Meet the Team
THRIVE's team brings years of experience in providing healthcare for the underserved. We also understand the interrelationship of social needs to an individuals health.
Bill Franz
President and Founder
Bill is a strategic, senior level executive with over 25 years’ experience facilitating and managing organizational improvement with a focus on strategy, operations, finance, and patient/client services. He maintains a long track record of rallying internal and external leaders around common goals and outcomes. Prior to consulting, Bill has held positions as Director of Systems and Patient Centered Transformation for a Federally Qualified Health Center, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for a large Community Foundation.
Bill is recognized for his collaborative leadership style, proactive thinking, and the ability to translate complex concepts into achievable action plans. He has proven that better health outcomes and an improved bottom line are not mutually exclusive. Having taught nonprofit governance, strategy, and finance through a nonprofit resource center, as well as serving on nonprofit boards, Bill can bring all aspects of an organization together under one cohesive strategy.
Bill resides in Salem, NY with his wife Christine. They enjoy hiking, biking and other outdoor activities. They also devote significant time to their children and grandchildren.
Beth Little-Terry
Director, Health Strategy and Governance
Beth is a multi-experienced individual who has held positions in Executive leadership roles including Chief Executive Officer for Federally Qualified Health Centers in Maryland and Alaska, various positions related to Medicaid Managed Care at both a state and private sector capacity, and Grant Reviewer for the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Beth is respected by her peers for her energetic and motivated approach to her work and any related challenges. As a competent and successful professional, she is a reliable team member and leader who understands a client’s objectives and helps define and execute the best possible solutions to meet the goals of the project. Her passion to improve the health of underserved populations has helped to improve the lives of countless individuals and families who otherwise would not have access to adequate, high-quality care.
Beth currently resides in Bokeelia, Florida with her husband where she enjoys kayaking, flower gardening and traveling.
Charlotte Briggs, Ph.D
Director, Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
Dr. Charlotte Briggs brings 25 years of experience in strategic planning and organizational change across health professions education, social services, and health insurance. She led a multi-year restructuring of curriculum and faculty roles at a large dental school, launched new programs, and managed enterprise-wide compliance initiatives for a regional payer.
She also spent 15 years as a graduate faculty member at the College of William and Mary, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Bay Path University, researching, publishing, and teaching on organizational behavior, governance, assessment, and planning. Author of a dozen peer-reviewed articles cited nearly 600 times, Charlotte is skilled in identifying critical data for assessments and proposals, and in crafting clear written and visual communications. She has applied these skills to evaluate FQHC-hospital partnerships and support proposals integrating medical education rotations into health centers. Charlotte has extensive grant expertise. She has led successful responses to diverse grants and RFPs, consulted for a national alliance of Historically Black and Hispanic-Serving business schools, and served as external evaluator for Ford Foundation and U.S. Department of Education programs.
She lives in Western Massachusetts with her wife, two cats, and a dog, and enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, and rescuing injured wildlife as a licensed rehabilitator.
Cassandra Papenfuse, MPH
Director of Compliance and Operations
Cassandra brings over 15 years of expertise in compliance, operations, and public health leadership. Cassandra’s background is perfectly aligned with THRIVE’s mission to guide clients toward operational excellence. She is a highly-skilled non-profit leader who specializes in operational efficiency, compliance, and excellence, and has been supporting health centers across the country through direct consulting support since 2023.
Her specific subject matter expertise is a tremendous asset to our team and our clients:
Compliance and Auditing: Cassandra is a proven compliance reviewer and auditor with a strong knowledge base in federal grants management and HRSA Health Center Program compliance.
Operational Leadership: She served as the Chief Operating Officer at HOPE Family Health for three years and as the Operations Director/Compliance Officer at the Tennessee Primary Care Association.
Consulting Experience: She has provided consulting services in areas including health center compliance and compliance program development, grant writing, and operational gap analysis.
Cassandra is a Michigander who currently lives north of Nashville, TN with her husband, two sons, and Bernese Mountain Dog, Waffles. In her free time she enjoys supporting local nonprofits, home renovations and DIY projects, reading, and playing board games with her family.
Andrew Jahnke
Technology & AI Solutions Expert
Andrew Jahnke is the founder and CEO of RainTech (also known as the company’s “People Person”), a Colorado-based Managed Services, Managed Security, and Compliance-as-a-Service partner serving healthcare organizations since 2001. With over 25 years of IT leadership, Andrew has built RainTech into a trusted partner for healthcare organizations and other regulated industries navigating security threats, complex infrastructure, and evolving compliance demands. He is known as much for his people philosophy as his technical expertise, leading the company under its “People, Period” ethos, pioneering a permanent 32-hour workweek, and guiding RainTech to become a 100% employee-owned organization in 2026.
