New President & CEO Ben Davis, MBA, FACHE, RHCEOC, hails from Menahga, Minnesota, and is excited to return to his home state after serving as President & CEO of a regional health center in Iowa for the last six years.
With over 15 years of experience, Ben Davis, MBA, FACHE, RHCEOC, is no stranger to the world of healthcare. Fueled by his desire to help others, Ben’s career has focused on improving patient outcomes, strengthening supportive work environments for medical professionals, and bolstering community outreach initiatives, all of which he plans to continue at GRH.
Ben attributes his desire to care for others to his parents, in particular watching his father actively involved in the military, VFW, and other service programs.
“He always taught me to treat people with dignity and respect, and that’s where healthcare needs to be – treating people with dignity and respect,” said Ben. “A lot of times people are coming to you during the worst times of their lives, and they’re afraid or scared. Creating an environment where they feel safe and can have a great experience is vital.”
Ben was drawn to GRH due to this alignment in his values and the organization’s values.
“I can tell that the staff at this organization truly care about their patients and community,” said Ben. “Looking at GRH, this is an environment that I want to work in, and a community that I want my family to be a part of.”
Investments in Community and Staff
During his tenure as President & CEO of Osceola Regional Health Center in Sibley, Iowa, Ben received the Iowa Hospital Association Young Executive Award in 2022, as well as the Inspiring CEO Pinnacle Award from the HealthCare Service Excellence Conference in 2021. After developing a new employee orientation initiative that increased first-year employee retention rates to 88 percent, well above the industry average of 63 percent, Ben was asked to present his case study at the 2022 HealthCare Service Excellence Conference. He plans to bring a similar philosophy to GRH.
“We have two goals at GRH: to be the provider of choice, and to be the employer of choice – but you can’t be the provider of choice if you’re not the employer of choice,” said Ben. “We have to invest in our staff and our people, so that they enjoy coming to work, feel respected, and thrive in an environment where they have the tools and support they need to be successful and take care of those we serve.”
During the interview process, Ben was impressed by the culture already established at GRH. Candidates had the opportunity to do a meet-and-greet with all GRH staff during the interview process, which allowed them to get to know our team and organization better. “It was really exciting to meet with staff during that process,” said Ben. “I really appreciate the culture, communication style, and transparency at GRH, all of which are very important to me. I’m a very collaborative leader, and I think it’s important to understand other peoples’ perspectives. I’m looking forward to spending time continuing to get to know the organization, and the people and culture that comprise it.”
Looking ahead, Ben plans to lean on our mission, vision, and values, as well as data from our recently completed Community Health Needs Assessment to not only keep GRH the strong, independent healthcare organization it is today, but to lead us into the future.
“Understanding the needs of the community is a priority, and our core values and mission are also important to any future planning initiatives,” said Ben. “Understanding how your strategy connects to your mission, vision, and values is important in finding your direction and determining where you want to be in five to ten years.”
With Ben at the helm, GRH is poised to continue serving its mission of providing high-quality, patient-centered care to our community.
“I’m excited to work collaboratively with the incredible team at GRH to further strengthen the organization, and to help us deliver on our mission to improve every life by offering high-quality, safe, and accessible healthcare,” said Ben.
Back at Home Field
Ben is not only looking forward to joining the team at GRH, but the community in Glencoe. He and his family, including his wife, Ali, and their children, Graham (8), Mia (6), and Daxon (3), have plans to move to Glencoe.
“I think it’s important to live in the community and to be engaged with all parts of it – not just GRH, but also church, the school, and the City,” said Ben. “It’s good to be involved in the community, to help move things forward and to be a positive voice.”
Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his family, getting involved with his kids’ activities, rooting for the Vikings and Twins, golfing, and playing baseball. “Minnesota has always been home,” said Ben. “I’m excited to return, and to have the opportunity to join an organization with such a deeply-rooted history of service and dedication to this community. I look forward to leading an organization with such an impressive reputation and dedicated team as GRH.”
