Hastings Staff Members

Cyndee Fintel has nine years of experience in the helping profession as a Licensed Mental Health Professional and Certified Professional Counselor. She also owns and is the primary supervisor in the offices of General Counseling. She opened the first General Counseling office in Hastings on April 4, 2000, and expanded to Kearney five years later on April 4, 2005. Cyndee has a heart to help others learn to help themselves so that they can live out Nehemiah 8:10-- “It is a time to celebrate. . . This day is sacred to the Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Cyndee received her Bachelor of Science in Social Science/Education from Hastings College and earned her Master of Science Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Currently, Cyndee is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, the American Counseling Association, the Marriage and Family Counseling Association, and has specialized training in the treatment of Eating Disorders. She is also a part of the NewLife Live Network of counselors and recently completed Disaster Training for Mental Health Professionals for the American Red Cross. She has professional experience in private practice, hospital, clinical, and school counseling. Areas of special interest include Christian coaching, working with bipolar clients, oppositional defiant children, aggressive children, marriage counseling, family dynamics and spiritual wellness.

Cyndee has two grown children and lives on a farm with her husband. She enjoys reading, hiking, biking, skiing, spending time with family & friends, entertaining and traveling. She also enjoys spending time in God’s Word, helping people, living life to the fullest, living in the country and watching the sun rise and set.

Kathy Gruba is a Fully Licensed Mental Health Professional. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Education in Community Counseling, both from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Kathy worked in the office of Farmland Industries after graduating with her Bachelor’s degree. She then worked at Hastings Industries as an administrative assistant, handling personnel functions, insurance, taxes, and a host of other administrative duties. All of this laid the ground work for her desire to achieve her master’s degree. Kathy began to pursue her master’s degree, taking a few classes while working part-time at Adams County Senior Services as a social worker. She then began to drive to Kearney two nights a week, eventually completing her M.S.Ed.

Special interests for Kathy include the spiritual aspect of life and how the spiritual dynamics connect to our physical, mental and emotional centers. She is interested in Truths that are universal across all faiths and all times and on how to live an ethical life.

Kathy enjoys reading (when she has the time), watching a variety of movies, playing piano, and listening to acoustic and classical music. She volunteers her time to the Friends of the Library program in Hastings. She has served as organist at her church and feels privileged to play a pipe organ built in the 1920’s. She loves pets, and telling pet stories. She shares her home with her husband Fran, her college-aged daughter Ashley, and three cats: Salem, Jack, and Aiden. She enjoys making her home a pleasant and inviting place for friends and guests to gather.

Wayne Littrell

Wayne Littrell has over 20 year of experience in the helping professions and is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and a Certified Professional Counselor. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Jose State University, and his Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from the California State University, Hayward.

Wayne is a member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and an associate member of the American Psychological Association. He has received specialized training in Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Multisystemic Therapy. Over the years, Wayne has acquired a wide variety of experience working with adults, children, couples, and families in private practice, hospitals, and mental health centers. Wayne has also been a supervisor with Lutheran Family Services and Mid-Plains Center in Grand Island. He also teaches Developmental Psychology at the Grand Island campus of Central Community College.

Areas of special interest include working with chronic illness, oppositional defiant children, parenting, marriage counseling, and family dynamics. Wayne wants to help people to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1

Wayne enjoys reading, golf, movies, traveling, and spending time with his wife and college age son. He believes his calling is in helping people to live their lives to the fullest.

 

Deb Grasmick is an essential part of the team. Though she works behind the scenes, we value and appreciate all she does to help the office run smoothly. Deb is our Accounting Specialist. She has ten years of experience as a Behavioral Health Billing Specialist, working closely with clinicians to provide insurance and billing support. She handles data and production records along with payroll, federal, state and local tax payments. She also fields questions and troubleshoots in many ways.

While attending Nebraska Western College, Deb gave special attention to courses in Business and Accounting. She often attends Medical Billing and Coding seminars to keep informed of changes, and serves her colleagues and patients efficiently. Acting as a consultant to several Behavioral Health Clinics allows Deb to stay informed regarding insurance companies and their changing requirements.

Deb and her husband of 30 years, Brad, have three children: Nicole—27, McKinzie—24, David—13, and one granddaughter Emalee. The family attends the Evangelical Free Church, enjoying the various activities. Riding her motorcycle, gardening, playing the piano, and reading are hobbies second only to spending time with family and playing with her Granddaughter.

Barb Dedrickson is the newest member of our team. She serves as Receptionist, Bookkeeper, and Office Assistant for the Hastings Office.

She graduated with a secretarial degree from Grand Island School of Business and has also completed several computer classes through UNL Extension.

Barb has been married for 29 years to Gary Dedrickson. She has two grown daughters and a granddaughter with whom she enjoys spending as much time as possible. She is a member of the Clay Center Christian Church where she volunteers with newsletter design and Vacation Bible School. She also owns her own craft business, "Somethin' Country", and attends several craft shows each year. In her free time she enjoyes computers, gardening and painting.

Holly Roberts Holly Roberts is our Billing Specialist. She graduated from Grand Island College in 1998 with an Associates Degree in Medical Office Management. Holly has been working in the mental health billing field for the past seven years. She has been married to her husband, Scott since September 1997. They have two boys. Holly has been a foster parent for the last six years. In her spare time, Holly enjoys scrap booking, gardening, and playing with her children.