Meet Our Columbia, MO
Concierge Nursing Team
Our at-home nursing and care navigation team are highly-skilled and experienced healthcare professionals, with years of experience working with patients and their families.
Ryan Hopper
Co-Founder and Nurse Navigator
RN, BSN, CCRN, MBA
My passion for caring for others started as a caregiver for my mother before becoming a nurse. Since then, I’ve worked as an ICU, ER, hospice and travel nurse, caring for many different patients in a variety of settings.
I started caring for patients in their homes while working as a hospice nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw the need for in-home nursing care first-hand.
I started Navigate Wellness so I could support aging adults and their families, keeping seniors in their homes longer and helping caregivers navigate the complex healthcare system.
Ryan Hopper
Co-Founder and Nurse Navigator
RN, BSN, CCRN, MBA
My passion for caring for others started as a caregiver for my mother before becoming a nurse. Since then, I’ve worked as an ICU, ER, hospice and travel nurse, caring for many different patients in a variety of settings.
I started caring for patients in their homes while working as a hospice nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw the need for in-home nursing care first-hand.
I started Navigate Wellness so I could support aging adults and their families, keeping seniors in their homes longer and helping caregivers navigate the complex healthcare system.
Janie Bailey
Co-Founder and Care Navigator
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to work with older adults. I have worked in mental health case management, low-income housing and long-term facility care coordination. In 2018 I started my own care management business to help aging adults and their families get the high-quality, personalized care they need.
After meeting Ryan while he was working as a hospice nurse, we quickly realized we had the same passion for providing heart-centered, human-forward and well-rounded care that keeps older adults in the driver’s seat.
We started Navigate Wellness to provide the highest-quality at-home nursing care in Columbia, MO.
Emma Morton
Care Navigator
I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Missouri in 2024. During my undergraduate program, I completed my internship at Navigate Wellness because I’ve always been passionate about supporting and working with the aging population.
Currently, I’m pursuing my Master’s degree in Social Work alongside a graduate certificate in Gerontological Social Work. This certification provides me with additional knowledge and resources to better serve our clients.
I’m excited to be part of the Navigate Wellness team because I’ve personally experienced the challenges family members face when trying to age at home without the proper resources.
I’m passionate about helping members of our community access the tools they need to stay happy and healthy while aging at home. Navigate Wellness has an amazing team of professionals who truly care about each client, and I’m thrilled to work alongside them.
Emma Morton
Care Navigator
I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Missouri in 2024. During my undergraduate program, I completed my internship at Navigate Wellness because I’ve always been passionate about supporting and working with the aging population.
Currently, I’m pursuing my Master’s degree in Social Work alongside a graduate certificate in Gerontological Social Work. This certification provides me with additional knowledge and resources to better serve our clients.
I’m excited to be part of the Navigate Wellness team because I’ve personally experienced the challenges family members face when trying to age at home without the proper resources.
I’m passionate about helping members of our community access the tools they need to stay happy and healthy while aging at home. Navigate Wellness has an amazing team of professionals who truly care about each client, and I’m thrilled to work alongside them.
Lacy Rios
Director of Care Navigation
I have a deep love for working with older adults that first started developing during an undergraduate internship at a skilled nursing facility. I worked at a nursing facility in long-term care coordination, short-term discharge coordination, admissions and eventually as the Interim Executive Director before working in the hospital systems in Columbia, MO.
It was during the transition from the nursing facility to the hospital system that I recognized the need for more personalized care for older adults. I am excited to be working with Navigate Wellness and play a part in providing high-quality, heart-centered care and resources for holistic care.
DJ Paet
Director of Mobility Service
I have years of experience working in health and wellness, aquatic therapy and the rehab industry. I’ve worked with patients of all ages, from individuals in youth sports and elite athletes to acute care settings and the geriatric population.
As the director of mobility services for Navigate Wellness, I am looking forward to offering mobility services to more clients, empowering them to live and move more independently.
I love working with a team that not only cares about our clients but is just as committed to helping them age at home.
DJ Paet
Director of Mobility Service
I have years of experience working in health and wellness, aquatic therapy and the rehab industry. I’ve worked with patients of all ages, from individuals in youth sports and elite athletes to acute care settings and the geriatric population.
As the director of mobility services for Navigate Wellness, I am looking forward to offering mobility services to more clients, empowering them to live and move more independently.
I love working with a team that not only cares about our clients but is just as committed to helping them age at home.
Jordan Acock
Mobility Specialist
I worked at the University of Missouri Hospital as a Care Team Associate- Clinical for the last 7 years, working alongside nurses to better the lives of others. I also worked with physical and occupational therapists to keep patients moving and mobile so they weren’t laying in bed all day. I went to school to be an occupational therapy assistant and used those skills to help patients in the hospital setting.