Dr. Norma Milanes Roberts
Subject Matter Expert - Board Certified OB/GYN
Dr Milanes Roberts is a strategic, senior level executive with over 25 years’ experience facilitating and managing organizational improvement with a focus on strategic clinical operations, accreditation, quality, and patient services. She has an extensive record of collaborative service with internal and external leadership to improve organizational outcomes. She is ECW, NextGen, and Epic EMR certified and superuser.
Prior to consulting, she held positions as Chief Medical Officer for FQHCs and Medical Director for a major city Health Department. Dr Norma is a Board Certified practicing Obstetrician-Gynecologist.
Dr Norma is recognized for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to translate complex concepts into achievable action plans. She has a Masters Healthcare Administration, (MHA) with specialization in nonprofit organizations and holds certification in Project Management. She serves in nonprofit boards and is active in community engagements.
Anna Ferguson, MBA, BSN, RN
Subject Matter Expert- Clinical Operations and Nursing
Anna brings over 21 years of clinical nursing experience and more than a decade of executive leadership in healthcare operations, with a specialized focus on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Her career is built on a strong clinical foundation, complemented by expertise in operational transformation and organizational leadership across community health, ambulatory care, and primary care environments.
Anna has led multi-site operations through complex transitions, including HRSA compliance audits, value-based care implementation, and the redesign of clinical workflows to improve patient outcomes and staff efficiency. She is known for her hands-on leadership approach – bridging the gap between executive strategy and clinical expertise to drive sustainable improvements in quality, operational efficiency, and patient care delivery.
A forward-thinking healthcare leader, Anna has championed the adoption and optimization of health information technology platforms, including EHR conversions, digital health tools, and data-driven reporting systems. Her work in technology transformation has enhanced care coordination, streamlined operations, and positioned organizations for long-term scalability and compliance success.
Anna lives in Florida and enjoys traveling with her family, exploring museums, kayaking, and giving back to her community.
Jeremy Wilson
Director, Healthcare Finance and Compliance
With a decade of experience in executive-level financial leadership roles, Jeremy brings a diverse body of knowledge to any project. With six years of experience as CFO at a rural FQHC, Jeremy is well versed in HRSA grant writing, management (2 CFR 200 and 45 CFR 75), and compliance as well as the 340b savings program.
With an eye for efficiency and a passion for problem solving, Jeremy is committed to finding effective, value-adding solutions for compliance, financial management, internal controls, and reporting. Jeremy shows these talents best when a problem requires marrying disparate bodies of data, evaluating potential solutions, and determining the most efficient means of implementation in a mission-faithful way. Jeremy has a significant body of resources, data pools, and analysis tools that can aid any non-profit healthcare organization identify opportunities, improve their grant writing, and streamline their financial management compliance workflows.
Jeremy was born and raised in Cumberland, Maryland, where he still lives with his wife and three children.
Hanna Franz
Consultant - Policy, Research, and Community Justice
Hanna recently graduated from the City University of New York School of Law in Queens, NY, where she received a public interest legal education. During her time in law school, Hanna explored her passions, including environmental justice and civil rights, in legal contexts. During law school, Hanna interned with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Climate Defense Project, and Sanctuary for Families. In these roles, she gained various legal writing, research, and representation skills.
Before law school. Hanna graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. While attending FSU, Hanna spent two sessions as a Legislative Intern to State Representative Anna Eskamani. In her role, Hanna conducted research for bills, drafted resolutions, and assisted constituents during COVID in receiving their unemployment benefits. She also completed undergraduate research projects and an undergraduate thesis. Hanna utilizes her research skills to identify critical issues impacting communities.Hanna currently resides in Jackson Heights, New York where you can find her with friends at local coffee shops, thrifting, and advocating for positive social change.
Christine Grandjean
Business Manager
Christine fulfills the role of business manager of THRIVE. Christine also has experience as an elementary school teacher, with a Master of Arts in Reading Education from the University of South Florida.
Christine most recently taught third-grade where she worked with students of all abilities. She holds endorsements in English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and gifted education. Christine was a volunteer Coach for Girls on the Run of Southwest Florida, where she mentored girls on empowerment strategies while increasing physical activity.
Christine resides in Salem, New York with her husband Bill. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, reading, biking, and hiking.