2025 Board of Directors Elections

I have been a steward with Howard Brown Health RN unit since its inception. I have been the HBH RN representative to the INA  Board of Directors for 4 years and Vice President for the last 2. I believe deeply in the members, mission and goals of the INA. It would be an honor to continue supporting those as Vice President.

Hi, to all the INA nurses who have invested time to vote in the election.
My name is Dennis Sparn. I have worked a DHS at Alton Mental Health and at DCFS as a nurse. I have served this past year as a RC23 board member. I have been a steward at DHS, and I am also a current steward for DCFS. In my time as a board member, I have advocated for INA membership. I advocated and voted for a maximum cap on membership dues to keep cost on nurses at reasonable level. I have also advocated for the better processing, tracking and handling of grievances. Including purchasing of software to help manage the process. I have not always agreed with everything the board has chosen but have
supported the final votes as they were decided. I have tried to work in the best interest of the nurses INA serves and do what is right for our members. If I am elected to the Vice
President position I will serve INA members to the best of my abilities. I hold 5 degrees, two in nursing. I also have a Master’s in Management & HR development. My past work
experience as a nurse includes Mental Health Nursing, Hospice, O.R. Nurse with CNOR certification, Telemetry.

Non-Nurse: General Manager of a Private security firm, I have also worked at Disney World Orlando, Disneyland Paris, and was an opening team member of Disney Cruise Line Bahamas. I believe the diversity of my life experience and education will add to my ability to serve the membership. Please vote for me if you see fit. Thanks

I have gladly served as a director for the St. Joseph’s unit for the last 5 years. This last year I have been secretary for the state board and have enjoyed the challenge of the position. I would like to continue in this role of secretary.

Mark Senesac is a Registered Nurse who has been practicing since 2014 and has served the State of Illinois since 2018. He currently works at the Illinois Veterans Home in Manteno and serves as chief steward. Mark also represents members on the RC-23 Board of Directors, where he serves on the PAC, Nominations, Organizing, and Overtime Committees. Throughout his career, Mark has been dedicated to advocating for fairness, collaboration, and accountability in the workplace while strengthening union solidarity and protecting the rights of all INA members.

UIH Local – INA Co-Chief Steward (Present), UIH Local – 2024-28 Contract Bargaining Team, UIH Local Grievance Co-Chair (2023-2025), INA Leg/Pac Treasurer (Present),
2024 INA Honorary Recognition Award. Blackbelt in Six Sigma, extensive experience in statistical analysis/process control. >20 years operations management, budgeting,
and cost analysis experience across infrastructure and project implementation in excess of $1.3B.

General secretary HBHWU Local 312, I would like to serve another term as the local director of my unit because of the experience and knowledge that I’ve gained in the past year.

Hi, I’m Tiffany Foster-Mitchell. I’m a Behavioral Health Care Coordinator at Howard Brown Health and have been a medical assistant for 13 years. I joined the Illinois Nurses Association in 2024 and was proud to help organize Howard Brown for Health Workers United Local 312.
Since then, I’ve served on the bargaining committee, stepped up as interim steward, and now I’ve been chief steward on our executive committee a little over a year. I’m honored to have received the Achievement in Local Leadership Award and the Horizon Award, and to be nominated for the Honorary Recognition Award. I care deeply about representing my coworkers, standing strong for our contract, and building a union that supports all of us. I’m excited to keep growing as a leader and to continue fighting for the best for our members.

• MSN Nurse Educator, BSN, RN2, IDVA (Dept of Veteran’s Affairs)

My name is Holly I have been a nurse for 13 years. I have been a member of INA RC-23 as a Child Welfare Nurse Specialist for DCFS since April of 2022. My entire nursing career has been spent in maternal child care.
Our home is a Union home. I have served as a member of our PAC for two years, with the last year as Chair.
Advancing our collective political agenda and building relationships with legislators has been a passion.
We work very hard to make certain INA has a seat at the table where healthcare decisions are being made.
Many of you may know me, I’m the one with hot pink hair. Last year at the Membership Meeting, I was honored to receive a Horizon Award. I would be honored to serve as a Board Member. Thank you!

I want to make sure that Madden and all of the other facilities nurses are safe, well protected and know of their rights. I would also like to be able to empower all of our nurses to take care of our patients in the ways that are going to help improve their life when they are discharged from our care. And last but not least I want to be able to make sure that all Illinois nurses will be the best at what they do and that our care stands out.

Current Union Steward RC-23 DHS Mabley Center

Currently, I serve on the Political Action Committee (PAC) and Legislative Committee of INA RC-23, where I’ve worked to amplify the voices of bedside nurses in shaping policy that impacts staffing, safety, and patient outcomes. My professional background in clinical operations, healthcare management, and case coordination gives me a unique understanding of how administrative systems function — and how they can be held accountable to the needs of both staff and patients. Always advancing collective strength, transparency, and principled leadership.
I will:

• Champion safe staffing ratios, workplace safety, and fair compensation for all members.
• Push for greater transparency and communication between union leadership and membership.
• Strengthen our bargaining power through education, solidarity, and consistent engagement.
• Continue advocating for legislative reforms that support nurses’ rights and patient care quality.