I am thrilled to be working at Navigate Wellness, to help the company continue to grow, and be able to work with clients on a more personal and meaningful level. I’m also very excited to work with a group of people who work as a team to accomplish goals for our clients!
Kristi Ingram
Director of Nursing
RN
I have over 25 years of experience working in healthcare. I began my career in 1999 as an LPN at University Hospital and later returned to school to earn my RN in 2014. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of roles, including skilled nursing, orthopedics, and surgical specialty care, as well as serving on the skin, wound, and ostomy team.
During my time at Columbia Regional Hospital, I worked on the skilled nursing unit until its closure and later transferred to the orthopedic unit. After graduating from RN school, I became the lead charge nurse on the ortho trauma unit, where I stayed until 2020. From 2017-2019, I also served as a clinical adjunct instructor for MACC, sharing my experience and skills with future nurses.
What excites me most about working at Navigate Wellness is the opportunity to return to patient-centered care. I’ve always valued building strong relationships with patients and helping them maintain their independence and health for as long as possible. With both my husband’s and my grandmothers still living at home at 94, I understand how important it is to respect patient wishes and support their vision for their future. I’m thrilled to be part of a team that prioritizes this level of care and connection.
Kristi Ingram
Practice Manager
RN
I have over 25 years of experience working in healthcare. I began my career in 1999 as an LPN at University Hospital and later returned to school to earn my RN in 2014. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of roles, including skilled nursing, orthopedics, and surgical specialty care, as well as serving on the skin, wound, and ostomy team.
During my time at Columbia Regional Hospital, I worked on the skilled nursing unit until its closure and later transferred to the orthopedic unit. After graduating from RN school, I became the lead charge nurse on the ortho trauma unit, where I stayed until 2020. From 2017-2019, I also served as a clinical adjunct instructor for MACC, sharing my experience and skills with future nurses.
What excites me most about working at Navigate Wellness is the opportunity to return to patient-centered care. I’ve always valued building strong relationships with patients and helping them maintain their independence and health for as long as possible. With both my husband’s and my grandmothers still living at home at 94, I understand how important it is to respect patient wishes and support their vision for their future. I’m thrilled to be part of a team that prioritizes this level of care and connection.
Cassie Beasley
Scheduler
My passion for caring for others started early. My grandmother always called me “Nurse Cassie” as a child. That childhood instinct became my calling when I became her caregiver during her declining health in her later years. Now I care for my grandfather, and I’m also a mother to two children, one of whom has special needs.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked in healthcare as a Pharmacy Technician, healthcare scheduler, home health aide, and residential support assistant. Each role taught me something different about meeting people where they are and providing care that truly supports their needs.
I’m proud to work with Navigate Wellness because of their unique, deeply personal approach to care – the kind of care I’ve always believed people deserve.
Megan Roemer
Physical Therapist
PT
I earned my physical therapy degree from Governors State University in 2012 and have built my career across outpatient, skilled nursing, home health, and pediatric settings, with an orthopedic clinical specialty.
In my latest role I served as the PTA Program Director at Central Methodist University, where I prepared the next generation of physical therapist assistants to make a meaningful impact on the people they serve. I’m also active in advocacy for patient access to physical therapy because I believe people deserve direct access to the care that helps them move, function, and live fully.
What draws me to Navigate Wellness is the home environment itself. There’s something irreplaceable about seeing a person in their own space where they actually live, move, and navigate their daily life. That’s where the real work happens. My goal is to help clients access their homes, participate in the activities that matter to them, and maintain as much independence as possible for as long as possible.
When I’m not working, I’m at home with my husband and our three daughters.
Megan Roemer
Physical Therapist
PT
I earned my physical therapy degree from Governors State University in 2012 and have built my career across outpatient, skilled nursing, home health, and pediatric settings, with an orthopedic clinical specialty.
In my latest role I served as the PTA Program Director at Central Methodist University, where I prepared the next generation of physical therapist assistants to make a meaningful impact on the people they serve. I’m also active in advocacy for patient access to physical therapy because I believe people deserve direct access to the care that helps them move, function, and live fully.
What draws me to Navigate Wellness is the home environment itself. There’s something irreplaceable about seeing a person in their own space where they actually live, move, and navigate their daily life. That’s where the real work happens. My goal is to help clients access their homes, participate in the activities that matter to them, and maintain as much independence as possible for as long as possible.
When I’m not working, I’m at home with my husband and our three daughters.
