Meet Our Team
![Steve Hardin](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SteveHardin.jpg)
Steve Hardin
Chief Executive Officer
Steve has 30 years of experience in business, primarily in healthcare and staffing. He began his career at Ernst …
![Chris Palevich](/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Chris-Palevich-Square.jpg)
Chris Palevich, MBA, MSM
President
Chris has worked in sourcing or empowering students for employment for the last 16 years. He started his career with …
![Rose Mercandetti](/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/RoseMercandetti.jpg)
Roseanne Mercandetti, RN
Program Director
Roseanne has been with Premier Nursing Academy—Bradenton since November 2020. She’s a registered nurse …
![Teresa Draeger](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TeresaDraeger.jpg)
Teresa Draeger
Community Outreach Director
Teresa Draeger joined the Premier Nursing Academy team in 2019. She has over 10 years experience in digital marketing …
![Emma Hughes](/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EmmaHughes.jpg)
Emma Hughes
Social Media Coordinator
Emma Hughes became part of the Premier Nursing Academy team in 2021 as the Social Media Coordinator. She is a …
![Mike McHugh](/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mike.jpg)
Mike McHugh
Advisor
Mike is a 20-year veteran of higher education, working with both career oriented and degree-granting intuitions …
![Susan Mitchell](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/SusanMitchell.jpg)
Susan Mitchell, RN
Instructor, Bradenton
Sue began with Premier Nursing Academy – Bradenton in 2021. Before joining the team, she spent 23 years as a …
![Dahman McKinnon](/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DahmanMcKinnon.jpg)
Dahman McKinnon
Admissions Specialist, Bradenton
Dahman has been working for the Bradenton Premier Nursing Academy location since October 2020. A graduate of …
![Matthew Mercandetti](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MatthewMercandetti.jpg)
Matthew Mercandetti
Placement Specialist, Bradenton
Matthew began his career in finance, but he’s always been an educator at heart. He loves seeing students figure out …
![Dorothy Billips](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DorothyBillips.jpg)
Dorothy Billips
Instructor, Pinellas Park
Dorothy teaches because she loves sharing experiences with her students and watching their enthusiasm grow. No matter …
![Taylor Scott](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TaylorScott.jpg)
Taylor Scott
Instructor, Pinellas Park
Taylor began her career as a CNA when she was only 16! In the 20+ years since, she became an LPN and worked …
![Andrew Ludlam](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AndrewLudlam.jpg)
Andrew Ludlam
Admissions Specialist, Pinellas Park
The phrase “lifelong learner” could have Andrew’s name next to it! He has a degree in world religions, a minor in …