As an operations leader, with a passion for people, nothing is more rewarding to me than identifying new opportunities to better serve the team members and the community. Whether that entails the launch of a new education program that enhances performance, the reduction of waste in operations, or ensuring necessary compliance, my focus on building a culture of continuous improvement is always motivated by anticipating future needs and building capacity to meet those needs. I joined Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital in 2006 and built out the HR function, supported integration activities, and led the redesign of the health plan, saving $900K in the process. I was promoted in 2015 and my role expanded and shifted to operations, an exciting change that enabled me to impact the community positively and broadly, as a member of the leadership team. Throughout my time as a Chief Experience Officer, I played a key role in elevating the organization’s culture and streamlining operations. While many of the projects I led are still in-process, we laid the foundation for sustainable growth and set a new bar for quality patient service through the introduction of lean principles and the launch of the first-ever strategic health equity plan. I oversaw the development and execution of numerous programs that engage and empower the community with information and resources, including a $600K grant for a childhood obesity partnership program, the expansion of bilingual diabetes prevention and management classes, and the distribution of 6,884 food vouchers through the FINI Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program Grant.