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Our People
Melanie Perry, bsn, rn, cnor, CSSM
FOUNDER & CHIEF NURSING OFFICER
Melanie Perry is an OR nurse with experience as a circulator, scrub, charge nurse, team lead, and manager. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and in her 20 years as a nurse has also worked in Neonatal ICU, OB/GYN, Med-Surg, Pain Management, and then finally found her true calling in the Operating Room in 2011. Melanie truly believes that education is the why behind her passion for the Operating Room.
Melanie wears many hats for First Case, just like an OR Circulator would! She is the content creator, social media manager, and also co-host of the podcast. When she's not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
Chris Blevins
BSCJ, AAS-ST, CST, CNA, FAST
PODCAST HOST
Chris is a loving mother to her four children and a Goldendoodle. She is a passionate, nationally certified surgical technologist, CST, AAS-ST with extensive operative experience. She also holds CNA and phlebotomy certifications. She has worked in various hospitals around the world, and she is currently Chair of the Surgical Technology Program at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Lindsey joyce, msn, rn, cnor
PERIOPERATIVE CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR
Lindsey went straight into the OR after graduating from nursing school in 2008. She went on to earn her BSN from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2010 and also earned her MSN in Clinical Nurse Leadership and Nursing Education in 2017. While in graduate school, Lindsey developed a perioperative nursing elective for undergrad nursing students as part of her thesis. In 2020, she put this project into practice and is currently the coordinator for the Perioperative Nursing Elective at St. Louis University. She loves bringing students into the OR and showing them our world! She is currently on the CVOR team at St. Luke's in Chesterfield, MO, and loves taking care of cardiac patients. She has also worked in the scrub and circulator roles at hospitals in St. Louis, MO, and Dallas and Houston, TX.
When she's not in the OR, Lindsey enjoys traveling around, cheering on the Cardinals and the Blues, and finding new and unique drinks.
KORDELL STRAUSS
MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Kordell Strauss is the Media Sales Representative for First Case and Power Supply. He has supported the healthcare industry for over four years as a vendor in various departments, such as the Operating room, Sterile Processing, Endoscopy, and Supply Chain. His passion is around delivering education to the frontlines and supporting healthcare. Kordell started as a “super fan” of Beyond Clean during the launch of Season 1 and his enthusiasm expanded to First Case, Power Supply, and Transmission Control as these brands were released!
Kordell resides in Central Pennsylvania and is an active member of the local HSPA chapter, KASPP.
JUSTIN POULIN
FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Justin Poulin is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Beyond Clean. He has over 20 years in the Medical/Surgical industry both as a Registered Nurse, Sales Executive and Podcast Host. He is an active supporter and participant in Regional AHRMM and IAHCSMM chapters and has presented educational programs at both the AORN and IAHCSMM annual national conferences. Justin is the host of several healthcare podcasts including the Beyond Clean Podcast which focuses on important topics, trends, and innovations in Sterile Processing. His other podcast projects include First Case (Operating Room), Power Supply (Purchasing & Supply Chain) and Transmission Control (Infection Control).
HANK BALCH
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Hank Balch is the Founder & President of Beyond Clean. He began his career in instrument reprocessing as a frontline technician in 2009, and has served as an Instrument Database Specialist, Department Manager, and System Director for various SPD departments across the country. Hank is an award winning Sterile Processing leader (2016 Healthcare Purchasing News "CS/SPD Department of the Year"), twice nominated for IAHCSMM President, founder of two state-wide IAHCSMM chapters, conference speaker, and well-known industry writer, blogger, and social media connoisseur. He has written over 150 Sterile Processing articles, with his work being published in Becker's Hospital Review, Infection Control Today, Healthcare Purchasing News, Communique, Outpatient Surgery Magazine, AAMI BI&T Journal, SteriWorld, and other publications across the globe. His passion is seeing frontline Sterile Processing professionals equipped to #FightDirty, every instrument, every time.
Paul Wafer, bs, mba, rn
HOST EMERITUS
Paul founded Alpha Consulting Group, Inc. in 2004 and has spent the last 17 years consulting in the Perioperative areas. Prior to consulting, Paul spent over 25 years in the hospital setting in leadership positions overseeing responsibility for the Perioperative service and senior leadership positions (including CNO, COO and CEO roles). Paul met his wife, Kathy, in nursing school. They have been married 41 years, have 2 daughters, and 6 grandkids.
