Luxiere - Lifestyle & Real Estate // Edition 16 by Luxiere Magazine

LI FE S T Y LE & R E AL E S TAT E OKLAHOMAâ&#x20AC;¢ EDITION 16

ÂŠ2016 Chubb. Coverages underwritten by one or more subsidiary companies. Not all coverages available in all jurisdictions. ChubbÂŽ, its logo, Not just coverage, Craftsmanship.SM and all its translations, and Chubb. Insured.SM are protected trademarks of Chubb.

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CONTENTS Issue No. 16

OF INFLUENCE 10 WOMAN Judy Love is spectacular for so many reasons. She’s brilliant, she’s a style icon and she’s a philanthropist in the truest sense of the word. As you’ll see, Love lives life with gratitude and joy and takes nothing for granted.

PALOMAR: SAVING LIVES

TRAVEL: ABU DHABI

For the first time in our state, victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence can find help from 26 agencies in one place: Palomar. The brainchild of a small group of dedicated people, Palomar is literally saving lives and offering peace and hope to thousands of men, women and children.

The allure and mystique of Abu Dhabi cannot be denied. Former OKC resident and global fashionista Daria Goiran now calls Abu Dhabi home and takes us with her to this unique city in the United Arab Emirates.

SUMMER MUST-HAVES

The sweet heat and balmy breezes of summer call for an entirely different cache of necessities. We’ve assembled the perfect beachy baubles, books, gifts, footwear and more. It’s time: let the sunshine in!

PROFILE: BENNETT GEISTER

VAGA BOND

CASA OPAL

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15 35

Turning mundane routine into coveted self-care can change the way you feel and think. Creating your personal daily rituals, perfectly tailored to what feels right, can add calming bookends to hurly-burly days.

RITUALS: SKIN CARE

Torn between the ministry and healthcare, Bennett Geister has crafted his career and ministry on his own terms. His convictions are strong, his love of faith and family are stronger, and he’s changing the face of health care at AllianceHealth, Deaconess.

Style cannot be bought. You either have it or you don’t. But what is style, exactly? We think it’s a casual elegance. A slightly rebellious attitude. The exhilaration of the open road, classic aviator sunglasses and windswept hair. Ladies, this one’s for you.

Margaretta and Leonardo Baez have taken an historic home in Gatewood and brought its legacy to bloom in the 21st Century. Dubbed Casa Opal, and built in 1940, the home is at once timeless and completely of the moment.

Why own a house when you can inhabit a home? Spa baths, soothing soaking tubs, luxurious heated floors, gorgeous millwork and chefs’ kitchens, beautiful fireplaces, manicured grounds…you’ll find the details that speak to your heart among our pages. Explore.

LUXIERE OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | Edition No. 16 | OWNER/PUBLISHER: Stacy D. Johnson CREATIVE: BrandLink Media WRITERS: Christine Eddington and Olivia Hanson COVER PHOTO: Ryan Magnani Chris Rutherford (model) ADVERTISING: 405.808.1332 Luxiere Oklahoma is published bimonthly, direct-mailed to a curated readership and distributed at select retail locations free of charge for individual use. Additional copies are inserted and mailed to the subscribers of the Wall Street Journal. To request copies, please contact the publisher. Luxiere.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

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BEAUTIFUL S U S TA I NA B L E MADE BY HAND

E XC LU S I V E LY AT w w w. 3 0 a h o m e . c o m

CHANGE IS GROWTH A Note from the Publisher At Luxiere, our philosophy is simple: change is growth. What does that mean? It means that with each issue, we find new ways to share the best of Oklahoma with you. We’ve been publishing for two years now, and we have only just begun to uncover the beautiful and brilliant people whose stories make up the unique cultural landscape of our state. We do things a little differently here at Luxiere. We lean in. We bring you the bold, the artful, the delicious and the one-of-a-kind among us. In this issue, our Woman of Influence is all of those. Judy Love is a world unto herself. She is an entrepreneur, a fashionista, a dedicated OKC Thunder fan and an agent of change for causes that strike a chord in her heart. You’ll meet her on page 10. Another woman changing people’s lives for the better is Kim Garrett, founder and CEO of Palomar Family Justice Center, which opened in Midtown last year. She, along with Palomar Board Chairman Tricia Everest and hundreds of volunteers, have created a service agency which is like no other in the state. People who have suffered abuse and who are trying to escape it are too often faced with a slow-moving tangle of bureaucracy which can seem insurmountable. At Palomar, there are 26 agencies represented on-site, along with advocates who work one-on-one with survivors. We will explore Palomar in greater depth over the next several issues, and we begin our coverage on page 20.

