Your Senior Leadership Team

Andy Bertapelle

Chief Executive Officer

Andy has served in numerous positions that make him well suited to lead Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in its continuing effort to provide quality healthcare to this community.  Andy is a Navy veteran.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Baker University, a Master’s Degree in Nursing-Healthcare Systems Management from Loyola University, an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a masters in Healthcare Delivery Science from Dartmouth among other degrees and certifications.  Much of his background is in the unique challenges of healthcare delivery in rural areas.  Andy is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Medical Group Management Association, and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership.  He is also a licensed Registered Nurse.

His passion for rural health is his driving force to ensure that healthcare can be provided locally in a sustainable model that ensures the community will continue to receive their care close to home. 

Andy is also a member of the Lion’s Club, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). 

Andy enjoys spending time in the outdoors hiking, camping, and snowshoeing.  He also enjoys cooking and working as a handyman around the house. 

He and his wife Jessie have three grown daughters and three granddaughters.

Eric J. Price

Chief Financial Officer

Eric joined the senior leadership team at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in January 2023.  Eric is a Marine Corps veteran.  He has worked in various accounting roles over the past 20 years including several health care organizations.  Before completing his Master of Business Administration degree from Keller Graduate School of Management, he worked in mortgage banking, manufacturing, broadcast media, and global logistics fields as a senior accountant.  After completing his Master’s degree in 2011, Eric entered the healthcare industry as CFO at Idaho State Hospital South, an inpatient psychiatric hospital.  He went on to lead a larger and more complex inpatient psychiatric hospital system in the state of Oregon in 2015.  To diversify his experience in healthcare leadership, Eric began working in Critical Access Hospitals in 2019.

Eric grew up in a rural ranching and farming community in the Snake River Valley of Idaho.  He has a passion for delivering effective healthcare services for the communities he lives in.  Eric is familiar with the challenges and opportunities facing the healthcare industry in rural areas, having worked in rural communities in Idaho, Alaska, and Oregon before joining Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.

Eric believes that a successful healthcare entity is one which effectively blends the competing constraints of financial efficiency and clinical excellence through a collaborative effort between the business operations and clinical operations teams. He believes that the success of any healthcare system is dependent upon effectively understanding the needs of the patients and the community which it serves.

Eric is currently pursuing a Doctor of Health Administration degree at Central Michigan University.  He is a member of the United Way, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Legion.

Eric enjoys spending his time outdoors kayaking, hiking, and surfing during the summer, and enjoys snowshoeing and snowboarding during the winter.

Kent LaCroix

Chief Information and Ancillary Officer

Kent earned a BS degree in Information Technology Security and MBA in Healthcare Management from Western Governor’s University. He is board-certified in Healthcare Administration as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. At the hospital, Kent oversees the Cardiopulmonary, Informatics, IT, Laboratory, Medical Imaging, and Environmental Service Departments.

Kent currently holds several professional certifications in the areas of Health Information Technology and Management, Information Security, and Privacy.

Kent is a member of the Health Information and Management Systems Society, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Microsoft IT Advisory Board. He currently chairs the UP Healthcare Solutions IT Committee. Kent has been active in CBC for over 15 years, if a member of the Schoolcraft County Commission on Aging, the Rotary Club of Manistique, and is a member of the BPOE Elks Lodge #632.

Kent was born and raised in Manistique and lives here with his wife (Tara) and their four children (James, Julie, Livia, and Cecilia). In his free time, he enjoys woodturning, especially his penmaking.

Scott Blixt, MHA, BSN, RN

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.  Raised in the Township of Ishpeming and graduated from Westwood H.S.  Scott served in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman for 5 years active duty.  Scott lived abroad in Bahrain for 3 years.  He attended Northern Michigan University where he graduated with his BSN (RN).  He has achieved his Master’s in Healthcare Administration through Walden University.

