Drew Waterman, chief executive officer at Grand Island Regional Medical Center (Courtesy photo)
GRAND ISLAND – The Grand Island Regional Medical Center Foundation is announcing its 2026 Board of Directors, a dedicated group of community leaders committed to advancing the hospital’s mission of delivering exceptional care and improving the health of the community.
Serving on the Grand Island Regional Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors are:
RYAN CROUCH, DO
Dr. Ryan Crouch received his education from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency at University of Nebraska Medical
Center and Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Dr. Crouch is an Internal Medicine physician practicing at Prairie Center Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He specializes in caring for adult acute and chronic illnesses. He is also an integral part of Grand Island Regional Medical Center’s Board of Directors.
BOB RAVENSCROFT
Bob Ravenscroft is a System Vice President and Chief Marketing and Development Officer at Bryan Health. His non-profit board and advisory committee experience includes terms of service at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Bryan Enterprises, Bryan Foundation, Crete Area Medical Center, Kearney Regional Medical Center Foundation, Grand Island Regional Medical Center Foundation and Clinic with a Heart.
Ravenscroft guides teams focused on improving people’s health status and educational opportunities by sharing Bryan’s story with employees, physicians and people across a vast service area. These stories have influenced market shifts, inspired philanthropic support, engaged stakeholders and earned trust. In roles spanning more than 30 years at the intersection of the non-profit, public and private sectors he has experience in strategic planning, brand management, crisis communication, marketing, media and public relations, and capital campaign execution.
Prior to joining Bryan Health in 2009, he held related roles at the University of Iowa, Mary Greeley Medical Center, and Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines. Bob holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa and a Masters of Public Administration from Drake University.
ANDREW WATERMAN
Drew Waterman is Chief Executive Officer at Grand Island Regional Medical Center. He served as a Staff Sergeant for the US Army Medical Corp, retiring in 2004 with twelve years of service. He maintains his love of radiology by maintaining his accreditation, ARRT RT R (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Masters in Health Administration from Ashford University.
Waterman’s executive management experience in health care spans eighteen years having served with the Sisters of Charity – St. Augustine, Providence Hospitals, LifePoint Health, Parrish Medical Center and OMNI Healthcare.
The Waterman family sought to find a community where they could make their home for the rest of Drew’s career. Having worked in both for-profit, non-profit, large, and small hospitals, Drew found smaller hospitals are more supportive of each other and the community. Grand Island Regional Medical Center’s mission, location, and opportunities brought the Waterman family home to central Nebraska.
ROCIO ESPARZA
Rocío is an entrepreneur, financial advisor, and real estate professional. She serves as Managing Partner of Esparza & Associates, is a Business Tax Specialist and advisor with Phillips I Cruise Tax and Business Services, and a Realtor with Summit Real Estate, where she helps families build long-term financial stability and generational wealth. She graduated from Doane University with a degree in Business Administration and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Business.
Active in community development, Rocío collaborates with organizations such as the Center for Rural Affairs to promote financial education, entrepreneurship, and opportunity, particularly for women and underserved communities. She is passionate about mentoring others and building a strong, resilient community.
Rocío is married and the proud mother of two beautiful daughters. Her role as a wife and mother fuels her dedication to healthcare, service, and ensuring families in the region have the resources they need to thrive.
RAY O’CONNOR
Raymond O’Connor is CEO of O’Connor Enterprises, which owns and manages NET lease commercial properties in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.
O’Connor received his B.A.E. degree from Wayne State College and his master’s degree from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has served as a board member of the Grand
Island Chamber of Commerce, Grand Island Community Foundation, Citizens Review Committee and the Grand Island Economic Development Corporation. He currently
serves as a trustee for the Diocese of Grand Island and is a member of the Grand Island Diocese Finance Council and the Central Community College Foundation.
O’Connor served in the Vietnam War, stationed in the central highlands of South Vietnam in 1968-1969. He was honored as the 2015 Man of the Year by the Grand Island Independent. O’Connor Enterprises received the 2017 Business of the Year Award from the Grand Island Economic Development Corporation. He was the recipient of the Spirit of Rotary Award in 2017 and was presented with the Heartland United Way’s “Be the One” Award in 2017.
O’Connor and his wife Jennifer celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November. They are parents of three children who reside in Grand Island and Kearney and have nine grandchildren.
JEFF RICHARDSON
Jeff Richardson has been rooted in Grand Island his entire life. He is a 1983 graduate of Grand Island Senior High School. He attended Louisiana Tech University where he
earned a degree in general studies and played college baseball.
He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1985. His professional baseball career included the Reds from 1986 to 1989, the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1989 to 1993 and the Boston Red Sox from 1991 to 1993. He was a coach in the Pittsburgh minor league system from 1993 to 1996 and Louisiana Tech from 1996 to 2000.
Richardson is an established entrepreneur in Grand Island. He has owned Balz, Inc. since 1996, Whiteys, Inc. since 2011, and Balz at Prairie District which was established in 2025. He has also been involved in thoroughbred horse racing since 2010.
LYNNE WERNER
Lynne Werner has built a distinguished career at the intersection of law, finance, public service and community leadership. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from
the University of Nebraska Medical Center before completing her Juris Doctor at Creighton University School of Law. Her professional path has included work as an attorney in private practice as well as serving as a Trust Officer in two banking departments, roles that strengthened her expertise in legal, financial, and fiduciary matters.
Her commitment to community advancement has long been recognized across Central Nebraska. In 2016, she was honored as the Grand Island Independent “Woman of the Year,” celebrating her extensive volunteer service and her instrumental contributions to the development and expansion of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport.
Over the years, she has served on numerous local boards, including the Hall County Airport Authority, the Grand Island Public School Board and Foundation Board, the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, and the Central Community College Foundation. Her leadership continues today through her roles as Vice Chairperson of the Hall County Airport Authority and as a member of the Central Community College Board of Governors. She also serves as legal counsel for Equitable Bank.
She and her husband, Tom Werner, have two children and are grandparents to five grandchildren, a family that remains at the heart of her dedication to building a stronger, more vibrant community.
“Serving on the Grand Island Regional Hospital Foundation allows me to give back to a community that has shaped my life and career. With experience in nursing, law, and public service, I am passionate about strengthening the resources that support quality healthcare for every family in Central Nebraska,” Werner said.
SETH YOUNT
Seth Yount has established a career in the Grand Island Community with a strong background in legal services. He is a 2011 graduate of Creighton University School of Law and College of Business, graduating with his Juris Doctorate, MBA and membership in the Business Honors Society.
He is currently General Counsel for Bosselman Enterprises in Grand Island. His professional journey includes serving as Assistant General Counsel for Stearns Bank of St. Cloud, Minnesota, Vice President of Legal and Compliance for Amur Equipment Finance, Inc. and Assistant General Counsel for Credit Management Services, Inc. of Grand Island.
He is a co-founder of the HALLElujah Yount Family Fund, which raises funds for families of children with extended stays in the NICU. He was named the Extraordinary Person of Grand Island in April 2018, was a member of the Top 35 Under 35 class in 2020 and was named one of the “top under 40” emerging leaders in the equipment finance industry by the Monitor—the leading equipment finance industry publication.
To learn more about the Grand Island Regional Medical Center Foundation, contact Melanie Liebsack at melanie.liebsack@bryanhealth.org or visit the Foundation’s website at www.bryanhealth.org/givegi.
