Name: Tracy McKelvey (she/her/hers)Job Title: MHSU Administrative Support ClerkYears of Service: 15Worksite: Outpatient Psychiatry, Penticton Mental HealthCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: Syilx Nation  Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Focus on the positives in life! Tracy McKelvey works for Interior Health as a Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) administrative support clerk in outpatient psychiatry at Penticton Regional Hospital. Born in the lower mainland of B.C., Tracy was raised in Summerland from the age of three. She describes herself as introverted, intuitive and an animal lover.

Name: Natasha NelJob Title: Accounts Receivable - Accounting AssistantYears of Service: 21Worksite: Lansdowne CentreCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: T'Kemlups  Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Try to be kind, helpful, and share knowledge.  Learning doesn't stop after school. For Natasha Nel, over 20 years with Interior Health in Accounts Receivable has added up to a rewarding career. “I like puzzles and troubleshooting, learning new tools to help me and others with our work, and learning new software as I use quite a few different ones for my work,” said Natasha, who was born in Saskatoon and spent the majority of her childhood in Burnaby.

Name: Deborah (Deb) Loney (she/her/hers)Job Title: Registered NurseYears of Service: 41 Worksite:  Hillside CentreCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Be kind – you never know what battles others are fighting.” – Deb Loney As a child, Deborah (Deb) Loney lived all over the world. The daughter of a Royal Canadian Air Force serviceman, she was born in London, Ontario, and lived in France, Belgium and Virginia. She calls Ottawa her hometown. When she was 18 years old, Deb joined her girlfriend on a bus trip to Kingston to check out the nursing program. “I got into the program. She didn’t,” recalls Deb. “I was accepted into the accelerated program during a nursing shortage, and graduated at 20 years old. That was 50 years ago.”

Name: Jennie Bui (she/her/hers)Job Title: Communication and Engagement consultant Years of Service: 2 Worksite:  Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving.” - Dr. Paul Kalanithi Originally born and raised in Haiphong City, Vietnam, Jennie Bui joined IH more than two years ago as a communications professional. Starting out as a co-op student, Jennie has continued to develop and grow her skills with the Communication and Engagement team as they tackle new and exciting changes in the industry. Learn more about Jennie, her love for food and how innovation is playing a role in communications.

Name: Catherine Turcotte (she/her/hers)Job Title: Licensed practical nurse (LPN)Years of Service: 6Worksite:  Penticton Regional HospitalCommunity:  PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Don't let anyone steal your sunshine! Take it one day at a time. Licensed practical nurse Catherine Turcotte is a positive person who has a go-with-the-flow personality. She was born in Holland, and lived in Germany for a brief time. As a child, Catherine’s military family was posted to Canada, and for most of her childhood she was raised in Edmonton, Alberta.

Name: Heather Jane Johnson (she/her/hers)Job Title: Manager, Support ServicesYears of Service: 5Worksite:  Kootenay Lake HospitalCommunity:  Nelson         Ancestral Territory:  Ktunaxa TerritoryFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “My current manager taught me this one and I often see its relevance in my everyday work: 'Less is more.” Whether she’s leading and inspiring others in her role as Support Services manager, or riding her motorcycle through the mountains of the Kootenays, Heather Jane Johnson is passionate about living life to the fullest.

Name: Barry Hengel (he/him/his)Job Title: Manager, Clinical OperationsYears of Service:  6Worksite: Westview PlaceCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” - Aristotle Barry was born and raised in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Cranbrook, B.C., home to five Stanley Cup champions – as he proudly points out. Today, Barry lives in Summerland and is also proud to be leading the clinical operations team at Westview Place long-term care. “I’m inspired by all the great people I get to work with, and the positivity they bring,” he says.

Name: Leslie Bryant (she/her/hers)Job Title: Improvement consultantYears of Service: 16Worksite:  KGH and homeCommunity:  Kelowna/Lake CountryAncestral Territory: Syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “I am a part of all that I have met.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson Meet Leslie Bryant, a dynamic and versatile individual passionate about sports, research and community engagement. Born in Edmonton and raised in rural B.C., including a farm on Secwépemc Nation territory, she now resides on a small organic farm in Lake Country, overlooking the beautiful Okanagan Lake on Syilx Nation territory. Leslie’s diverse experiences range from moonlighting as a writer for Backroad Mapbooks to running an Airbnb, proving herself to be a true jack-of-all-trades. She also has served as a ski patroller and held a role as a minor official in the NBA, highlighting her love for physical activity. Whether it’s golf, skiing, pickleball or hiking, Leslie is always active. Additionally, she actively supports her three kids’ various sports such as hockey, baseball, volleyball, basketball, and track and field. It’s no surprise that Leslie describes herself as “a sporty busy mom of three beautiful smart kids.”

Name: Cindy Cota (she/her/hers)Job Title: Accounts receivable supervisorYears of Service:  5 yearsWorksite:  LansdowneCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: T'kemlupsFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Don't sweat the small stuff! Everything happens for a reason!” Cindy Cota is dynamic, people-centric, kind, loving and, according to her friends, a true mama bear.