Name: Ron A. Fogle
Hospital/Health System you serve: Hendrick Medical Center, Abilene, Texas
Hometown: Abilene, Texas
Occupation: Custom Home Builder
Family: Wife Anne, Daughter Whitney, Sons Nic, Tommy and Sean, and Grandsons Deacon, Luke, Peyton, Lawson and Grayson
Hobbies/Interests: DIY projects around the house
As a Board Member…
What has been most rewarding during your board service? The personal pride of being associated with the most well run and well respected, health care organization in this part of the state of Texas.
What has been the most challenging issue for your board? Extremely high cost of labor that has transformed our income statement…. just one of many leftovers from the COVID pandemic.
What has been the biggest surprise during your board service? The willingness that people on our board have to continually serve on different committees and for multiple terms. A number of our board members are voluntarily serving for their second 9 years of service.
What was your/your board’s proudest moment? Receiving the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for the last 17 years in a row. This is a testament to the high level of engagement that our workforce has.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a board member? Great leadership develops great boards and great hospitals. Our hospital has only had 5 CEO’s in its 99-year history. It has also been recognized as the only health care institution nation-wide that has received the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for the last 17 years in a row. You don’t reach these metrics without exceptional leaders.
What are your board’s priority areas for 2024? Our priorities are mainly related to continuing to recover from the Covid Pandemic and setting priorities and strategies to carry us into the start of our second 100 years of service.
Why did you choose to become a Certified Healthcare Trustee? The Governance Committee of our board recommended that we encourage our board members to become Certified Healthcare Trustees. This is an extra level of recognition for board members who are some of the most engaged leaders and that go the extra mile in attending continuing trustee education.
About Me…
My background: I was born and raised in Abilene, Texas. I attended Texas Tech University where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree, in Finance. I then took a job with the Fort Worth National Bank and started a 27-year career in the banking business. In 2006 I was an Executive Vice President at a large regional bank when I decided to make a total change in my career field. I opened Ron Fogle Construction. This began what is now an 18-year career as a custom home builder and remodeler.
My childhood ambition: I always enjoyed building things as a child. I built forts, tree houses and one time I built a go-cart by taking the engine from a lawn mower and attaching it to a wooden built 4-wheel cart, that I made from scratch. I didn’t know it at the time, but that scratched my itch to build things.
My favorite person (living or not!): My favorite person was and still is my father, A.E. Fogle Jr. Even though he is now deceased, he was a well-respected man of great character. He was very active in the community and even served on the Board of Hendrick Medical Center before me.
Last place I traveled: The last place I traveled was Palm Springs California for a home builder leadership meeting. Palm Springs was the home to a number of Hollywood actors back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. The residential architecture was of the Mid-Century Modern vibe and was really interesting.
What are you currently reading?
- Last Book: Called to Reign by Leif Hetland
- Quarterly Magazine: Residential Design for professional home builders.
My favorite place in Texas is Fort Worth. It’s just a much larger version of Abilene. They have great restaurants and fun places to stay.