Livingston HealthCare’s Leadership Team

Meet the Leaders of Our Day-to-Day Operations

Livingston HealthCare is managed by a team of highly-trained, experienced professionals. These leaders answer to a board of directors populated by community members. Check out their profiles below to get to know more about who they are and what they do. The managers and board of directors work together to set the strategic objectives of Livingston HealthCare and help keep the organization focused on its mission to serve through quality healthcare.

Bren Lowe, Chief Executive Officer

Bren Lowe has been the Chief Executive Office of Livingston HealthCare since 2012. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the only national recognized certification for healthcare administration. In addition, Mr. Lowe has served on the Board of the Montana Hospital Association (MHA) since 2013, serving as a regional representative and Chair of the association’s Education Committee. In 2015, Mr. Lowe was named to the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Committee on Performance Improvement, an advisory committee to provide guidance to the association’s strategy to support performance improvement across the nation’s hospitals. In 2011, he completed a rural health policy fellowship with the National Rural Health Association. In 2015, he was a recipient of the Bozeman Chronicle’s Business Journal 20 under 40 award.

Mr. Lowe graduated from the University of Utah with bachelor's degrees in German and International Studies. He went on to the University of Iowa to study Healthcare Administration and earned his Masters of Public Health and Masters of Health Administration. Prior to Livingston HealthCare, he was CEO of Pioneer Medical Center in Big Timber, Montana. Mr. Lowe has worked in administrative healthcare positions in Utah, Washington, and Iowa.

Scott Coleman, MD, Medical Director

Scott Coleman, MD, is a Board Certified Family Medicine physician who practices family medicine and obstetrics at Livingston HealthCare. He was selected to fill the role of Medical Director for Livingston HealthCare in October, 2013, at which time he joined the Livingston HealthCare Board of Directors. Dr. Coleman received a degree in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee, followed by his MD from the University of South Dakota. After the completion of his MD, Dr. Coleman served as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy for six years receiving the Navy Achievement Medal for Outstanding Performance as a Resident. In 2005, he moved to Park County to be closer to family. Dr. Coleman is presently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Corp of the Montana Air National Guard.

Kathy Blair, Ancillary Services Director

As Ancillary Services Director, Kathy Blair oversees the Imaging, Cardiopulmonary Services, Food and Nutrition Services, Home Health and Hospice, and Laboratory Departments at Livingston HealthCare.

"I have always been drawn to the small community hospital. Being able to take care of family, friends, and neighbors helps a person to see the real impact of their work and brings a level of commitment that is not always found in larger organizations. My personal goal is to provide the level of care to each person we see that I would want for my own family."

Kathy's love of science and curiosity about disease lead her into the medical technology field. In 1985, she came to Livingston HealthCare and began working in the laboratory, and took the role of laboratory manager in 2002. In 2005 she also became compliance officer for the organization. The role of privacy officer followed in 2008. She is currently a member of the HealthCare Compliance Association and has maintained her license and skills in laboratory medicine.

Ryan Speas, Finance Director

As Finance Director, Ryan Speas is responsible for Financial Reporting, Patient Financial Services, Registration, Medical Records, Transcription, and Supply Chain functions at Livingston Healthcare.

Ryan was raised in a small town in Southeastern Idaho called Basalt. “I believe that access to quality health care is extremely important in today’s complicated healthcare environment and that it is essential that small community hospitals continue to provide this essential care”. Ryan believes that his small town heritage will fit in well at Livingston Healthcare and his twenty years’ experience in healthcare finance will be a strong benefit to the residents of Park County.

Ryan’s financial expertise and his interest in community health care have allowed him to make a lasting difference in healthcare institutions across the country. He has most recently served as Assistant Vice President of Fiscal Services at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, NY, after working in healthcare facilities in Idaho and Utah.

Deb Anczak, Performance Improvement Director

As Performance Improvement Director, Deb is responsible for managing and coordinating efforts to improve organization-wide performance and quality.

Deb has been a pharmacist for 25 years and in administrative roles for the past 13 years. “It has always been my passion to turn opportunities for improvement into positive challenges. Plus, it’s exciting to be part of the changes in healthcare and at Livingston HealthCare. I feel like I have a lot that I can contribute,” she said.

She has served as Pharmacy Manager at Livingston HealthCare since 2011 and will continue to serve in that capacity in addition to her new responsibilities. Prior to her time in Livingston she was Director of Pharmacy at Billings Clinic, and has also served in pharmacy and administrative roles at healthcare institutions in Wisconsin and Idaho.

Vicki Axtell, Human Resources Director

Vicki Axtell became Director of Human Resources at Livingston HealthCare in the summer of 2015. As Human Resources Director, Vicki leads LHC’s talent acquisition, organizational development, benefits administration, employee health, and human resources information system initiatives.

Vicki is an accomplished transformational leader with more than 15 years of human resources experience. She has led initiatives that have successfully improved employee satisfaction, organizational development, retention, and staff engagement. Vicki has provided Human Resources services to tourism, retail, city municipality, and health care agencies.

Vicki came to Livingston from the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont. Prior to that Vicki was the Director of Human Resources at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns in Montpelier, Vermont and Director of Human Resources at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.

Vicki earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts.

David Noble, Director of Nursing

Born in South Dakota, David has 25 years of nursing experience in peri-operative, medical/surgical, critical care, and pediatric practice, as well as a Master of Science in Leadership in Health Care Systems with a Nursing Leadership Focus. He assumed the Interim Director of Nursing role at Livingston HealthCare in April 2016 and accepted the position permanently in April 2017. His comprehensive knowledge of nursing leadership models, healthcare systems, and programmatic implementation make him the ideal leader for Livingston HealthCare's nursing team. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, Africa, David also volunteered with the National Park Service at Rocky Mountain National Park, where he met his now wife. His previous experience includes working as Director of Nursing at Pueblo Community College, Executive Director of West Custer County Hospital District and Director of Professional Resources at St. Mary Corwin Medical Center, all in Colorado.