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This issue will take you near and far. We will visit the home of Dr. Leonardo Baez and his beautiful wife Margaretta. Their thriving veterinary practice, Midtown Vets, has had tails wagging since 2013, and their home reflects the warmth of their spirits. Our favorite expat Daria Gorian, whose style is as impeccable as her smile is wide, takes us with her to her beautiful new hometown, Abu Dhabi. She’s also responsible for the immaculate styling in this issue’s fashion feature, flying in for the occasion. It is with humble gratitude that we offer you this issue of Luxiere. We would love to know what you think. Letters to the Publisher are welcome and can be sent to stacy@luxiere.com Until next time, I wish you peace and prosperity,

Stacy D. Johnson

DO YOU HAVE

the look?

CLEANERS & LAUNDRY www.legacyokc.com

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

WOMAN OF INFLUENCE If you’ve never met Judy Love, that doesn’t mean you don’t know who she is, or that something she’s done hasn’t impacted you. Everything about her is exuberant, almost larger-than-life: her style, the civic and charitable projects she takes on, her love of her family (and the OKC Thunder!), and the joy she radiates the moment you meet her. There’s a gleam in her eye. This is a woman who is having fun, squeezing every last drop out of her life, and why shouldn’t she? “I could do nothing, or spend my time eating bonbons, but I just feel so strongly that I owe something, that I have a duty. I enjoy raising money for causes that speak to me. It’s fun and I’m good at it, so why not?” she asks. Judy and her husband Tom have built an empire from the ground up. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores began humbly, with a $5,000 loan, an abandoned gas station in Watonga, Oklahoma, and Judy and Tom’s unflagging hard work. “Tom went around finding abandoned stations to put stores in, and I did the books,” Love says. “I didn’t know what I was doing. It’s amazing to me that we made it, because I was not very good at math! It was a matter of necessity. Tom took that $5,000, and he did this. He’s truly a remarkable man.” As of the end of April, there will be 458 locations in 41 states, with 723 restaurants, 335 Tire Care Centers, 52 Speedco truck service locations and 17 hotels. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores employ 21,000 people. That success means that Judy can indeed spend her days doing whatever she chooses, and luckily for Oklahoma City, she chooses to pitch in. “Right now I am raising money for Positive Tomorrows to build a new school. My co-chair, Todd Lechtenberger, and I have been working since November, 2016, and I think we’re about to see the light. Our new school will nearly double the capacity of the current school,” Love says. Positive Tomorrows is a school for homeless children. It was founded in 1989 and was initially a part of the Oklahoma City Public Schools

Love’s initial involvement with Positive Tomorrows began about five years ago when she heard Margaret Creighton, the school’s development director, give a presentation. Love was co-chairing the United Way campaign with fellow philanthropic powerhouse Mike Turpen. “That really was the seed of this project for me. Margaret’s presentation blew me away. Hearing about the thousands of children in Oklahoma City who have no homes, not enough food, often no shoes, and they are falling behind in school or not attending regularly. Well, I knew we could help,” she says. Before tackling that enormous project, Love worked with Bob Ross, president and CEO of the Inasmuch Foundation, Turpen and others to raise $6 million for the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation. The campaign, designed to honor the late Aubrey McClendon, will benefit youth programs. The building at the front of the white-water rafting facility was renamed the Aubrey K. McClendon Whitewater Center. Coincidentally, the first nonprofit Love got involved with about 30 years ago was the March of Dimes. Katie McClendon, Aubrey’s widow, was on the agency’s board at the time, whom Love describes warmly as “one of the sharpest young women I’ve ever met.” Love has also raised funds for the Oklahoma City University’s Awards of Excellence program, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, and a multitude of others. In 2017 she was tied with Oprah Winfrey in Forbes Magazine’s list of America’s most successful selfmade women. She serves as the chairperson of Love’s charitable giving committee, executive secretary for the company for which she leads several special projects and programs, and is a past board member of 13 civic organizations. She has received her share of accolades along the way, including more than thirty awards and honors (nine of these were with her husband Tom). Her induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2010 is particularly meaningful to her. In 2016 she was named Most Powerful Woman in Oklahoma City. Love

story: Christine Eddington / photography: Ryan Magnani 10 LUXIERE

system. Now a private, tuition-free elementary school, its mission is to break the cycle of poverty through education.

