Chapter Advisory Board

Brenda Stevens, COC, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC,
CPC-I, CMC, CMIS, CMOM
Salisbury Maryland Chapter

Brenda Stevens has more than 20 years of experience working as a coding compliance auditor. Stevens uses her medical coding skills to review billing, coding, and documentation practices to ensure compliance and reimbursement success. She has a passion for teaching and uses her communication skills and knowledge to educate students on accurate and ethical coding for a successful career in medical coding, billing, auditing, and compliance. Stevens is the current Chair of the AAPCCA Board of Directors, an instructor for the AAPC Virtual Led Training program, and serves as a mentor through AAPC’s Mentorship Program.

Denise Garrett, COC, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, CPPM, CSFAC
Bay City Michigan Chapter

Denise Garrett has been in the healthcare field just over 24 years and is currently serving as the 2023 vice president for the MBS chapter in Michigan. Garrett works as a billing manager for Yeo & Yeo Medical Billing and Consulting where she focuses on denial management, revenue cycle, coding, auditing, and client support services. Garrett proudly serves as the Executive Board Secretary/Treasurer for AAPCCA!

Nicole Snyder, COC, CPC Approved-Instructor
Evansville Indiana Chapter

Nicole Snyder has 28 years of experience in revenue cycle, coding, compliance, and education. In the 20 years Nicole has been a member of AAPC, she has volunteered in officer roles 11 times. Snyder has enjoyed sharing her knowledge by mentoring coders, and educating providers. Snyder is a member of the Evansville Indiana Chapter and has also served as president, vice president, education officer, and secretary.

Dara Hill, CPC
Albany New York Chapter

Dara Hill has been in the healthcare field for more than 21 years and has held several local chapter officer positions (President, Vice President, New Member Development, and Secretary) for the Albany New York Local Chapter. Hill is excited to continue her second year on the AAPCCA Board of Directors. 

Kathy Parkhurst, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I
Buffalo New York Chapter

Kathy Parkhurst has worked in healthcare for more than 27 years. She is the billing and coding manager as well as the compliance officer for a small vascular surgery practice. Her passions are coding, compliance, and education. Parkhurst has served her local chapter in various officer positions over the past 10 years. She enjoys connecting with chapter members and serves as a mentor through AAPC’s Mentorship Program.

Leticia Cohens, CPC, CPC-I, AAPC Approved Instructor
Jacksonville Florida Chapter

Leticia Cohens began her career in 2010 as a medical coder and loved it from the start. Cohens’ first venture was an education officer, and she now serves as president. Her passion is helping others succeed in this industry and being a resource to others.

Susan Suwinski, CPC, CDEI, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CGSC, CHONC
Toledo Ohio Chapter

Susan Suwinski has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 20 years. Her experience includes 10 years of managed care contracting analysis for hospitals, physicians, ancillary providers, and payers. Suwinski has also worked in risk adjustment coding and hospital billing. Currently, she is a radiation oncology coder for a physician practice.

Beverley Stover, CPC
Roanoke Virginia Chapter

Beverly Stover has been a hospitalist coder at Carilion Clinic since 2018. Stover enjoys helping others, which led her to pursue a career in coding, and it has helped her grow as both a person and a coder. Being a board member will allow Stover to help new coders grow as she has.

Beverly Johnson, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, AAPC Approved Instructor
Dickson Tennessee Chapter

Beverly Johnson has 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry ranging from medical transcription, coding, auditing, compliance, and provider/coder education. Johnson is currently the compliance auditor for West Tennessee Healthcare in Jackson, Tennessee, and is the vice president of her local chapter. She is also a teaching assistant for the AAPC Virtual Instructor Led Training program and loves helping students achieve their goals.

Chanel Davenport, CPC, CPCO
Marietta Georgia Chapter

Chanel Davenport is a highly accomplished healthcare professional with 25 years of healthcare experience. Davenport has worked in the full revenue cycle process, from patient scheduling, payment posting, coding, compliance, auditing, and physician revenue. She has worked with providers in small and large practices, health insurance companies, and an academic medical center. Davenport is actively involved in her local chapter and has held offices of vice president and president. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with a concentration in Mental Health, and is currently a chargemaster analyst for a major hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carmen Chaisson, CPC, CPC-I, CMBS-I, CRC, COC, CPB, CBCS
Houston Texas Chapter

Carmen Chaisson is a AAPC Licensed PMCC Approved Instructor in medical billing and coding. She has a long history with AAPC and served as the vice president and member development officer of the Houston Texas Chapter. Chaisson has more than 27 years of management experience within the revenue cycle.

Rhonda McCaskill, CPC, COC, MCS-P 
Horn Lake Mississippi Chapter

Rhonda McCaskill has been in the healthcare industry for more than 30 years. She began her career as a lab assistant/phlebotomist in a pathology laboratory that later opened opportunities to learn all aspects of the revenue cycle. McCaskill has worked in several different specialties in billing, coding, auditing, and compliance including outpatient hospital. With her experience and certifications, she started her own billing and coding company in which she mainly does consulting. She served in the Memphis, Tennessee local chapter in 2012-14 as member development officer and found her passion being a mentor to newly certified coders and connected with members who had a desire to grow in their field of expertise. Among McCaskill’s greatest accomplishments was founding the Horn Lake Mississippi Chapter in 2017, where she served as vice president and assisted with the education officer duties in 2020; she currently serves as president.

Debbie Deprest, CPC, CPC-P, CPB, CPC-I
Rockford Illinois Chapter

Debbie Deprest has more than 30 years of experience managing medical offices and 15 years educating others about medical billing and coding. Venues include Ambulatory Surgery Center, Commercial Insurance Carriers, private solo practices, and education institutions. Deprest is passionate about teaching students to help them obtain a certification and find the job of their dreams. She currently teaches at Cambridge Health in Delray, Florida. 

Yvonne Ellison, MSN, RN, CPC
Provo Utah Chapter

Yvonne Ellison works as a nurse investigator for the State of Utah Office of Inspector General Audit Team reviewing Utah Medicaid, claims for fraud, waste, and abuse. Before working for the state, Ellison was a hospitalist coordinator at Intermountain Health. She recently graduated from Western Governors University with a master's in nursing education. Ellison is passionate about teaching because knowledge and education open and prepare individuals for future opportunities. She has thoroughly enjoyed connecting with fellow AACP members as the Provo Utah Chapter President.

Julia Mitchell, MHA, COC, CPC, CDEO, CRC
Hilo Hawaii Island Chapter

Julia Mitchell has 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has worked in provider practices, hospitals, and health plans. Mitchell owns a medical billing company and is currently employed by a managed care organization, as a project manager overseeing HEDIS, risk adjustment initiatives.

Marti Johnson, Director Local Chapters
AAPC National Office

Marti Johnson and her team are responsible for making AAPC’s 400+ local chapters a place where members can hone their expertise and grow their careers. She believes in empowering chapter officers to be capable leaders. A successful chapter has officers who are there for their members and boldly look for solutions to the unique problems the chapter and members face. Johnson believes the future promises many new and vibrant local chapters.