BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 13, 2026--
Cross Country Healthcare, a technology-driven healthcare workforce solutions company, today announced that Chief Operating Officer Amiee Hawkins has been named to Staffing Industry Analysts' (SIA) 2026 Global Power 150 Women in Staffing list, recognizing women whose leadership and influence are shaping the global staffing industry.
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The recognition reflects the significant expansion of Hawkins' leadership at Cross Country. Promoted to Chief Operating Officer in March 2026 following more than a decade of leadership across nurse and allied staffing, enterprise operations and workforce solutions, she now leads the company's enterprise strategy across sales, MSP, VMS and whole house workforce programs while overseeing its global operating model.
Hawkins has also championed the use of automation across Cross Country's operations, including within its India center of excellence, creating more scalable, technology-enabled ways of working that strengthen execution and better support clients and healthcare professionals.
“Amiee brings a rare blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and innovative thinking all anchored by a deep understanding of the business and its evolving needs,” said Joel Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country. “Whether she is streamlining how we operate or aligning teams across the enterprise, her focus is always on making the business stronger. This recognition is well deserved.”
The recognition comes at a pivotal point in Cross Country's evolution, as the company continues to advance its workforce intelligence strategy, uniting technology, data and workforce expertise to help healthcare organizations make more informed decisions about how they plan, source and manage their workforce.
"It is an honor to be recognized by SIA, and to be included among so many accomplished women in our industry," said Hawkins. "We have a meaningful opportunity to redefine how workforce solutions are delivered and how technology can elevate the experience for our clients, our healthcare professionals and our own teams. I am fortunate to work alongside colleagues who are willing to challenge the standard, move with urgency, and continuously pursue excellence. I am proud of what we are building together and confident in the future of our industry."
Published annually by Staffing Industry Analysts, the Global Power 150 Women in Staffing list honors women from around the world for their achievements, influence and contributions across the staffing ecosystem.
To learn more about SIA's Global Power 150 Women in Staffing and view the full 2026 list, click here.
About Cross Country Healthcare
Cross Country Healthcare is a technology-driven healthcare workforce solutions company that helps healthcare organizations solve complex labor challenges. Through its staffing, advisory and workforce technology capabilities, Cross Country supports health systems across nursing, allied health and nonclinical service lines.
Through Intellify®, its workforce intelligence platform, Cross Country helps healthcare leaders gain greater visibility across workforce spend, supplier performance, labor demand and operational execution, supporting faster decisions and stronger workforce outcomes.
Learn more at www.crosscountry.com and www.intellify.com.
Cross Country's Amiee Hawkins Named to SIA's 2026 Global Power 150 Women in Staffing - Chief Operating Officer recognized for leadership in enterprise growth, operational transformation and technology-enabled workforce solutions
MABLETON, Ga. (AP) — A 42-year-old man killed while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia was thrown from his seat and struck other patrons before landing below the ride, police said Tuesday.
Visitors at the theme park near Atlanta described watching him fall out of the coaster to his death Monday, causing the theme park operator to temporarily close nine similar roller coasters nationwide.
Investigators say they spoke with park visitors and employees who saw what happened. No one has released information about how he ended up coming out of his seat.
The man who died was 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, according to Cobb County police. Officials have not released any other information about those who were injured when they were struck by the man.
Kariem worked as the information technology manager at a public charter school in Atlanta and before that was the school’s technology teacher, according to an online resume.
The park in Mableton, about 14 miles (22 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, already was scheduled to be closed Tuesday. One of Goliath’s other trains could be seen on the ride’s first hill Tuesday, seemingly where it stopped after the man fall from another train.
Logan Conner said he was on Goliath with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat.
“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he told NBC. “We made direct eye contact with him.”
Britny Landry had been on the ride earlier Monday and was waiting in line to go again.
“We just look, and I just see somebody fly out,” she told WAGA-TV. She said she wasn't sure at first what she saw. “Maybe somebody had a bag or something.”
Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman, said the man's next of kin have been notified.
“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” Cupid said. “We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories.”
Six Flags said in a statement that it has temporarily shut down nine similar roller coasters at six of its theme parks in the U.S. and Canada. Those parks were already scheduled for seasonal midweek closures on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The affected rides include a second coaster named Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, the coasters Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina and the rides Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario, Canada.
Six Flags Entertainment did not immediately respond Tuesday to emailed questions seeking more information on why those specific rides were shut down and what would be done before they reopen.
Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which oversees ride inspections, is “conducting an in‑depth and comprehensive review,” said Garrison Bennett, a spokesperson.
Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss company that manufactured the coaster and many others worldwide, said it is “actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened.”
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the family and those affected.”
Goliath, which opened in 2006, reaches a top speed of 70 mph (113 kph) with a height of 200 feet (61 meters), according to the park’s website. The park in suburban Atlanta opened in 1967.
Riders “navigate through razor-sharp turns and soar over colossal hills,” during the more than 3-minute ride, the website says.
The death is at least the seventh at the Georgia park since 1989, including two people who were in restricted areas and struck by roller coasters and two who died in auto accidents, according to the Doan Law Firm, which tallies amusement park accidents and represents victims.
In 2006, a man died after likely having a heart attack on the Goliath coaster, the law firm said.
The latest death comes less than two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California announced the retirement of its X2 roller coaster following lawsuits alleging riders suffered serious brain injuries. The park settled one wrongful-death lawsuit with the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding the coaster in 2022.
Last year, a 32-year-old man died from blunt impact injuries after riding a high-speed roller coaster at the Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida. His death was ruled accidental.
This story has been corrected to show the TV station that interviewed Britny Landry was WAGA TV, not KTVU-TV. It has also been corrected to show the park is in Mableton, not Austell.
Brumback reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Michael Biesecker in Pittsburgh; Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia; Hallie Golden in Seattle; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.
Attractions are seen at Six Flags Over Georgia, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Attractions are seen at Six Flags Over Georgia, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Attractions are seen near Interstate-20 at Six Flags Over Georgia, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Attractions are seen at Six Flags Over Georgia, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A roller coaster is shown at Six Flags over Georgia on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026 in Austell, Ga. (AP Photo/Emilie Megnien)
A roller coaster is shown at Six Flags over Georgia on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026 in Austell, Ga. (AP Photo/Emilie Megnien)