Ella Pea
Care Navigator
I am working with Navigate Wellness while pursuing my Master of Social Work at the University of Missouri. I completed a year of volunteer service with the VA as a caregiver, where I developed a strong interest in working with older adults. The more I learned about how I could support this population, the more my passion for this work grew.
Through my undergraduate practicum at Navigate Wellness, I became deeply connected to the organization’s mission of helping older adults age at home. Now, as both a former intern and current employee, I have had the privilege of building meaningful relationships with clients and their families, providing support, and connecting them with resources to help them remain at home.
What I enjoy most about working with Navigate Wellness is the personalized care I can provide to individuals and their families. It is truly a privilege to walk alongside someone through the many seasons of aging: their joys, challenges, grief, and mental and physical struggles. These relationships and experiences make my work incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful for the opportunity to support clients and their families during such meaningful seasons of their lives.
Josh Nickell
Mobility Specialist
I am originally from Southeast Nebraska and have lived in Columbia for 28 years. I spent over a decade as a clinical PTA, primarily working in skilled nursing, and am now a professor in the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Central Methodist University.
I’m excited to work with Navigate Wellness because it allows me to stay clinically relevant. I am able to discuss and teach about techniques and concepts in class, use those techniques in the field, and then come back to the classroom and discuss with my students how I use them clinically. It allows me to continue working with the geriatric population, which I absolutely love. I try to learn something new from a patient each day that I work in the home/clinical setting. I work hard to assist clients to be able to stay in their home setting for as long as they possibly are able and can do so safely.”
When I’m not working or teaching, I enjoy fishing, sports, and traveling with my wife.
Josh Nickell
Mobility Specialist
I am originally from Southeast Nebraska and have lived in Columbia for 28 years. I spent over a decade as a clinical PTA, primarily working in skilled nursing, and am now a professor in the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Central Methodist University.
I’m excited to work with Navigate Wellness because it allows me to stay clinically relevant. I am able to discuss and teach about techniques and concepts in class, use those techniques in the field, and then come back to the classroom and discuss with my students how I use them clinically. It allows me to continue working with the geriatric population, which I absolutely love. I try to learn something new from a patient each day that I work in the home/clinical setting. I work hard to assist clients to be able to stay in their home setting for as long as they possibly are able and can do so safely.”
When I’m not working or teaching, I enjoy fishing, sports, and traveling with my wife.
Lacey Perez
Nurse Navigator
I began my career as a registered nurse in 2016, working at University Hospital. There, I cared for a wide variety of patient populations and gained experience across settings including orthopedics, surgery, oncology, and the emergency department. Throughout my career, I have always had a special connection to the elderly population, as I grew up very close to my grandparents.
One of the most meaningful experiences in my life was helping care for my grandma as she lived with dementia. Eventually, despite our best efforts, we were faced with the difficult decision of transitioning her to a skilled nursing facility. It was an incredibly difficult decision, and it gave me a deeply personal understanding of how important it is for individuals to be able to receive care in a familiar environment for as long as possible.
I am especially excited to be part of the team at Navigate Wellness because I understand how meaningful this work can be, not only for clients and their families, but for me personally. The opportunity to connect with people, build meaningful relationships, and provide high-quality, compassionate care is at the heart of what being a nurse means to me. I’m grateful to be part of a team that prioritizes this and is committed to going the extra mile to support the people and families we serve.
Chandra Stewart
Nurse Navigator
I am a registered nurse with nearly two decades of experience, including nine in the hospital setting. I have worked with patients across a wide variety of medical needs and have experience providing care in patients’ homes, which has given me a better understanding of the importance of helping people remain safe, healthy, and independent in their own environment.
I’m excited to work at Navigate Wellness because I enjoy being able to spend more individualized time with patients and help them navigate their healthcare needs outside of a traditional hospital setting. I’m looking forward to using my nursing experience in a role that allows me to build meaningful relationships and make a positive difference in patients’ overall well-being.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my son, being outdoors, hiking, working out, and finding ways to stay active.
Chandra Stewart
Nurse Navigator
I am a registered nurse with nearly two decades of experience, including nine in the hospital setting. I have worked with patients across a wide variety of medical needs and have experience providing care in patients’ homes, which has given me a better understanding of the importance of helping people remain safe, healthy, and independent in their own environment.
I’m excited to work at Navigate Wellness because I enjoy being able to spend more individualized time with patients and help them navigate their healthcare needs outside of a traditional hospital setting. I’m looking forward to using my nursing experience in a role that allows me to build meaningful relationships and make a positive difference in patients’ overall well-being.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my son, being outdoors, hiking, working out, and finding ways to stay active.
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We promise to humanize healthcare.
Whether you are looking to gain a nurse in the family or find support for an aging loved one, we are here for you.