Rick Barnett, of VHA West Coast, Joins ABL Organization

Santa Ana, CA — June 1, 2010 — Rick Barnett, an Executive Officer of VHA's West Coast Regional Office, has joined the Adaptive Business Leaders Organization (ABL). As part of California’s leading vertical-industry Chief Executives’ Organization, ABL Members provide one another with executive leadership coaching through its confidential, professionally-facilitated, peer-CEO Advisory Board Round Tables, executive learning workshops, network of CEO peers, and expert resources.

VHA’s West Coast Regional Office serves about 100 VHA member hospitals in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit healthcare organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance, and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. Formed in 1977, VHA serves more than 1,400 hospitals and over 25,500 non-acute care providers nationwide through its 16 regional offices. VHA was ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 7th best place to work in healthcare in 2009.

Previously, Rick worked for Catholic Healthcare West for 11 years, most recently as President and CEO of 273-bed Mercy Medical Center Redding, where, during Rick’s seven-year tenure, 2002 to 2009, annual income increased from $2.9 million to $26 million, the highest in the hospital’s 70-year history. Before that, he was President and CEO of 80-bed Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta. Prior to joining CHW, Rick was Senior VP and COO of 165-bed Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, CA, and Executive Administrator of The Turner Eye Institute in San Leandro, CA.

Rick earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pacific Union College, and his MBA from California State University at Fullerton. Rick participated in the Ministry Leadership Formation Program from Ministry Leadership Center in Citrus Heights, CA. His professional memberships and associations include the American College of Health Care Executives, Medical Group Management Association, American Management Association, and he serves as a board member on numerous community organizations. Married and with two children, Rick enjoys golf, tennis, snow and water skiing, scuba diving, off-road vehicles and music. He is also well traveled.

About the Adaptive Business Leaders (ABL) Organization
ABL supports the needs of its Member CEOs by providing a place for top-level executives to draw on the experience, knowledge and skill sets of their peers in a vertical industry, personal advisory board – “multi-coach approach” – setting.

The core component of the CEO Membership experience is the group Round Table meeting. Members meet once a month for a half-day with a group of peer CEOs, Presidents, COOs and Division General Managers from non-competing companies, all from the same industry (healthcare, technology or life sciences), in a trusted and confidential board room-like setting, which allows ABL Members to tackle topics and enhance their decision making and business performance. Topics include: developing and honing new business strategies and best practices, new lines of business, “A-players” on the management team, and an effective board of directors, as well as understanding trends in new markets, mergers and acquisitions, compensation, and other “hot” topics brought to the Round Tables by the Members themselves.

ABL Members also gather several times a year at workshops and conferences to exchange ideas and connect with other chief executives beyond their own CEO peer groups. In effect, ABL Members serve as one another’s business coaches within the Round Tables and are encouraged to connect and leverage their co-Member peers’ particular skills and expertise for additional leadership coaching, one-on-one, outside of their monthly group meeting. In addition, each Round Table’s facilitator also serves as an objective business advisor, offering executive and industry insights and advice.

 ABL's Chief Executive Leadership Development Round Table program is currently offered in California's Greater Los Angeles, Orange and San Francisco County areas. More information about the ABL Organization can be found at http://www.abl.org .