2025 HHA Governance Institute Retreat

Agenda & Conference Flyer

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Presentation Files

Cultivating Strong Board-Stakeholder Relationships

Medicare Advantage and Payor Relations

A Critical Board Priority

Straight from the Board Room

Presenter Information

Todd Linden, MA, FACHE - Linden Consulting

Todd Linden, president, Linden Consulting, is dedicated to leading ways to improve the wellbeing of individuals and advance the quadruple aim for healthcare. Linden Consulting works with governing boards on best practice development, governance education, facilitating board workshops and strategic planning retreats, and building optimal board, medical staff and administration relationships.

Linden received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Iowa, is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and retired after 24 years as president of Grinnell Regional Medical Center where he was named CEO Emeritus. He was the administrator of Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa from 1989-1994. GCMC provided the full continuum of care including acute care, long-term care, skilled care, independent living, hospice and home care. Grinnell Regional Medical Center was cited by The Washington Post for its optimal healing environment and by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal for innovations in quality and patient safety.

Linden has received numerous honors including the University of Iowa’s “Outstanding Alumni Award”, the Iowa Hospital Association’s “Excellence in Leadership Award”, and “The Board of Trustees Award”, by the American Hospital Association. He has had the opportunity to testify in the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, and special conferences with both President’s Clinton and Obama on health care and economic development issues.

Linden served on the boards of the American Hospital Association, Grinnell College, AHA’s Health Forum, University of Iowa College of Public Health and the National Rural Advisory Committee for the US Department of Health and Human Services. He is also an adjunct professor and executive in residence for the Health Management and Policy Department at the University of Iowa, as well as a regular faculty for the American College of Healthcare Executives. At ACHE he taught the CEO Bootcamp and served on the editorial board of “Frontiers” magazine. Linden is also an advisor for governWell, a nationally recognized governance excellence organization.

Kimberly Russel, LFACHE - Russel Advisors

Kim Russel has served as a healthcare executive for over 40 years. Kim’s proudest career achievement has been her service as CEO of two distinctively different healthcare organizations: Mary Greeley Medical Center of Ames, Iowa (1995-2008) and Bryan Health of Lincoln, Nebraska (2008-2020).

After her retirement from Bryan Health, Kim formed her own boutique consulting firm, Russel Advisors, which allows her to dedicate her time to helping healthcare boards and CEOs thrive amidst the chaotic environment. Kim is a frequent presenter on contemporary governance topics for national audiences and has authored over 35 publications on governance and leadership topics. She also serves as an Advisor to The Governance Institute.

Throughout her career, Kim has been an active member of over 20 boards and has served as chair of ten boards. Kim currently serves as a member of the Monument Health Board of Directors in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in management from Purdue University and a Master of Health Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jon Carmichael - World-Renowned Astrophotographer

Jon Carmichael is a world-renowned astrophotographer who took what is known as one of “history's most amazing photographs." He captivated the world when he unveiled his image of the 2017 Great American Eclipse from an airplane at 39,000 feet, after years of meticulous planning. The thrilling story behind the photograph and the shocking challenges he overcame have inspired audiences around the world.

Jon is not only an extraordinary astrophotographer but also an incredible storyteller and business motivational speaker. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity in driving innovation and creative thinking within organizations, sharing his own journey of how curiosity led him to pursue astrophotography and achieve remarkable success. His inspiring storytelling encourages audiences to explore their own passions and approach challenges with a fresh perspective.

Jon has spoken for countless organizations, inspiring creativity and innovation in their teams, and igniting audiences with curiosity, ambition, and a will to persevere. He helps businesses understand the value of fostering a culture of curiosity to unlock creative potential and drive innovation, offering practical insights and strategies for cultivating curiosity within organizations.

Jon and his work have been featured on Good Morning America, Wall Street Journal, INC Magazine, USA Today, and Times Square. He has 17 years of experience documenting corporate and political events, and has partnered with many leading brands including Twitter, Dell, and ESPN. He has had the honor of working with many inspiring luminaries including Presidents Obama & Biden, the Dalai Lama, David Copperfield, Lady Gaga, and many others. His career took a transformative turn in 2015 when Elton John, a prolific collector of photography, discovered and became the first collector of his limited edition photographs.

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