Dean Emeritus, Creighton University School of Medicine and was the Chief of Staff for the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System. 

Dr. Zetterman has served in leadership positions as President of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), Chair of both the Board of Governors and the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP), as President of the Metropolitan Omaha Medical Society (MOMS), as President of the Nebraska Medical Association (NMA), and as a delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) where he is past-chair of the AMA Council on Legislation. He is a recipient of the Alfred Stengel Award for Outstanding Service (ACP), the Berk-Fise Clinical Achievement Award (ACG), the Distinguished Service to Medicine Award (NMA), and the Chapter Centennial Legacy Award (Nebraska ACP Chapter).

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Darla LaPointe

Bio Coming Soon.

225 S. Bluff Street
P.O. Box C
Winnebago, NE 68071
402-878-2294

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225
 S. Bluff Street  |  P.O. Box C  |  Winnebago, NE 68071

402-878-2294

A Division of Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System

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Kim Friloux
Controller

Ms. Friloux received a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Accounting and Business Administration from Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa; and a Master’s in Business Administration from Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa.

As Controller for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, Ms. Friloux oversees the financial operations of both the Winnebago Public Health Department and the Twelve Clans Unity Hospital.  She is responsible for development and management of all organization budgets, business office functions including billing, collections and patient benefit coordination.  She provides the Executive Team, Board of Directors and Winnebago Tribal Council with regular reports on financial status and transactions for the organization.

Previously, Ms. Friloux held a variety of professional accounting and financial positions including Grants Accountant for the State of Louisiana, Deputy Director, Finance for the City of New Orleans and finance responsibilities with other Louisiana municipalities, as well as financial audit experience with companies in the Midwest.

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Mona Zuffante
Public Health Administrator

Mona Zuffante holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin and a Master’s in Public Health from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska.

As Public Health Administrator for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, Ms. Zuffante’s primary role is management and strategic planning for the Winnebago Public Health Department.  She is responsible for budgeting, oversight of grant writing, Federal contract administration, coordination of health services delivery and personnel management.  Additionally, Ms. Zuffante is part of the executive team of the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System which includes strategic planning and coordination with other members of the executive team to ensure the organization is meeting its short and long-term goals.

Previously, Ms. Zuffante was the Environmental Health Specialist for the Winnebago Tribe Environmental Health Program in Winnebago and a Water Technician for the Winnebago Tribe Water Resources Program.  She has been a practicing EMT for the Winnebago Community for over 17 years.

Ms. Zuffante is an enrolled member of the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma.

Danelle Smith, chief operating officer for Twelve Clans Unity Hospital in Winnebago, NE Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019 . (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)

Danelle Smith
Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Smith received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management from Wayne State College in Nebraska and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Iowa.

As Chief Executive Officer of the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS), Ms. Smith is responsible for the overall operation and administration of WCHS and its subdivisions. Prior to assuming this role, Ms. Smith served as a member of the Tribe’s Self-governance Steering Committee, which was created to carry out planning and implementation activities necessary for the Tribe to assume management of the former Winnebago IHS hospital under the P.L. 93-938 Indian Self-determination and Education Assistance Act.

Ms. Smith is also a partner with Big Fire Law & Policy Group, LLP, a law firm dedicated to the representation of American Indian tribes and organizations throughout the United States.  She previously served as general legal counsel for the Winnebago Tribe for 14 years and has represented Tribes and tribal organizations in a broad range of governance, administrative, legislative, business, financing and employment matters. Ms. Smith currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation.

Ms. Smith is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

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Sharon R. Frenchman
Chief Administrative Officer

Ms. Frenchman holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and a Masters in Education from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.

As Chief Administrative Officer for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, Ms. Frenchman works with other members of the Executive Team to manage and direct the administrative functions of the health care system.  She is responsible for collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer and the Public Health Director for strategic development on a short and long-term operational plan for the Winnebago Public Health Department and Twelve Clans Unity Hospital.  She is also responsible to work with management on organizational structure, management methods and procedures and overall budgeting.

Previously, Ms. Frenchman was the Chief Executive Officer for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; the Chief Administrative Officer for Ho-Chunk, Inc., the Winnebago Tribe’s economic development corporation; and was associated with Little Priest Tribal College in a variety of roles including interim President.

Ms. Frenchman is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.