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

serves on the boards of Mercy Hospital, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Cristo Rey High School, Allied Arts and United Way. Love is one of those rare people for whom asking people to give is not the slightest bit uncomfortable and she wields that superpower like Russell Westbrook with a basketball. “I don’t find it uncomfortable because I give so much, and we give so much. People want to be called. Often they’re just waiting to be asked, and there are so many good causes,” she says. During basketball season, when not giving her all to charitable work, Love can be found in her family’s row of courtside seats at Chesapeake Energy Arena, cheering on her beloved Oklahoma City Thunder. Or, when the occasion calls for it, doing some impressive trash talking to other teams. She became an internet sensation when she stood up and shouted “Suck it Up, LeBron!” to the one and only LeBron James. Her new car, a Thunder blue Lexus, has the words “In Russ We Trust” embossed on the dashboard, and she chose basketball-colored interior leather seats. She is full throttle in everything she does. “I am a person who is always driving myself. I don’t want to waste my life and I don’t think I have, and I don’t just mean by working. I push myself just as hard to have fun and to learn new things. I had breast cancer 30 years ago, and I always say it was the best thing that could have happened to me – a real life-changer. Now, if a cause appeals to me, I get involved. And I have a lot of fun.”

Stylist / Meghan Spears - Consortium Makeup / Lash By Lash - Lash & Makeup Studio Hair / Ali Earnheart

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BY C H E L S EY A NN P H OTO G R AP H S BY MACI RATLIFF

We all have those tasks in our lives that we

know we should do, but crashing into bed eight minutes sooner usually wins. This past year some switches flipped for me in how I approached this hot topic of self care. It has turned the mundane things into beautiful actions - quiet, meaningful moments that refuel my heart and my mind. It does not have to be extravagant; the power is in the stillness, the slowness, the connection. Our mind and body are an integrated breathing thing. I have found that when my actions align with how I want to feel about myself, my frantic

from mundane to meaningful

mind is nourished, my breath deepens, my threshold for challenges greatens, my posture in this uncertain world is more stable, and I walk out into the day on solid ground. Oh, and skin! That skin is clear and glowing.

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start with one...

O N E B E G E T S T W O, T W O B E G E T S T H R E E .

THERE IS NO FORMUL A, S O PL AY WI T H W HAT FE E L S RI GHT TO YOU.

A WA K E Pause before hitting the floor and take a moment to brain dump a few pages in a notebook or journal. The beautiful author Ann Cameron calls it Morning Pages. My goal was to do it for 30 days. I’m on year two and not looking back.

PAUS E Take an extra minute to dry brush before jumping in the shower. This is the easiest way to activate the lymphatic system (AKA help get waste out of your blood) double AKA dead skin cells, cellulite, energy, bloating. It’s an easy sell.

C URR EN T LOV ES

S K I N CA R E

We can all slap on our eye cream on in 10 seconds, and move right into our makeup routine we know so well. What is one thing you love about getting a facial? The slowness - facialists don’t rush. The smell, the breathing, the calming touch. Why do we take $110 serum and slap in on so fast it devalues the ingredients and meaning? Take the extra moments to go layer by layer, massage the products into the skin, breathe them in. Enjoy the benefits of the aromas that were carefully chosen. Not only is this calming, it also activates the skin cells and allows them to absorb more deeply into the skin

EAT BEAUTIFUL

Cult fav the jade roller! Depuffs -

We all know it starts on the inside. The beauty

enough said. Apply favorite face

industry is colliding with the wellness world, and

oil or serum and roll away. (read

I just can’t tell you how refreshing it is.

on some directional help for best detoxing benefits)

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CURRENT

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H ES H O UW U

Tonifies and nourishes hair, skin, nervous system, and sexual center. It is also a potent blood builder, improves brain function and memory, and supports the immune system

COLL AG E N P E PTI D E S Hair, nail, skin support

GHEE

Nourishes all the tissues of the body, skin and digestion support

POTION S

Start the day with a warm potion or tonic. These cups are intentionally full of the body support that you need - From stress management and immunity to skin health. The Fullest and GOOP have quick reads and recipes for Clarity, Beauty and Energy that I highly recommend. It takes a few weeks to kick in, but the difference has been quite magical.

