HAPPEN - About Us

What is HAPPEN?

HAPPEN stands for Healthcare Associates Providing Positive Education and Networking, and since it was formed in 1997 that's exactly what we've done! We're a non-profit 501(C)3 organization of healthcare providers with members from over 150 companies and organizations throughout the Treasure Valley. We were founded on the idea that our community needed a way to promote healthcare education and provide networking opportunities for professionals that support the senior population in the Treasure Valley.

Our membership includes representatives from major hospitals, assisted living communities, skilled nursing homes, home health and home care agencies, referral services, durable medical equipment companies and more.

HAPPEN is entirely volunteer-driven, and our efforts are supported through generous donations from our membership and the community in conjunction with nominal annual dues. These dues entitle our members to join us for a networking luncheon hosted by a different facility each month. Every luncheon also features a presentation by a guest speaker.

Another of our major volunteer efforts is the annual "I Make it HAPPEN!" Caregiver of the Year Awards Banquet. Our members work tirelessly throughout the year to solicit donations to sponsor the award, coordinate the banquet, and select the recipients from amongst the many amazing caregivers throughout the Treasure Valley.

Check out our Calendar to find out what else we're up to lately!

Board Members

President - Aaron Flake

Independent Medicare Health Advisor -- (208) 484-2572 -- healthadvisor@aaronflake.com

For the last five years, Aaron has specialized in offering medicare advantage, supplement, and part D drug plans. Aaron represents all the major insurance carriers in the Treasure Valley. He loves to demystify the complexities of Medicare!

Vice-President - Desi Hochstetler

Norco -- (208) 319-2517 -- desih@norco-inc.com

Desi Hochstetler is the hospice billing specialist at Norco Medical. She handles the billing aspect of the hospice accounts and has been with the company for eight years. She has lived in Boise for the last 18 years and is originally from Montana. She is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters aged 11 and 9. She loves her fur babies and wishes she could save every animal in the world! In her spare time, Desi loves to play volleyball, softball and tennis.

Advisor - Lisa Kuhr

My Care Builder -- (208) 484-2572 -- imakeithappen@cableone.net

Treasurer - Robin Cook

Personal Accounting Solutions, Inc. -- (208) 362-0933 -- rcook0307@gmail.com

Co-Secretary - Karen Nelson

The Nelson Group -- (208) 860-9382 -- karen@thenelsongroupllc.com

Karen is a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Broker Associate, and Registered Nurse with over thirty years of experience in real estate sales, business ownership, ambulatory health care, geriatrics, geriatric psych, chemical dependency and hospital nursing. Her major joy is helping people find dream homes that fit their lifestyles and assisting them to stay in that home by working to ensure its fitness for them and its safety. A lifestyle transition specialist who, when the client's home is no longer the right fit, assists clients to make a transition to the next lifestyle home with a maximum of ease and a minimum of stress. Passions include family, biking, hiking, photography, and spiritual pursuits.

Co-Secretary - Brandie Kramer

St. Alphonsus -- krambran@trinity-health.org

As the Senior Care Program Specialist for St. Alphonsus, Brandie coordinates and develops the Senior Care program strategies and establishes senior health partners within each community from Baker City, Ontario, Nampa, and Boise. Brandie has been with St. Alphonsus Health System for ten years in multiple positions but has truly found her niche and passion when it comes to being the Senior Care Program Specialist. Brandie will identify opportunities to improve the patient and family experience of care and to improve their efficiency and effectiveness by using community and regional resources. Brandie also creates community-driven care management collaborations and partnerships while identifying educational needs for seniors. She provides information and referrals to services and resources relating to older adult issues within each community, as well as with outside agencies.

Co-Membership - Cody Freston

Senior Blue Book -- (208) 922-6317 -- cody@seniorsbluebook.com

Co-Membership -- BeeWee Downs

Advocate Guardianship -- (208) 362-9931 -- beewee@aguardian.net

BeeWee has worked as a Case Manager for Advocate Guardianship since February of 2012. She gained her exceptional skills working eleven years within the assisted living community, two years as an administrator for Country Care before being promoted to Regional Director. Honing her skills for working with the behaviorally challenged, she became a supervisor for at-risk youth at Madsen Alternative Therapeutic Resources. After five years, BeeWee's passion for elders took her back into the assisted living environment which led to a natural transition as one of Advocate's Case Managers.

Raised in Nevada on her parents' hunting resort, BeeWee loves the outdoors, participating in extreme sports, and creating garden art with antique glass.

Web Developer - Michael Larkin

Word and Picture Factory -- (208) 514-6630 -- mlarkin32@gmail.com

Michael grew up in Idaho and has lived in Boise most of his life. He was a photojournalist for nearly ten years in television news before breaking off to start his own company. He now owns and operates Word and Picture Factory, which provides web development, marketing, and video production services to the Treasure Valley. He also has a side business providing photography, but if you want him to shoot your wedding you're going to have to ask reeeeeal nice. Mike's wife is a nurse, so he's very familiar with the senior healthcare field.

Education Coordinator - Lorayne Russman

Align Hospice -- (208) 639-1122 -- lorayne22@gmail.com

Legal Consultant - Mark Wright

Idaho Estate Planning -- (208) 939-7658 -- mark.wright@idahoestateplanning.com

Caregiver of the Year Chairman - Shayne Burr

You're at Home Assisted Living -- (208) 898-4663 -- sburr.rah@gmail.com

Shayne is the owner/administrator of the You're at Home Residential Assisted Living Facility in Meridian, Idaho. She's been in healthcare for 32 years and has been involved with HAPPEN for the last six. She lives in Boise with her husband Wayne and her two teenage boys, Nathan and Scotland.