In an effort to address the growing need for leadership development in the McHenry County region, Michael S. Eesley, Centegra President and CEO, recently announced the launch of Leadership Greater McHenry County (LGMC), a personal development program designed to train individuals in becoming the leaders of tomorrow.

Led by Roger Schlies, LGMC encompasses a yearlong course of study where participants from diverse backgrounds enlarge their understanding of the strengths and issues facing our community.

"Quality leadership is critical to the success of the ongoing development of the community in which we live, work and raise our families," Schlies said. "LGMC is committed to recruiting these future leaders and equipping them with the tools they need to meet the future demands and face the increasing challenges of the community," he added.

Based on a national framework offered through the Community Leadership Association, LGMC participants will gain an understanding of the community and learn about group behavior, transformational leadership, identifying root causes and enhancing the leadership skills needed to address the critical issues faced by our community. Participants will also gain team building, organizational, problem-solving, decision-making and communication skills as well as knowledge of the functions of healthcare, government, education, economic development, volunteerism and human needs.

"Not only will the community benefit from the development of leaders through LGMC, but there are also added benefits to employers as well as to participants," Schlies said. "Participants will walk out of the program with a stronger sense of personal vision and purpose as well as executive leadership skills in effective communication, ethics, decision making, and critical and creative thinking, all which can be utilized in their personal careers and everyday lives. Employers will benefit by having an employee with enhanced morale and increased organizational, leadership and problem-solving skills," he said.

Graduates from LGMC will also have the added benefit of participating in the program with other influential community and business leaders for future opportunities for partnerships, collaborations and new business development.

LGMC’s goal is to engage candidates who represent the greatest cross-section of the community including those in business, education, government, arts, clergy, service and community organizations of various ethnic, age and gender groups. "We are looking for individuals who have a genuine concern for the future of McHenry County and a strong desire to be personally involved in shaping its direction," Schlies, said.

Participants in LGMC will make a one-year commitment. The yearlong program begins with a two-day retreat and continues over a nine-month span with eight classes, which are planned and facilitated by the class participants themselves. Cost for the program is $1,500 and partial scholarships are available to those needing tuition assistance.

"Our nation is suffering from a lack of trustworthy leadership. I believe that by establishing LGMC, we are taking a proactive approach by starting on the community level to restore people’s confidence in our future leaders," Schlies said.

Edward Cucci doesn’t think of joining Alden as leaving his career in acute care behind. Rather, says the former president of two Chicago hospitals, Louis A. Weiss, Memorial Hospital and Swedish Covenant Hospital. "I have a strong sense of mission to our seniors, and I view health care as a continuum. Alden serves the needs of a vulnerable portion of our population."

In his new position, Cucci’s task is to strengthen and develop lasting relationships between Alden skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, hospitals and the medical community. Beginning with Alden-Long Grove and Alden-Lakeland, he is meeting with area physicians and hospital administrators to explore ways "we can build strong, better relationships in order to be more responsive to the patients we’re serving," says Cucci. Part of his job is to understand the needs of discharge planners and social workers at hospitals and other acute care institutions "so we can work with them to assure quality discharge planning to our advanced care units."

Seeing is believing. Equally important, he believes, is to familiarize the medical community with the complex clinical issues which can be addressed at Alden facilities. "Alden is a progressive, quality organization that is playing an increasingly important role in the (health care) continuum," says the former Weiss Memorial Hospital president who doubled the size of the medical staff at that institution. "At Long Grove, for example, we have new pulmonary and ortho rehab units that are a step-down from critical care at a hospital," he adds. "I’m finding that ‘seeing is believing’. These units are very impressive."

What Cucci has set as his personal goal is to involve physicians to a greater degree in Alden’s post-acute hospital programs. "As the typical length of stay in hospitals becomes shorter," he says, "patients will benefit increasingly from stronger, long-term relationships between physicians, hospitals and the institutions that provide subacute care. The bottom line, I think we all agree, is what’s best for the patients."

For more information on The Alden Network, Inc., visit www.thealdennetwork.com.

Bruce Eady has been named Chief Executive Officer for MacNeal Health Network, announced Rob Martin, Sr. VP Operations, National Division, Vanguard Health Systems.

Eady brings a blend of clinical and administrative expertise that has been instrumental throughout his executive career at Saint Louis University Hospital, MO, where he most recently served as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to this appointment he was Executive Director of Hospitals for Hillcrest Health System, Waco, Texas; and CEO of Regional Health System, Columbia MO.

He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Nursing Administration from The University of Texas, Arlington, TX, and has been active in a variety of health oriented professional and community organizations. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

"I look forward to advancing MacNeal’s long-standing clinical and community reputation which has been earned by our medical and employee staffs. Together we will focus on clinical effectiveness, program development, customer service, and responsive involvement in area organizations and activities, to expand our business and develop services to improve health in the communities we serve," Eady commented.

He replaces former CEO Beverly Weber who was recently appointed Vice President of Operations, Southwest Region with Vanguard.