H OT WATE R O R N UT M I L K

Mix, mix, mix!Choose a cup that brings you joy, function and beauty.

slowing down

IS A WAY TO MAK E TI ME AND SPACE TO ENJOY RA RE MO MENTS O F P EACE. IF YOU M A K E TH E TI M E YOUR B ODY W I L L H ON OR I T I N G LOW I N G WAY S .

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COMMUNIT Y SPOTLIGHT

END ABUSE PA LO M A R : S AV I N G L I V E S A N D E N D I N G D O M E S T I C A N D S E X UA L A B U S E story: Christine Eddington 20 LUXIERE

COMMUNIT Y SPOTLIGHT

Kim Garrett, founder and CEO of Oklahoma City’s Midtown miracle, Palomar Family Justice Center, was just 19 years old when she began working with crime victims as a volunteer. “I have always wanted to help people,” she says. That first foray into volunteering was for a program for sexual assault victims. The experience cemented her commitment to help the most traumatized among us, victims of domestic and sexual abuse. If not for people like Garrett and places like Palomar, such victims will too frequently slip, broken, through the cracks of society and will try to escape their abuse and heal on their own. The Center’s unique name, Palomar, is, fittingly, an extremely strong knot used in fly fishing to hold the hook onto the line. At Palomar Family Justice Center, people in need of help find themselves securely tethered to a lifeline with more than two dozen partner agencies on the other end, explains Tricia Everest, president of Palomar’s board of directors. “Kim is a powerhouse,” Everest says. “Palomar exists due to her unrelenting vision.” There are 26 agencies on-site now, with more on the way. Palomar opened its doors to clients in late 2016 and has helped more than 7,200 people, 900 of whom are children, in that short time. Its clients come from every walk of life and range from infants to 90 years old. They come from 95 ZIP codes within the state. “When we look at the map of calls to 911, they come from every part of the city. In 2017, there were 35,000 domestic-related calls. That’s enough people to fill the Chesapeake Arena two times,” Garrett says. Of those calls, 70 percent involve children. Furthermore, only a percentage of domestic or sex abuse incidents are ever reported, so the 911 calls are likely only the tip of the iceberg. The staffs of all Palomar agencies are trained in the nuances of domestic and sexual abuse, many of which are not widely recognized or known in traditional care agencies. “Strangulation training, for example,” Garrett says. “We know that if a woman comes in who has been strangled by her partner during her abuse, she is more than 750 times more likely to be killed at the hands of her abuser.” Palomar uses an incredibly client-driven model of operation, wherein each person upon arriving is ‘triaged,’ meaning people are getting help sooner, they are paired with a navigator to coordinate their visit. Questions like ‘What do you most want to accomplish today?’ and ‘How much time do you have today?,’ determine that day’s course of action. Partner agencies are called in as needed. “This is a tipping point,” Garrett says. “We are changing the way the community treats people in crisis. The number of police reports being filed at Palomar is increasing, and the number of calls to 911 is decreasing. That means we are becoming a true community resource.”

P A L O M A R - O K L A H O M A C I T Y ’ S F A M I LY J U S T I C E C E N T E R 1140 North Hudson Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73103 405-552-1010 www.palomarokc.org

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T R AV E L

with love rom

by: Daria Gorian

I never liked the word “expat” although I am one of them. “Them” being people who choose to live “ex-patria” or away from their home country. I’d much rather talk about living beyond borders, and it’s not a mere question of semantics. In 15 years I lived in 6 different countries on 3 continents; what’s more, I proudly call each of them home. One of these places that became my home away from home is Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Can you instantly point out Abu Dhabi on the map? Probably not. Although you may have a vague idea that it’s somewhere near Dubai. If people know anything about the U.A.E. - a nation less than fifty years old - it is likely something about Dubai, decadent and futuristic, with its quick-blooming skyscrapers and opulent hotels. Abu Dhabi is often regarded as Dubai’s poor cousin of sorts. In reality, nothing can be further from the truth and not solely because it has all the oil riches. More traditional yet technologically advanced, it has its own distinct personality and flavor which makes it one of the most unique places in the world.

