Team Bios

Donna Ware, Executive Director, BJC Planning & Design

With more than 20 years of medical planning experience designing large-scale health care projects nationally and internationally, Donna joined BJC in 2008 to lead strategic and campus planning and project programming and planning across all BJC hospitals. 

Kathy Bretsch, Communications Consultant

Kathy came to BJC HealthCare in 1997 to lead the communications and public relations for the Campus Integration Project – a five-year project to design and build the Center for Advanced Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center, North Garage, Barnes-Jewish Emergency Department and St. Louis Children’s Hospital visitor garage.

Christopher Dean, Project Management Service Director

Christopher has managed more than $500 million in construction projects in his 20-year tenure with BJC, including three projects along the Highway 40/Interstate 64 corridor – Progress West Hospital, Children’s Specialty Care Center, and the Washington University and Barnes Jewish Orthopedic Center. 

Diane Desmond, RN, BSN, BA, Activation Lead/Project Manager

With BJC since 1994, Diane has extensive experience managing clinical services and construction projects, including the outpatient operating rooms in the Center for Advanced Medicine and the perioperative services renovation project on the south inpatient operating rooms, post-anesthesia care units and sterile processing department.

Laura Haller, Design Manager

Laura joined BJC Planning and Design in 2015, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the interior design industry working with a variety of clients. As design manager, this replacement hospital project offers a unique opportunity to look at health care with a different lens, focusing on the patient experience and their movement throughout the space.

Mike Hayes, Project Manager, BJC Design and Construction 

Mike joined BJC Design and Construction in 2010, and is the construction manager for the Barnes-Jewish West County replacement hospital project, managing schedule and budget, as well as serving as the primary point of contact on site for BJC and as the liaison with the construction team.

Raema A. Howell, RN, BSN, MSHI, Activation Lead

A registered nurse with 25 years of experience, Raema joined the activation lead team in July 2015 to work on the Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital replacement project. As an activation lead/project manager, she is the liaison between the design team and the people who will eventually occupy the new facilities, including physicians, clinicians, administration and support staff.

Keith Jordan, IT Project Manager

As a project manager for the BJC technology services construction team, Keith manages information technology (IT) for new construction. He works closely with hospital staff to understand what’s required to support medical equipment and ensure the architects and engineers accommodate the IT infrastructure needed to maintain a complex health care environment.

Alexis Terry, Project Manager, BJC Clinical Assets Management

Alexis joined BJC Clinical Assets Management and the Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital project team two years ago to manage and plan for clinical equipment. In her role, she ensures the appropriate medical equipment is budgeted, planned and installed per specifications for each department, working closely with engineers and architects during the design phases of the project. 

Ramona Tumblin-Rucker, Project Manager

Ramona joined the Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital project in 2017, having worked the past four years on BJC's Campus Renewal Project. With 25+ years of experience in construction, engineering and project management. Ramona has a proven track record in successfully managing complex, multi-phase, multi-million dollar construction projects. She credits her career and success to a dedication to learning.