Our Staff at BrightStar Care® Peoria

Chris holds a Ph. D. from Arizona State University in Justice Studies and he also holds a Law Degree. He is deeply committed to the study of justice and has a passion for creating a just society for all. Chris came to BrightStar Care after a very successful career in higher education teaching and administration. His journey to Health Care is primarily predicted upon his desire to create a service to families deeply committed to excellence at every level with great attention to the details.

Julie brings to BrightStar Care a career deeply grounded in serving the needs of others. She holds a Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University and is a native of Central Illinois. Julie has worked extensively with families and has an unyielding commitment to serving others. She has 20 plus years of experience in case management along with individual and family counseling.

Jennifer Danes, BSN, RN, serves as the Director of Nursing at BrightStar Care, bringing over three decades of nursing experience to the team. Starting her career as a nurse aide in high school, she earned her nursing degree from Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, and later completed her BSN at Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2017. Jennifer is passionate about quality improvement and patient safety, with extensive expertise in Emergency Care, Intensive Care, Surgery, Education, and Quality Assurance. She is driven by her commitment to enhancing patient care, and her strengths in communication, adaptability, and respect help guide her team to deliver compassionate and excellent care.

Justin Thousand is the Branch Manager at BrightStar Care in Peoria, where he leverages his diverse nursing background to ensure exceptional care for patients. With a BSN and currently pursuing his MSN, Justin has spent five years as a floor nurse in a hospital setting and three years in long-term care, where he served as the Director of Staff Development and Infection Preventionist. Passionate about patient-centered care, Justin believes that patients often achieve better outcomes when they can receive care at home. Born and raised in the Peoria area, Justin feels a strong connection to his community. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and playing guitar and banjo. His dedication to helping others and his ability to step into any role needed ensures that the needs of BrightStar Care's patients are always met.