The People Powering Our Success
Thriving in healthcare today means partnering with trusted, service-driven experts who live their values and put people first. We are experienced, passionate and motivated to connect our clients with top talent and our candidates with the opportunities that provide them with the highest levels of professional advancement and growth the industry has to offer.
We Are:
Experienced
An average of over 20 years in healthcare.
Current
A high-touch, high-tech team.
Driven
Providing personlized service.
Available
Proud to offer dedicated support.
Insights from GQR Leadership
“At GQR, you’re surrounded by people who strive to better themselves every day and never settle for mediocrity. We are a frontrunner for innovation—a place where ideas are born and entrepreneurship thrives. There’s never a day of mental stagnation nor a shortage of opportunities to grow. I’m grateful for the deep sense of purpose and belonging that every day at GQR brings.”
Shawn Dargusch
Director and U.S. Head of Nursing
“The advancement opportunity that the company offers is unparalleled. They truly support your progression plan as well as your desired career path. GQR adapts and grows with market trends and adds new service lines every year. The past four years have flown by because every day is different, and I have gained so much knowledge. I could not be happier with this competitive yet supportive company.”
Alexis Kennedy
Associate Director
“We have a healthy disregard for the ‘impossible’ at GQR – and we always find a way to bring our vision to life. It’s motivating, exhilarating and inspiring to wake up every day to new challenges with the autonomy and expectation to challenge the status quo and make an impact. Our capacity to learn is limitless and we credit our people, shared values and special culture for a constant state of professional growth and advancement.”
Heather Jennings
Head of Sales Strategy and Operations
“I am where I am today because GQR chose me, the people respect me, believe in me, and above all, trust me. Everything we do must provide a service and a solution to others. I have had the amazing opportunity to build a world-class group of credentialing specialists and clinical team.”
Tasha Louis-Jean
Executive Vice President, Credentialing
“From the very start of my interview process, I could see that the company was exceptional. I noticed immediately that I was surrounded by the best industry talent and would be given an incredible platform and the freedom to build a sustainable and collaborative business. GQR’s agile, inventive and entrepreneurial outlook has really transformed my personal and professional life.”
Josh Redland
Executive Vice President, Business Development
Meet the GQR Team
The GQR team is comprised of dedicated, passionate professionals that put their clients and candidates first. Learn more about the people helping drive your success below!
Shawn Dargusch
Director– Head of Healthcare
Shawn is the director and head of GQR Healthcare at GQR Global Markets. Shawn has 15 years of staffing experience and 11 years in healthcare staffing at the highest levels. Shawn’s primary goal is to partner with health systems to improve clinical outcomes and serve the communities we place the best clinicians at.
Shawn has a passion for and a proven track record of scaling staffing organizations from inception and is a true builder in the staffing world. Shawn graduated from SUNY Brockport with dual degrees in sociology and criminal justice. Shawn went on to the University of Buffalo for a grad program in career development.
He resides in Jupiter Florida with his wife, 3 children, and 2 dogs. Shawn enjoys the beach, boating, and fishing with his family and escaping to the golf course at any opportunity.
Heather Jennings
Head of Sales Strategy and Operations
Heather Jennings serves as Head of Sales Strategy and Operations for GQR Healthcare and is responsible for delivering strategic planning and execution to increase efficiency, profitability and scalability within the healthcare business. Heather brings 20 years of experience in sales leadership and healthcare staffing across various functions, including recruitment operations, marketing, account management and sales.
Ms. Jennings joined GQR Global Markets in 2020 and brings a strong background of blending cutting-edge technology solutions with strategic insight to implement performance improvement and operational excellence to her role. Heather was a key leader and innovator for Onward Healthcare, which was acquired by AMN Healthcare in 2015. She has a successful track record in driving and managing high performance, high-growth teams with an entrepreneurial lens and passion for continuous improvement.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communications from James Madison University and is a certified kickboxing instructor. She resides in Connecticut with her husband, 2 children and German Shepherd / Black Lab mix rescue.
James Jeffs
Senior Vice President - Recruitment
James is an SVP within the travel nursing division and is based out of the NYC office.
He manages a team of recruitment consultants who are responsible for placing travel nurses and Allied Health Professionals with Level I and Level II Trauma rated facilities Nationwide.
James has 9 years contract/staffing recruitment experience. This experience began in the UK where he focused on Engineering/Construction professionals.
In 2019 James relocated from Manchester, England to Austin, Texas and began on his GQR journey within the healthcare sector. James is a key leader within the division, he is dedicated, accountable and maintains a positive outlook which allows him to influence those around him to be the best versions of themselves.
Tasha Louis-Jean
Executive Vice President, Credentialing
Tasha Louis-Jean leads the Credentialing and Clinical departments and oversees Joint Commission compliance
She Responsible for training and developing credentialing team. Equipping both teams to respond quickly and knowledgeably to the needs of our sales team, clinicians and clients
22 Years of Healthcare staffing experience in Nursing, Allied, and Locums
Prior to joining GQR, Tasha served in several healthcare management roles, overseeing teams as large as 25 credentialing specialists and support staff.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Florida Atlantic University
In her free time, Tasha enjoys traveling with her husband of 25 years. They have been to Paris, Florence, Venice, Rome, Madrid, British Virgin Islands and most of the Caribbean.
