CEO Today Global Awards

65 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Global Awards 2019 USA NORMAN WENGERD CEO of GentleBrook, Inc. www.gentlebrook.org ABOUT NORMAN WENGERD Norm has served as CEO of GentleBrook, Inc. since 2008. With more than 40 years of leadership experience in the health and human services field, Norm continues to leverage his unique passion and vision for connecting people and communities. Norm began his career as a respiratory therapist at Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio, moving into roles of increasing responsibility, from Director of Cardio-Pulmonary Services to Vice President of Marketing & Outreach and Ambulatory Care. He joined the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System as Vice President of Development in 1986, returning to Mercy Medical in 1992 as Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. He also served as Interim President & CEO at Mercy Medical Center and at St. John Westshore Hospital in Cleveland. He holds a diploma for Respiratory Therapy from the University of Chicago Hospitals & Clinics; an Associate’s degree from the University of Akron Community and Technical College; a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Akron; and a Master’s of Arts in Christian Ministries from Malone University in Canton. He completed graduate studies in Health CareAdministration at the University of Minnesota; the Executive Management Series in Health Care at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and is a graduate of Leadership Canton and the Anabaptist Leadership Institute. Norm is committed to volunteerism. His past community leadership positions include Board Member of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce; Director and Officer of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton; Board President of the Prescription Assistance Network of Stark County; Board Chair of Lake Center Christian School; Board Chair of Hartville Meadows; Trustee for Parmadale Family Services; Elder at Evermore Community Church; Member of Stark American Cancer Society Board, Chair of American Cancer Society Lake Relay for Life and Member of the Malone College School of Theology Advisory Council. Recognition of Norm’s leadership capabilities dates back to 1980 when he received the Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of Canton. Recent honors include being selected as the 2018 Malone University Graduate School Alumnus of the Year. He is also the recipient of the 2013 Economic Impact Award and the 2005 Community Service Individual Award from the Lake Chamber of Commerce; the 2004 Caritas Service Award from the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine; the 2003 Celebrating Excellence Award from St. John West Shore Hospital and the 1991 Parmadale Family Services Trustees’ Award for excellence in leadership. For personal challenge and adventure, Norm enjoys backpacking and bicycling and has hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia through Virginia. He bicycled 3,500 miles across the United States from Irvine, California to Boston, Massachusetts over 32 days in 2004 and completed a 2,800 mile mountain bike ride along the spine of the Rocky Mountains from Banff, Alberta, Canada to the U.S./Mexican border in 2015. FIRM PROFILE GentleBrook is a not-for-profit social purpose enterprise that bases every- thing it does on its foundational state- ment of belief that all human life is a sacred gift and most fulfilled in commu- nity with others. From this belief grows the organization’s vision of connecting people and community through ser- vices and business opportunities. Key components of GentleBrook’s vision are providing residential and support services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and of- fering a continuum of senior residential care options and home health services. Norm’s guiding principles of leader- ship at GentleBrook use seven action verbs to form an acrostic of the word CONNECT as he strives to be person- ally and organizationally connected and engaged: Challenge what is Optimize assets Network with others Nurture relationships Encourage and enable others Celebrate milestones along the way Transform what was Since Norm joining GentleBrook as CEO, the organization has nearly dou- bled in the number of individuals served and in revenue growth – enabling it to expand facilities, services and busi- nesses for the benefit of the people it serves and the greater community.