We appreciate your support and are proud to serve our community. Periodically, we remind residents of opportunities to serve their community by volunteering at SMH. We can use your time, talents, expertise, and interests in a variety of ways, including:
- A trustee position
- A committee assignment
- Grant writer
- Fundraiser
- Volunteer greeter
- Healing garden group member
- Emergency preparedness corps member
If you are interested in these opportunities, we encourage you to call us at (906) 341-3200. For further involvement, we invite you to explore joining our Board of Trustees.
Learn more about our current Board of Trustees members below.
Peter J. Hood, Chair
Peter was born and raised in Manistique and has retained a connection to the area throughout his life. He and his wife moved back to Manistique in 2016.
During his years in the insurance industry, Peter served in various capacities, including Claim Manager, Catastrophe Management and Planning, Corporate Planning, and Coordinating Executive Compensation and Claim Vice President. He has frequently presented at insurance industry and bar association conferences on insurance-related matters. Peter has also served on numerous insurance industry and charitable organization boards prior to joining the board at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.
Howard Parmentier, Vice-Chair
Appointed to the Board of Trustees in June 2021, Howard’s term expires at the end of 2028.
Howard is the Superintendent of Manistique Area Schools. Prior to coming to Manistique, his professional experience consisted of working in several Michigan school districts, including Chassell Township Schools as a Superintendent and Principal, Hancock Public Schools as an Elementary Principal, and Flint Community Schools and Detroit Public Schools as a teacher.
Howard is involved in the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, where he supports children with diabetes. He was also the director of Camp Midicha, a residential camp for children with diabetes organized through the American Diabetes Association, from 2008 to 2014. After stepping down as Camp Director, he continues to volunteer each summer.
Howard’s vision for Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is very simple: he would like to see growth in areas of service that will benefit our community.
Dustin Denkins, Treasurer
Dustin Denkins was appointed to the Board of Trustees in January 2025, and his term expires at the end of 2030.
Raised in Schoolcraft County, Dustin has traveled extensively and brings a broad perspective to his role on the Board of Trustees. He holds a master’s of business administration from Michigan Technological University and a bachelor of science in management of information systems.
A technology leader, entrepreneur, and cybersecurity expert, Dustin has deep expertise in artificial intelligence and automation. As an Artificial Intelligence Architect at IBM, he drives AI adoption and innovation for U.S. financial institutions, drawing on years of experience building secure, effective solutions across industries, including healthcare and finance.
Committed to community impact, Dustin serves on the Quality and Public Relations Committees, helping advance patient care standards, safety, and outreach initiatives that address the unique needs of rural Upper Michigan. His strategic governance, innovative mindset, and collaborative approach strengthen Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital’s mission to deliver exceptional, accessible healthcare to all.
Cindy Olli, Secretary
Cindy Olli was appointed to the Board of Trustees in June 2020, and her term expires at the end of 2026. She retired from Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) in 2018 after 38 years of service. During her time with SMH, she held various nursing positions, including Chief Nursing Officer from 2008 to 2018.
Cindy’s education includes a master of science in nursing – leadership and management from Western Governors University, a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, an associate’s degree in nursing from Bay College, and a License Practical Nursing (LPN) degree from Northern Michigan University. She also holds a board certification as a Nurse Executive.
As an employee of SMH, Cindy was involved in many different committees and projects. She currently volunteers as an SMH Greeter and is a Congregation Council member of the Zion Lutheran Church. Cindy was born and raised in Manistique and lives here with her husband, Randy.
Dennis A. Wiethoff (Wheaty) BS/MA
Dennis was appointed to the Board of Trustees in August 2022, and his term expires at the end of 2028.
Dennis was born in Detroit and moved to Marquette in 1969 to attend NMU. Upon graduating, he stayed and worked in the Upper Peninsula for 30 years. He moved to Florida to assist with aging parents in 2000, and returned to the Upper Peninsula when he purchased a home on Indian Lake in 2015.
A graduate of Northern Michigan University, Dennis received his bachelor of science degree in communications and business administration. He also received a master's degree in public administration.
His career included several professional administration positions, including:
- Director of Finance and Administration for the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation (UPHEC), a remote campus of Michigan State College of Human Medicine
- Director of Administration for Butch, Quinn, Rosemurgy Law Firm
- Director of Health and Human Services or Hannahville Indian Community
- Owner/Operator of Superior Physicians Association, an Emergency Room Physician staffing company serving rural Upper Peninsula hospitals
Dennis served as President of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, Founding Member of the Delta County EDC, President and Board Member of Group Teaching Homes of Boys Town, and Selected Tribal Health Director of the Year for the Bemidji 5-state area.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his partner, Carolyn Peterson, and their two dogs. He has three children and five granddaughters who live in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin. Dennis also enjoys outdoor activities and is an avid outdoor photographer.
Mark Cardamone-Rayner, MD
Dr. Mark Cardamone-Rayner was appointed to the Board of Trustees in April 2022, and his term expires at the end of 2026.
Mark Cardamone-Rayner, MD, FACS, joined SMH as an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialist). He attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Minnesota. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.
In his spare time, Dr. Cardamone-Rayner loves to tour on his Harley Davidson with his wife, Amy. He has recently learned to fly and now has his private pilot's license. He also enjoys upland bird hunting and recreational shooting.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Cardome-Ryaner was a certified executive chef and restaurant owner. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, gardening, camping, canoeing, and exploring new areas. To top it off, he plays piano daily. Dr. Cardamone-Rayner chose Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in search of a more intimate medical experience with a small community where he could establish relationships and contribute to the growth of a medical practice.
Samantha Hedberg
Samantha Hedberg was appointed to the Board of Trustees in January 2025, and her term expires at the end of 2030.
Kristi Kusnier, MD
Board Certified in Family Medicine
Dr. Kristi Kusnier was appointed to the Board of Trustees in August 2022, and her term expires at the end of 2030.
Dr. Kristi Kusnier graduated with a bachelor of arts from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a double major in English literature and biology. She earned her medical degree from Wayne State University and completed her postgraduate training in the Upper Peninsula at the Marquette General Family Medicine Residency Program in Marquette. She is currently board certified in family medicine.
In addition to her busy patient practice, Dr. Kusnier currently serves as Medical Director of the Schoolcraft Memorial Rural Health Clinic. She has received additional certification in wound care and serves as a collaborative physician for our wound care team. She is also the medical director for SMH’s HomeCare & Hospice.
Dr. Kusnier has been a Schoolcraft County resident since 2007. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Louis, and two children. She is also an avid traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures and cuisines. In her free time, Dr. Kusiner enjoys reading, cooking, and gardening. She loves the arts, and her current hobbies include watercolor painting and stained-glass mosaic. She also enjoys kayaking, snowshoeing, walking on the beach, and soaking in all the beauty of our local area.
