This month’s Focus Friday will feature a panel discussion on Healthcare.

The program will be held Friday, March 20th beginning promptly at 8:30 AM at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce offices, on the 2nd floor, in the Randy Marion Conference room located at 19900 W. Catawba Ave. in Cornelius. It features four representatives from Novant Health – Huntersville Medical Center:  Michael Preston Riley - President of Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, Ali Moody - Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Bikki Gautam - Vice President of Clinical Affairs for the Charlotte Region, and Dr. Brian K. Cain who serves as a Clinical Physician Executive for Novant.

The program will be emceed by 2026 Public Policy Chair Pat Jackson.

Issues to be discussed include:

• Healthcare demand in the Lake Norman region – rapid population growth and an aging population driving increased demand for care.

• Why healthcare feels harder today – workforce shortages (especially nursing), rising costs, and increasing complexity for employers and families.

• Access to care – why wait times occur and how healthcare systems are working to improve patient access across primary care, urgent care, emergency care, and inpatient services.

• What Novant Health is doing in the North Market – expanding access points, recruiting physicians and nurses, and investing in capacity and technology.

• Quality and safety – how hospitals measure performance and why these metrics matter to the community.

• Healthcare workforce trends – current nursing workforce realities and what hospitals are doing to recruit, retain, and support caregivers.

• Innovation in healthcare – practical examples of technology and AI improving outcomes, access, and efficiency.

• How the business community can partner with healthcare – supporting workforce pipelines, promoting preventive care, and improving access for employees.

This is an in-person meeting and is LIMITED to the first 35 Chamber Members who register. It will also be available via Zoom by calling Brett Hicks at 704-892-1922 or emailing Russell@lakenormanchamber.org

Focus Friday is a public policy program of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce which examines community and legislative issues from multiple perspectives. While intended for Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce members and community leaders, guests are welcome but MUST RSVP with the Chamber in advance.

The program is presented by Novant Health - Huntersville Medical Center and sponsored by Business Today and WSIC 105.9 FM. The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, with approximately 850 business members, represents the Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, and greater Lake Norman regional business community.

SPEAKERS

Michael Preston Riley - President, Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center

Mike Riley is the President of Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center. He has served in this role since July of 2015. While in this position he has facilitated incredible growth at the hospital. Bed capacity has doubled from 75 to 151 during his tenure including a 48-bed vertical expansion to accommodate the community need.

Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center has seen significant financial growth under Mike’s leadership while also receiving Leapfrog A’s in quality for several years consecutively as well as performing at or above the 75^th percentile in patient experience and at or above the 80^th percentile in team member engagement. 

Mike’s focus on safety, quality, experience, and the community have helped to make Huntersville Medical Center the hospital of choice in the Northern Mecklenburg/Lake Norman community.

Mike has been in healthcare in various capacities for over 30 years. He started his career as a certified nursing assistant and then became registered nurse and continues to be licensed as an RN. He began working at Novant Health in 1999 where he worked as a cardiac staff nurse. He quickly moved up the nursing ranks serving as a Clinical Coordinator, House Supervisor, Nurse Manager, and Director of Nursing.

Mike holds the following degrees: Master of Business Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration from Pfeiffer University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in English from North Carolina State University and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Wake Technical Community College.

Mr. Riley and his wife Wendy reside in Cornelius and have four adult children – Corrie, Julia, Jordan, and Jack. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and coaching youth teams.

Alli Moody, MSN, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC is an accomplished healthcare leader with extensive experience in clinical  and administrative nursing. As the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, she has spearheaded strategic initiatives to enhance patient care, improve quality and safety outcomes, and optimize nursing operations. Allison has a proven track record in team development, process innovation, and system-wide performance improvements.

Allison holds a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Gardner-Webb University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She is board-certified in Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC) and a Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN). Actively engaged in the healthcare community, she is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), and Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. She also serves as an elected board member for Lincoln Charter School.

With a strong passion for quality improvement, patient safety, and nursing leadership, Allison continues to drive transformational change in healthcare, ensuring high standards of excellence and innovation.

Dr. Bikki Gautam, MD, MBA, FACP is Vice President of Clinical Affairs for the Charlotte Region at Novant Health. He is a senior physician executive and board-certified internist with extensive experience in clinical leadership, patient safety, quality improvement, and operational excellence. Passionate about education, he also serves as an adjunct Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. 

Dr. Gautam has led system-wide initiatives to improve hospital performance, reduce variation in care, and strengthen physician engagement across multiple facilities. He is also deeply committed to teaching, mentorship, and advancing high-quality, patient-centered care.

Dr. Brian K. Cain serves as a Clinical Physician Executive at Novant Health and is a practicing physician dual trained in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. With a strong foundation in both adult and pediatric medicine, he brings a comprehensive clinical perspective to his leadership, allowing him to understand and address the complex needs of patients, providers, and care teams across the healthcare communities.

In his executive role, Dr. Cain focuses on advancing clinical operations, strengthening provider engagement, and developing sustainable systems that support the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care. He works closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, and operational leaders to align clinical excellence with efficient, well-supported care delivery models. His leadership emphasizes thoughtful collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement to enhance both patient outcomes and the care team experience.

Dr. Cain is widely recognized for his collaborative, relationship-driven leadership style and his ability to bring diverse teams together around shared goals. He is passionate about improving workflow efficiency, reducing barriers that impact clinicians, and implementing strategies that enhance both the provider and patient experience. By prioritizing communication, trust, and partnership, he helps cultivate a culture where innovation and teamwork thrive.

Above all, Dr. Cain is committed to building environments where clinicians feel supported, valued, and empowered to practice at the highest level of their training. His work reflects a deep dedication to strengthening healthcare systems, advancing clinical excellence, and ensuring patients receive compassionate, high-quality care.