I believe in a union that listens, educates, and I will work consistently to continue building a stronger, more united INA that protects our profession and the communities we serve.

I am Tania Martinez, currently serving as an RN1 at the Ann M. Kiley Developmental Center. With over five years of supervisory experience in long-term care and a background in ICU, ER, and school nursing, I bring a deep understanding of patient care, staff leadership, and system-level challenges. As a proud member of the Illinois Nurses Association (INA), I have consistently advocated for safe staffing ratios, fair treatment of nurses, and accountability in leadership. My recent efforts include addressing systemic issues at Ann M. Kiley, such as the misuse of agency roles, lack of transparency, and discriminatory practices affecting staff morale and retention. I have submitted formal concerns to leadership with the intent to restore a supportive and respectful workplace. My objective in seeking this position is to represent the voices of nurses who feel unheard and to drive initiatives that protect our profession, our patients, and our rights. I aim to support the creation of safe work environments, increase transparency in hiring and leadership roles, and ensure INA members have access to timely communication and fair representation. I am committed, experienced, and ready to work collaboratively to bring forward meaningful change. I would be honored to serve and continue the work of elevating the nursing profession through advocacy, leadership, and integrity

I am a local representative at Elgin Mental Health Hospital

Current director RC23/INA

Robert “ Mike” Currie RNCN2
I have worked at Graham Correctional Center since 12-16-2009 and a full member of INA since 2009. If elected to the Board of Directors I would make our Union more accessible for all local members by increasing communication between staff reps and local members. I would continue to strengthen our Union by getting local members more involved in INA activities getting new employees excited about being in a Union willing to fight for their rights by holding Management accountable too the CBA.

I have been an INA member since 2011. I have seen the INA make several changes over the years. I would really like to have a chance to be a part of ant future changes in the INA. I would like to have a chance to have a say in future negotiations.

I attend meetings and attempt to keep up with any changes or issues happening in the INA.

It would give me great pleasure to represent nurses across the state.

INA member since 2000, steward and RC23 Board member for the last 8 years

There is an opportunity to serve and I am willing. It is very important for the union to have a strong strategy as Prime implements their plans for the patients, the hospital, and the nurses. My goal is also to improve communication between the union and the union members.

Register Nurse, Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, Certified Critical Care Nurse. 31 Years American
Association of Critical Care Nursing. Registered Nurse for 38 Years at St. Joseph Medical Center Joliet.

I have served my patients, fellow nurses and community on many levels such as ICU Level One PCM and bedside nurse and telemetry. Past INA President and Vice President Currently Post Anesthesia Care Nurse, Medical Response Chairman, Vice-President of the Will County Mental Health Board of Directors. PAC Chairman, Steward, Treasurer, NA Professional Practice Chair, Working Families Will County PAC.
I am driven by patient care and nursing needs. My target being all aspects of care. Allow for and facilitate and provide a positive outcome; be it the patient, nurse, provider, or family outcome that is an excellent care experience all.
My goal is to be able to care for patients utilizing methods to ensure that safe patient care is the mantra of all nurses who serve our community.

The challenges that befall us today seem insurmountable. Healthcare has taken a hit unimaginable. Loss of hospitals, services, practitioners (nurse and physician), the care providers seem an unnecessary and easily eliminated entity. As short staffing abounds as the universally accepted cure all cost cutting measures. Healthcare is in a fight for its life against those whose focus is despite the method to meet the financial bottom line over safe patient care and modalities.

My mantra and methods remain the same over my 38 years of nursing. Not only do no harm but do not close a blind, accepting eye during this climate by accepting silence though under duress by those whose actions and mandates attempt to eliminate our worth and the need for quality skills, abilities, knowledge and experience and be replaced by a subset of care services whose purpose is solely to cut cost and place our profession and patient outcome levels in jeopardy.

Current UIH local Director. Current Legislative committee chairperson. Current PAC member. I aim to continue to make INA a strong member lead organization that can push IL to be a strong example of how nurses should be helping to determine how healthcare is done in our state with the safe patient limits law and other member lead initiatives.

It has been my honor to serve on the Executive Committee at UI-HEALTH since December of 2020 as organizing chair. I have been on the state board as a director since 2023. I was on the negotiating team for the last RN contract at UI-HEALTH in 2024. I have been involved in all the consecutive Strikes at UI-HEALTH and others in the state. I was featured by the AFL-CIO for Pride Month, highlighting the work for both civil and labor rights in the United States. I want to continue to fight for the rights of the worker in the state of Illinois.