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T R AV E L

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T R AV E L

The reasons to love Abu Dhabi are plentiful and diverse; here are the ones that make it special to me: WHERE THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE

colored sands to the turquoise waters of the Arabian

Abu Dhabi’s humble roots are difficult to unearth.

Gulf, the emirate is home to natural wonders that

It may be pretty young by date of unification but its

create a striking contrast to the sleek images that it

land has been occupied for thousands of years. The

presents to the world.

name “Abu Dhabi”, meaning “Father of the Gazelle” when literally translated from Arabic, probably

The massive dunes of the Empty Quarter Desert –

referred to the few gazelles that still roam in its

the world largest sand desert – are the epitome of life

endless sand dunes.

itself: beautiful, harsh, epic. Driving off-road into its orange vastness is to witness one of the wonders

Abu Dhabi was a poor fishermen’s village inhabited

of the world. Abu Dhabi may be best known for its

by the Bani Yas tribe until the recent discovery

magnificent deserts, but it also has a fascinating

of oil that launched the country’s mind-blowing

marine ecosystem: Mangrove National Park.

success story. Powered by the vision of a single

With its lush green water channels and thriving

man - Sheikh Zayed, commonly referred by the

mangrove trees, this protected wide life area is

locals as the Founding Father - the transformation

undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the

is truly astonishing: from a sleepy desert village to a

country. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve or Flamingo

technology driven cosmopolitan hub.

City is another natural hidden gem only 40 minutes away from the buzzing city. It provides a habitat for

For somebody who comes from Europe or the US

a large flamingo population along with 250 other

- or any well-established country for that matter

species of birds and abundant aquatic life. And

- Abu Dhabi provides a unique opportunity to

then there is the sea with white sand beaches and

witness a history in the making. It’s the kind of

water activities – my personal favorite. The Arabian

place that makes you feel as though everything

Gulf teems with amazing marine life, including

is possible. If you can dream it, they can make

dugongs, dolphins, turtles and sharks, not to

it happen – and are probably already planning

mention 500 species of fish! Scuba dive, snorkel or

it. Biggest, tallest, largest, the tags don’t evoke

sail the day away, the turquoise colored waters of

surprise here, only query: what next? After artificial

the Abu Dhabi coastline are full of wonders!

islands and mega-tall skyscrapers, the new big challenge is to make it rain on demand by building

CULTURE: EAST MEETS WEST

a man-made mountain, and the project is already

Abu Dhabi is an intriguing mix of new and old,

well underway.

where original Arabian heritage thrives alongside global intellectual influences. Although its culture

FROM

DUNES

MANGROVE:

THE

is firmly rooted in Islamic traditions, the country

TREASURE TROVE OF NATURAL BEAUTY

is committed to tolerance and hospitality; you are

When you mention “Abu Dhabi”, most people will

free to practice your religion and dress liberally. Is

conjure up images of glittering concrete jungle and

a kind of place where you can watch a camel race,

trails of luxury. Of course, the steel beauties and the

learn about falconry, enjoy a Van Gogh exhibition,

overall atmosphere of opulence are magnetic, but

and treat yourself to a ballet performance by the

there is so much more to love than the glitz and

Bolshoi theater, all on the same day.

glamour. From the great expanses of terracotta

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T TR RA AV VE E LL

Abu Dhabi

holds an allure and charm that is hard to put your finger on and explain to an outsider, but once you start to scratch the surface youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll quickly begin to understand why the people who live here love it so much.

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Canvas & Leather Beach Belts Spencer Stone - $90,$85,$120 Khaki Suede “Beaching Shoe” Spencer Stone - $445

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Le Labo Candles Consortium - $68