Scott’s medical background spans over 25 years of experience.  He has worked in Military Medical Hospitals and Clinics, Hospital systems, Federally Qualified Health Clinics, and now a Critical Access Hospital setting.

Scott was trained in LEAN concepts and has participated in several process improvements.  He currently serves on the St. Francis School Board.

Scott enjoys the outdoors, where he can fish, hunt and explore.

Scott is married to Rochell and has two children (Bryce and Malia) who are very active in sports.

Sherry Arnold

Human Resources Director

Sherry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Lake Superior State University.  She also received an Associate degree in Healthcare Risk Management and Quality Review from the Michigan Hospital Association and Lansing Community College. 

Sherry has over 20 years experience in leadership and management while working in a hospital setting, including working at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.  Previously, Sherry was the Director of Quality Improvement & Risk Management at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital from 1993-2016 and has now returned as the Human Resources Director.  She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Sherry was born and raised in Manistique.  She is married to Gerald (Jason) and they have 2 children (Jacob and Katelyn).  She enjoys spending time with family and exploring/traveling.  She loves preparing for the holidays.

Marc Marcotte, MHA, MSN, RN-BC

Director of Rural Health & Specialty Clinics

Marc (Tiger) received his Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Finlandia University. After graduation he began his nursing career in Colorado at a psychiatric hospital. While working he began his pursuit to obtain his master’s degree and graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master’s in Health Care Administration and Nursing. Prior to moving to Manistique he worked as a Patient Care Director in Minneapolis, MN.

Marc is currently a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) and American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). In 2018, he completed a yearlong fellowship with the AONE Nurse Director group. He is also a certified Psychiatric Nurse through American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Marc is originally from the UP and enjoys spending time with family, four wheeling, and playing/coaching hockey. He is married to Emily and has three kids (Bauer, Cooper and Ryann).

Kim Shiner

Director of Compliance/Quality

Kimberly received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration at Central Michigan University and her LPN degree at Gogebic Community College several years later. She has years of experience in management and marketing along with serving as an AmeriCorps Volunteer where she served disadvantaged youth in education before entering the health care field.

Kimberly graduated at the top of her nursing class. She enjoys flower gardening, painting and camping.

Kimberly was elected to the Ontonagon School Board and severed as secretary. She was also a 4-H Leader, Catechist and a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps of Ontonagon.  She presently serves on the City Council for Manistique as Mayor pro tem.

Kimberly is married to John and they have two children and two grandchildren. Her husband is the high school principal and together they spend time traveling to visit family, camping and planning their retirement!!

Sara Giles

Marketing Director

Sara received her Honors Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in psychology and criminology at the University of Western in Ontario, Canada.  Sara worked as a counselor for several years before her career in business and marketing.  Prior to her role at SMH, she was the director of a wellness club in Sault Ste. Marie, ON Canada.  Her passion for holistic health and wellness sparked her interest in the health care marketing field.

Sara has years of experience planning special events and fundraisers for various organizations.  Sara serves as the Chair for the Community Staff Relations Team at SMH which allows her to plan events and create community partnerships.  Sara manages the Greeter Volunteer program at the hospital.  She presently serves as the vice-chair for St. Francis de Sales Catholic Elementary School Board.  She is responsible for coordinating the Feeding America Mobile Food Trucks in the area, the annual Community Health Fair and the Festival of Trees.

Sara resides in Manistique with her husband and son.  She is originally from Sault Ste. Marie, ON Canada and has traveled the world (Australia, Thailand, Fiji, Europe) prior to her move to the United States.  She enjoys the outdoors, adventure travel and spending time with family.

Kris Boyd

Executive Assistant

Kris received her Associate’s Degree at Bay de Noc Community College.

She has been employed at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital since November 1987. She serves in the role as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, Secretary to the Board of Trustees, and Medical Staff Credentials Clerk, for the first ten years she was also Personnel Manager.

Kris enjoys golf, volleyball, walking, camping, and spending time with her family.

Kristen is married to Addie and has one daughter and one step-son.