Passage and Associates Tapped to Find Healthcare CEO
February 3, 2017 – Executive search firm Passage and Associates LLC, has been retained by Kittitas Valley Healthcare to lead its search for a president and chief executive officer. The hunt for a new CEO follows the termination of past chief Paul Nurick last June. Managing director Jennifer Robinson is leading the search along with founder Jim Passage.
In the coming weeks, the search firm will work with the Kittitas Valley board to determine the minimum qualifications and characteristics for applicants to the CEO position. The recruiters will then solicit applications, with a particular emphasis on candidates who have experience in rural healthcare. Candidates who pass the initial screening will be considered for interviews in the coming months.
“We want to ensure a thoughtful process that yields the best possible candidate for our district,” said Liahna Armstrong, president of the Kittitas Valley Healthcare board of commissioners. “The board is committed to the meaningful inclusion of members of our community and employees during the CEO search process.”
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With an interim CEO established and a full complement of commissioners in place, the board of commissioners is now focused on commencing the search for a permanent CEO. Julie Petersen joined KVH last June to serve as its interim CEO. The board hopes to have a permanent CEO installed by mid 2017.
Situated in the heart of Washington, Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 1 provides care to Kittitas County and surrounding areas. The public hospital district is governed by a five-member elected board of commissioners and is almost exclusively supported by revenue generated from patient services.
Unique Perspective
Passage & Associates provides senior level recruiting services that include executive, board of directors and management level positions. Mr. Passage founded the firm in 1978 and has worked with companies throughout the Pacific Northwest and around the world finding and placing top talent. He has the unique perspective of having seen both sides of a healthcare executive search. He was formerly a member of the board of commissioners for Chelan County Public Hospital District No. 1 (Leavenworth).
His colleague on the search, Ms. Robinson, began working with Passage & Associates as an executive search consultant in 2004. As the founder’s daughter, she has grown up with the business.
High Growth Sector for Recruiters
Healthcare is among the most rapidly growing employment fields, and one of the hottest sectors for search firms – this according to recruiters who track leadership trends in specialized niche industries and functions. A growing number of search outfits have been creating new practices and adding staff to address client’s expanding talent needs within the sector. ….. Here’s some further reading from Hunt Scanlon Media.
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Other Recent Developments
- Cejka Executive Search recently named Mary D’Ignazio as executive vice president and managing principal. She leads a national practice that partners with hospitals, health systems and health-related organizations on executive search engagements for senior level healthcare executives. In December, the firm also named MaryBeth Nicholas Cruz as executive vice president and managing principal.
- Gatti & Associates recently launched a new healthcare recruiting practice. Senior vice president Richard Fleming has been appointed practice leader. Mr. Fleming brings 25 years of HR search and leadership experience to the role.
- Horton International – North America, a principal partner of Horton International, named James D. Utterback as managing director in the firm’s healthcare and life sciences practice. He focuses within the healthcare information technology and services sectors. Throughout his 30-year career in operating CEO roles, human capital and executive search, Mr. Utterback has accumulated leadership experience in multiple sectors, including diagnostic imaging, healthcare technology, pharmaceuticals, contract research organizations, hospitals, medical devices and wearables as well as private equity consulting.
- Futurestep launched a dedicated healthcare technology & services practice. It will bring broad capabilities and expertise across the entire health tech market, serving payors, providers and healthcare technology companies. Jessica Johnson was been named the sector’s leader.
- Diversified Search appointed Martha Hauser as leader of its healthcare practice. Ms. Hauser is a well-known thought leader with more than two decades of experience recruiting leaders in healthcare and higher education across the country. Her clients include some of the country’s most prestigious hospitals, healthcare systems, academic medical centers, and service providers in the field, a list that includes Beaumont Health, Emory Healthcare, and the East Carolina School of Medicine, among others. Diversified Search also acquired San Francisco-based BioQuest, a recruiting boutique specialist serving healthcare innovators in the life sciences market. Under terms of its acquisition agreement.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media
