April Hansen: Nurse, Entrepreneur, CEO, and International Speaker Transforming Healthcare and Business Leadership
In the fast-paced world of healthcare staffing and workforce transformation, April Hansen has emerged as one of the most influential voices. With a professional journey that blends clinical expertise, entrepreneurial grit, and executive leadership, she has not only built a career but also reshaped industries. Known as a nurse turned hyper-growth business leader, keynote speaker, and CEO of Barton Associates Inc., Hansen’s story is one of innovation, resilience, and people-centered growth. From co-founding startups to steering billion-dollar expansions, her career reflects a passion for healthcare and a mission to inspire leaders around the world.
Early Career and Nursing Foundation
April Hansen’s career began in nursing, where she developed a deep respect for the voices and experiences of clinicians. After completing her Associate of Arts and Sciences in Nursing at Bay de Noc Community College in 2003, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, graduating in 2005. Her education instilled in her the dual values of clinical excellence and service. She later earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in 2013, further sharpening her leadership skills.
These early years as a registered nurse gave Hansen the empathy and firsthand understanding that would later define her leadership style in the staffing and healthcare technology industries.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: OrendX and Clinical Optimizer
Hansen’s entrepreneurial drive led her to co-found Clinical Optimizer in 2012, a mobile-enabled technology platform designed to streamline clinical placements for nursing and allied schools. The platform achieved notable success and was acquired in 2016, marking Hansen’s first major entrepreneurial exit.
In 2016, she also founded OrendX, a mobile platform focused on nursing engagement and retention. The venture reflected her dedication to addressing systemic challenges within healthcare by building technology-driven solutions to support both clinicians and organizations.
Expanding Influence at AMN Healthcare and CastleBranch
Before her groundbreaking work at Aya Healthcare, Hansen spent nearly seven years with AMN Healthcare, where she held leadership roles including Senior Director of Clinical Services and Vice President of Business Development. She was recognized with the VIP in Innovation Award in 2014 for her contributions to developing forward-thinking solutions within the organization.
She later served as Clinical Director at CastleBranch, a leader in healthcare compliance solutions, where she worked with educational institutions and emerging tech incubators like TekMountain to advance innovation in healthcare education and workforce management.
April Hansen at Aya Healthcare
One of the most defining chapters of Hansen’s career came when she joined Aya Healthcare in 2017 as Group President of Workforce Solutions. Over nearly eight years, Hansen steered Aya through one of the most transformative periods in its history.
- Revenue Growth: Under her leadership, Aya experienced a 27-fold increase in revenue, scaling to over $11 billion annually by 2022.
- Clinician Reach: She expanded Aya’s reach to serve more than 45,000 clinicians across the United States.
- Innovation: Hansen pioneered the Aya Scholars Program, the first clinical ladder and recognition model for travel nurses, setting a new industry standard for professional development.
- Research and Advocacy: During the pandemic, Hansen co-led Mind the Gap: Repairing the USUS Healthcare Workforce, an unprecedented qualitative research project that amplified the voices of frontline nurses.
Her role at Aya cemented her reputation as a visionary leader who could scale organizations while keeping the humanity of clinicians at the center of strategy.
Transition: April Hansen Leaving Aya
In January 2025, April Hansen made headlines when she announced her departure from Aya Healthcare. After years of groundbreaking contributions, she transitioned to take on a new challenge as CEO of Barton Associates Inc. Her move was seen as a natural evolution for a leader eager to reinvent and grow organizations at scale.
CEO of Barton Associates Inc.
Today, Hansen serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Barton Associates Inc., one of the largest healthcare staffing firms in the country. At Barton, she is leading the organization through a period of strategic reinvention and purpose-driven growth. Her leadership philosophy combines operational excellence with human-centered innovation, ensuring that workforce transformation not only improves outcomes but also respects the clinicians behind the work.
As CEO, Hansen brings her deep experience in hyper-growth strategy and her unwavering advocacy for clinician voices to Barton, positioning the company to expand its impact in the healthcare staffing industry.
April Hansen as an International Speaker
Beyond her executive responsibilities, Hansen has built a thriving career as an international keynote speaker. Represented by Gotham Artists, she speaks on hyper-growth leadership, workforce dynamics, peak performance, and human-centered innovation.
Her keynote framework, the Growth Game Plan™, has inspired audiences across more than 20 US states. Through engaging and customized presentations, she helps leaders and organizations rethink their approach to growth, workforce engagement, and resilience in times of disruption.
Her speaking style is known for being interactive, thought-provoking, and deeply authentic, leaving lasting impressions on audiences from corporate boardrooms to large conferences.
April Hansen Speaking Fee
According to leading speaker bureaus, Hansen’s speaking fee typically ranges from $10,000 to $20,000 per engagement, with some agencies listing her under $25,000. This range applies to both in-person and virtual events. Considering her expertise, experience, and impact, her fee reflects her position as one of the foremost voices in healthcare leadership and workforce transformation.
Honors and Awards
April Hansen’s achievements have earned her widespread recognition. Some of her most notable honors include:
- Global Power 150 – Women in Staffing (2020, 2021) by Staffing Industry Analysts
- Staffing Industry Analysts Top 100 North America multiple times
- 40 Under 40 Award by Staffing Industry Analysts (2019)
- Wisconsin Nurse Leader of the Year (2019)
- Becker’s List of Rising Healthcare Stars (2018)
- VIP in Innovation Award at AMN Healthcare (2014)
These awards highlight her leadership, innovation, and lasting impact in both the healthcare and staffing industries.
Education
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Grand Canyon University, 2013
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, 2005
- Associate Degree in Nursing (AAS) – Bay de Noc Community College, 2003
Her educational background reflects her lifelong commitment to professional development and advancing the nursing profession.
April Hansen’s Leadership Philosophy
At the core of Hansen’s leadership is the belief that innovation should honor both outcomes and humanity. She consistently emphasizes the need for organizations to balance operational growth with empathy, creating cultures where clinicians and employees alike feel valued and empowered.
Her story, from a nurse in Wisconsin to a national executive and international speaker, underscores the importance of resilience, vision, and purpose-driven leadership.
Conclusion
April Hansen exemplifies the modern healthcare leader: entrepreneurial, visionary, and deeply human. From founding startups and innovating clinical recognition programs to driving hyper-growth at Aya Healthcare and now leading Barton Associates as CEO, her career demonstrates the power of combining strategy with compassion. As a keynote speaker, she continues to inspire leaders to embrace growth mindsets, honor their people, and transform their industries.
With a career decorated by awards, driven by education, and fueled by advocacy, April Hansen is not just a leader but a force reshaping healthcare staffing and leadership development worldwide.