Alexis Kennedy
Associate Director – Division Head
Alexis Kennedy leads HealthCare's Account Management Division and Travel Allied Division out of the Austin, TX office. She is responsible for managing, developing, and scaling both the AM and TA divisions. She also assists in strategy and operation of the entire divisions focus and future goal.
Alexis has 8+ years of healthcare staffing experience in account management, permanent, PRN, travel, and rapid response healthcare recruitment. She also has over 3 years of leadership background, leading teams as large as 40.
In her free team, Alexis enjoys traveling to new places around the world with her fiancé.
Matthew Thornett
SVP
Matthew is a Senior Vice President of Permanent Healthcare, operating out of the NYC office.
Matthew has worked as a recruiter for over 14 years, beginning his career in the Engineering and Construction space and moving across to Healthcare in 2020.
Matthew specializes in Registered Nursing Recruitment in an acute care setting, assisting Trauma Level 1-3 facilities fulfill their direct hire needs Nationwide. In 2021, Matthew became a true leader of the Permanent Healthcare space at GQR and began helping the build of the Permanent division by hiring and developing some of the recruiters within his team.
In 2020, Matthew relocated from Australia to NYC and began his adventure with GQR in the Healthcare space. He has a passion to empower and influence people around him to be the best they can be, and develop those that are eager to learn and aspire to be exceptional within recruitment.
Lori Taggart
Vice President - Travel Allied
Lori Taggart is a Vice President with our Allied Healthcare Division. Lori has 15 years of recruitment and staffing experience and has specialized the past 12 years of her career in Nursing and Allied Health.
Recruiting is a passion for Ms. Taggart and she excels in coaching, mentoring, developing and helping her team achieve their goals. Lori is a compassionate leader and consistent top performer who leads by example while also focusing on how she can continuously improve her own skill set and make a larger impact. Lori has championed Paid Volunteer Time Off for GQR by helping bring awareness to charities and giving back to our internal team members.
Lori resides in New Hampshire and loves to travel with friends and family. She has been to 45 states, two US Territories, and nine countries. Lori is also a mom to two charismatic boys and a huge fan of Boston sports, especially the New England Patriots!"
Jamie Park
Executive Vice President – Business Development
Jamie is an Executive Vice President on the Business Development team, overseeing the Northeast region, operating out of Austin, TX.
Jamie’s primary role is to create long term partnerships with health systems and state agencies, supporting acute care, behavioral health, and post-acute care settings. She provides bespoke solutions and consults her clients to deliver high quality RNs, Allied Health Professionals, and Locums in quick turnaround time.
Jamie has a proven track record with 6+ years of experience in business development, building and managing client relationships, account management and recruitment.
Graduate of UC Berkeley with Bachelor’s in Economics, Jamie grew up in San Clemente, CA and currently lives in Austin, TX. She loves to ski, watch football, travel, and try new restaurants.
Lily Kholina
Senior Vice President – Account Management
Lily Kholina is a Senior Vice President within Healthcare, overseeing the West Coast region, operating out of Los Angeles.
As an Account Manager, Lily partners and supports Hospitals with their staffing needs across the Registered Nurse and Allied space. She has over 7 years of experience in the industry and a proven track record in recruiting, business development and now account management.
Lily prides herself on building long-lasting relationships with her clients, understanding their pain points and providing solutions. She is passionate and committed to supporting hospitals across the West Coast to deliver quality patient care.
Los Angeles has been home to Lily for the last 20 years, where she spends time with her family and friends. Lily loves traveling and tries to visit a new country every year, where she enjoys exploring new cultures and cuisine.
Lené Schille
Vice President - Clinical
Lené Schille, DNP, RN is the Vice President within the Clinical Credentialing team, operating out of the Austin Office.
She is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years in healthcare with recent hospital leadership experience, leading teams of healthcare providers through the complexities of bedside care while operating and developing service lines.
Lené uses her nursing leadership skills at GQR to ensure that healthcare providers are competent and confident in their abilities before placement. She also follows the clinicians in their journey as GQR travelers to ensure they succeed by providing clinical support to answer questions and navigate issues that may arise during an assignment.
Lené is a Veteran of the United States Army and holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice focusing on Executive Leadership, a Masters’ in Nursing, and a Masters’ in Organizational Development Leadership.
Lené enjoys traveling, scuba diving, working on her hobby farm with her husband, and growing a brood of animals.
Andy Tropin
Senior Vice President - Business Development
Andy Tropin is a Senior Vice President who provides significant client impact to hospitals and other healthcare facilities by offering innovative solutions and pragmatic strategies to deliver the best RNs and allied health professionals available. He and his team partner with acute, behavioral, and post-acute facilities across the Southern U.S. to provide support and holistic workforce management, encompassing both permanent and temporary healthcare staff.