Monkey Biz Zebra Consortium - $125

...Every Beach Should Have One

For the Beach House Consortium - $45 LUXIERE 31

PROFILED

BENNETT GEISTER story: Kati Hanna - The Mettise Group | photography: Maci Ratliff What made you decide to go into healthcare administration? I wanted to find a profession that allowed me to balance my finance background and working with people. At the time I made the decision, I was actually very torn between seminary and healthcare. However, I also knew that a person can make their ministry in any field that God leads them. What are the most pressing challenges in healthcare in our state? Our state deficit is probably the most concerning issue at hand. When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, states had the option to expand Medicaid and receive matching federal funds. Oklahoma chose not to expand Medicaid. As our state deficit has grown, we have been forced to cut Medicaid payments to healthcare providers multiple times. As we reduce Medicaid payments to providers, access is reduced or eliminated for Medicaid recipients. Unfortunately, hospitals, nursing homes and mental health providers have had to reduce services and/or close their doors completely. You have worked in both rural and urban healthcare in Oklahoma, what are the greatest differences you found? First and foremost, there is very little difference in care provided to patients in rural settings versus urban settings. Patients often have a perception that the big market hospital is better than their local institution, but that is not often the case. There are rural hospitals that outperform urban hospitals on all the publicly reported comparative data thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out there. Likewise, there are urban hospitals that outperform rural hospitals. All that to say, the biggest difference between urban versus rural healthcare is the quantity of resources available in each setting. Rural hospitals generally have fewer resources, so people often wear multiple hats, whereas urban hospitals typically have more resources and provide a broader scope of services to the patients they serve.

Bennett Geister, Chief Operating Officer AllianceHealth Deaconess 32 LUXIERE

PROFILED

As there is a growing trend and need for industries to be more customer centric especially in technology, what are the ways healthcare is following this need? Healthcare is trying to catch up to other industries by centering their efforts on the consumer, rather than expecting the consumer to come to them. For example, you are seeing more pricing transparency than ever before. There are websites like MDSave that allow customers to shop for services based on cash price. Deaconess is moving to online scheduling for physician office visits and same-day access to our primary care providers. We provide patients the opportunity to talk to a provider at all hours a day by simply accessing an application on their phone (think FaceTime with a physician). There are a lot of other examples out there, but these are a few that we are directly involved in. How has social media (if at all) impacted your organization and the health care industry? Social media is a mixed bag. It is a blessing in that it allows us to get closer to the consumer than ever before. We can interact with our patients and get real-time feedback from them. Further, we can use social media as a platform to raise awareness of new providers and services that we have started. Unfortunately, social media can be a negative thing if people are not educated on how to use it. For example, there are concerns with HIPAA and privacy that you have to worry about with social media. What is the greatest misconception about healthcare? Healthcare is more than physical health. We put so much attention on being physically healthy and not enough attention on mental and spiritual health. If we are in a good place spiritually, the mental and physical elements of our health will follow suit. What are the most important decisions you face daily as a leader? The most important decision each day is how to best engage my employees to do the things we need to do to take the best care of our patients. What do you love most about what you do? I truly love the people. How many professions allow you to work directly with such a broad group of people? I get to work with housekeepers, dietary workers, engineers, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and physicians. Working to bring the broad group together to collectively achieve a common goal is what I love to do. How do you maintain your and your teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily motivation and inspiration despite obstacles, pushback or setbacks? We have to remain focused on what outcome we want in the future and always remind ourselves why we do what we do. Most people go into healthcare for a higher purpose than simply having a job. It is so easy to get distracted by the obstacles. If we keep the main things the main things, the outcome we want will be there.

How do you foster creative and innovative thinking at Deaconess? We develop avenues and forums whereby our employees can speak up about their thoughts and ideas. Because we are a smaller institution than the majority of hospitals in the metropolitan market, we can be more nimble and efficient in our communication to and from our employees. Creating a culture that allows them to speak up has bornfruit for our organization.

Photo: James Harbor

What is the most important characteristic every leader should process? A strong conviction that goes beyond just being a leader. How do you maintain a work life balance? Like life in general, work/life balance ebbs and flows. Something I try to focus on is leaving my work at the office when I am home with my family. Compartmentalizing and having a firm line between the settings has been very healthy for me. What is your favorite charity/or how do you spend time incorporating philanthropy (giving back) into your life? I love World Vision. This is an organization that allows you to help the â&#x20AC;&#x153;least of theseâ&#x20AC;? all over the world. You can sponsor at-risk children or donate money toward building wells, purchasing mosquito nets or helping entrepreneurs start a business. Further, their administrative overhead is very low, so more money is actually going to the cause for which I invest. What do you do to recharge yourself? I love spending time with my wife and son. I also love to read and play golf. What is one thing on your bucket list? I want to climb the Grand Teton.

The Mettise Group (mettise.com) is a management consulting firm dedicated to helping high-growth entrepreneurial companies gain clarity and capacity around planning, execution, building high performance teams and financial resource management.

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