Andy brings specialized expertise in recruiting, client services, and account management. He has a strong track record partnering with healthcare systems and state-operated facilities to provide the staff necessary to deliver the highest level of quality care at the scale and timeline needed.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he is based out of Austin, TX, and is originally from Miami, FL. In his free time, Andy enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife and their dog.
Josh Redland
Executive Vice President - Business Development
Josh Redland is an Executive Vice President within Healthcare, operating out of the Los Angeles office.
He works across the Healthcare market on a national basis, with a focus on supporting the nursing sector within Hospitals, Health Systems and Medical Groups.
With almost 20 years of healthcare staffing experience, he has a proven track record of supporting clients with their targeted and strategic growth plans. With a focus on mapping sectors and understanding the opportunity available, Josh has become a trusted advisor to healthcare organizations big and small.
Josh’s passion for the healthcare sector stems from his desire to drive better care and patient experience.
Originally from London, he and his family moved to Los Angeles, where they are enjoying all that the west coast has to offer. An avid soccer fan, Josh has been a season ticket holder at Tottenham Hotspur for over 20 years and has loved coaching grassroots soccer for a number of years.
Mary Anderson
Executive Vice President – Account Management
Mary is an Executive Vice President within Account Management, overseeing the Northeast region, operating remotely from Washington DC.
Mary has a proven track record with years of experience in account management, business development, recruiting and leadership in the staffing industry. Her primary focus is within the Travel RN and Allied Health sector, on account management and delivery to large health systems, rapid response and emergency contracts.
She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and a concentration in Information Systems. Mary is a Minnesota native, and has lived in London, Sydney and Los Angeles prior to recently relocating to Washington DC.
Mary is adventurous, ambitious and hardworking, as she instills some of GQR’s core values. She translates these values into her passion for working out, specifically at Barry’s Bootcamp, running marathons around the country, and snowboarding down double black diamonds in her free time.
Aaron Smith
Executive Vice President - Business Development
Aaron Smith is an Executive Vice President of Healthcare at GQR Global Markets operating out of Austin, Texas.
Aaron’ s healthcare staffing experience across physician, nursing, and allied health sectors has made him an industry leader for over 20 years. He partners with healthcare systems of all size and scope, delivering solutions nationwide. His history of successful client partnerships has made him a trusted resource for everything from growth and planning initiatives for large health systems to rapid response staffing for state agencies and hospital associations across the country.
In his free time Aaron enjoys spending time with his two children, traveling, collecting vinyl, and quoting 80’s movies, and the occasional dad joke.
Susan Fiore
Vice President, Onboarding & Contracts
Susan Fiore is a Vice President within Mission Control operating out of the Austin, TX office.
She has 10 plus years in Human Resources and specializes in Onboarding and Benefits. She manages a team of 10 and is responsible for Onboarding and our Contracts process. She works with hundreds of Clinicians and ensures the onboarding process for every employee is as seamless as possible.
She graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Business Management.
Susan enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Rachel Southworth
Senior Vice President – Account Management
Rachel Southworth is a Senior Vice President within our Account Management division responsible for servicing Healthcare clients in the Southeast region.
Rachel partners and supports Hospitals with their travel and permanent Healthcare staffing needs. She has over 10 years of experience in the Healthcare staffing industry in recruitment, sales, leadership and account management.
Rachel’s clients provide feedback that her market leading industry knowledge is a differentiator in being able to deliver a higher caliber of nurse or allied professional. Ms. Southworth truly understands what her clients are looking for and she is often referred to as the “go to” for the hard to fill Healthcare specialties and niche roles. She is highly dependable and responds quickly while also providing a personalized approach which leads to long-lasting client relationships.
Rachel is a native to Maine and has migrated south over the past 15 years living in Virginia and now currently Florida. Rachel is an accomplished ballroom dancer and enjoys cooking, kayaking, camping and spending time with her Pitbull mix Jack and her black cat Nero.
Sam Yeomans
Senior Vice President - Recruitment
Sam manages a large recruiting team focusing on placing Registered Nurses and Allied Health Professionals with Level I and Level II Trauma rated facilities Nationwide.
Sam has 11 years of experience in both Direct Hire and Contract Staffing and has consistently earned Top Performer recognition 7 years out of his 11 year career. In 2019 he made the transition from Engineering Recruiting to Healthcare Staffing and never looked back. He has a passion for serving as a top career resource for Critical Care and Surgical Services healthcare professionals and has excelled in roles as Recruiter, Account Manager, and Sales Team Leader.
In 2018 Sam relocated from Washington DC to Austin, TX for an opportunity with GQR and has been a key member of the team since the inception of the GQR Travel Nursing and Allied Travel Divisions. He currently resides in Lake Travis with his wife Catherine who is also one of GQR’s most successful Travel Nursing and Allied Health Recruiters and Team Leaders.
Get in Touch with GQR Healthcare
We are experienced and passionate healthcare staffing leaders who have worked within the largest healthcare staffing firms in the country. See how our expertise and network provide a competitive advantage in your search for work or ideal candidates.