In every company, the buck stops somewhere, usually with the Chief Executive or Chief Financial Officer of the organization. They have a tremendous amount of responsibility and are often faced with making tough choices necessary to keep a business going. Here, 10 of these South Jersey professionals share some of their history and provide insight on what it takes to do the job.
Ralph Muller
Chief Executive Officer, University of Pennsylvania Health System
The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (recognized as one of the nation’s top “Honor Roll” hospitals by U.S. News & World Report), Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital (the nation’s first hospital, founded in 1751). Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.
Prior to joining UPHS, Muller was, from 1985 to 2001, the President and CEO of the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System. In 2001-2002, he was a Visiting Fellow at the Kings Fund in London, U.K.
Q&A
What was your first job?
My first job was as a computer programmer.
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
My biggest professional decision was to leave the East Coast, where I grew up to join The University of Chicago, which led four years later to being named the President of The University of Chicago Hospitals, a position I held for 17 years. And then I came back to the East Coast to join Penn in 2003 as CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
The biggest challenge today for executives is the accelerated pace of change, both in the marketplace and the government, leading to increased regionalization and nationalization of health care policy.
Joseph W. Devine
FACHE President & Chief Executive Officer of Kennedy Health
A 30-year Kennedy veteran, Devine is an officer of the Corporation of Kennedy Health and an Ex-Officio of the Kennedy Health Board of Directors and the Kennedy University Board of Trustees. Under his leadership, Kennedy Health has been honored as one of the “Best Hospitals in the Country” by U.S. News & World Report, as well as being named a “Top Workplace” by Philly.com twice.
Kennedy continues to grow and improve access to outstanding healthcare for the people of our region. In 2015, he received the American College of Healthcare Executives Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent's Award for his contributions toward the advancement of healthcare management excellence and the achievement of ACHE goals.
Q&A
What was your first job?
My summer out of eighth grade was spent washing glasses in a service bar and cleaning Cozy Morley’s Club Avalon in North Wildwood. Cozy’s was a legendary place for people who went to Wildwood in the summer— however, Cozy himself was frugal. I probably made about $50 a week for the 25 hours I worked. However, I did get a full $5 bonus at the end of the summer!
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
The hardest decision is always whenever you have to let go of someone who works for you—no matter what the reason is. You are dealing with a person’s life and their feelings. If you are a caring leader, these types of decisions are never easy.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
Due to all the demands on their time, I’d say it’s to make sure they don’t lose sight of what leadership is all about … PEOPLE. Spending time with your staff, colleagues and peers is invaluable to become a successful leader. You must listen, listen and listen. Kennedy has adopted a “Servant Leadership” model, which includes the expectation that every single leader in the organization will spend real time working with their staff, listening to their concerns and, most importantly, encouraging their professional growth.
Reynold P. Cicalese
CPA, PFS, CGMA, Alloy Silverstein
Managing Shareholder and Officer of the firm, Cicalese is certified in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs. Cicalese has earned certification as a Personal Financial Specialist, a prestigious and exclusive distinction shared by approximately 5,000 CPAs nationwide. He has achieved designation as a Chartered Global Management Accountant, recognizing his ability to provide guidance to businesses on performance, growth, making critical business decisions based on his extensive experience in the management and operations of the firm, and his experience in public accounting, financial and management accounting and consulting.
Q&A
What was your first job?
When I was 12 years old, I worked at a car wash for $1/hour, plus all the spare change you could find in-between the seats.
What’s the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
Letting people go is always the hardest decision. It beats me up.
What’s the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
Managing today’s emerging workforce in a competitive environment. There‘s competition every day, and today’s “participation trophy” generation doesn’t want to keep score or be held accountable. You have to be self driven to succeed; otherwise you just coast to mediocrity.
Karen Cleary
Chief Finance and Administrative Officer, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Cleary is responsible for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s finance, technology, operations and human resources. In this role, she oversees the organization’s campaign processing, information technology support and internal operations. Cleary joined United Way in 2003 as Controller and became Director of Finance in 2005. In 2008, she was appointed Vice President of Finance, and in 2014, she was named Chief Finance and Administrative Officer. Prior to joining United Way, she worked as an audit senior at Arthur Andersen, where she specialized in health care and not-for-profit clients.
Q&A
What was your first job?
I started my career as a staff auditor with Arthur Andersen, focused on health care, not-for-profit and real estate clients.
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
The hardest decisions I have had to make are around achieving a good work-life balance. My family is my first priority, but I am also driven to be successful in my career. This frequently involves making hard choices, and I have been fortunate enough to be able to make it work.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
I think the biggest challenge facing managers and businesses today is attracting and retaining customers. In today’s environment, there are choices and change everywhere. This is true in all sectors, including nonprofit. Businesses of all types have to constantly demonstrate why consumers should buy their products and services, or in the case of nonprofits, support their mission through giving, advocating or volunteering. Every person in every organization plays a role in attracting and retaining customers, so this is a challenge for all managers.
Michael Pulik
Chief Financial Officer, AH and Association Headquarters
Pulik has held executive finance roles in both corporate finance and public accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He specializes in business consulting and has extensive experience in financial reporting, forensic and financial accounting and process improvement. He is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, The Institute of Internal Auditors and the American Land Title Association (ALTA).
Q&A
What was your first job?
My first job was helping my mother clean offices at night to help pay for my elementary school tuition. I emptied trash, vacuumed and dusted at the age of 10. That experience helped instill a solid work ethic and demonstrated basic concepts of financial responsibility, which has remained relevant during my entire professional career.
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
Personnel decisions are always the most challenging and difficult to make. The experience of terminating an employee that worked hard but was not the right fit probably ranks at the top. In general, the hardest and most satisfying aspect of my leadership role is deciding who belongs in what seat and how to retain, develop and support a talented leadership pipeline.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
The identification and retention of talent, which can drive growth, manage change and utilize technology to a strategic advantage is the key challenge for all managers in today’s business climate. The current pace is faster than ever, competition for talent and for business has never been fiercer and resources are always finite. Sometimes that fast pace inhibits managers from taking the time to participate in active listening which often results in decreased morale, incomplete projects and missed opportunities.
Paul J. Ritter III
Chief Executive Officer, Cumberland Insurance
Ritter has been the Chief Executive Officer and President at Cumberland Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Cumberland Insurance Group since June 2010. He is also deputy mayor of Hopewell Township. On Oct. 29, 2015, Ritter received the Francis Binks Sharp Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce Salute to Business and Industry Awards Dinner.
Q&A
What was your first job?
My first job was working on my grandparents’ farm in Southern New Jersey. I started out loading delivery trucks with bags of onions and crates of lettuce.
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
The hardest professional decision I made was leaving the private practice of law to start a career in corporate finance. However, it turned out to be a very fulfilling career move for me.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
The biggest challenge we are facing in today’s business climate is to provide innovative products to meet the ever-changing needs of our policy holders in a timely manner. The “Internet of Things,” drones and the sharing economy, such as Uber and Airbnb, are rapidly changing the business environment for us.
Guy Hackney
CFO, Cape Bank
Hackney has been the Chief Financial Officer of Cape Bank, responsible for managing its $1.6 billion in assets, since January 2009. A veteran of the banking industry, he has held various financial positions dating back to 1979. He currently serves on two nonprofit boards: CASA of Atlantic and Cape May Counties as well as the Cape Bank Charitable Foundation. Additionally, Hackney belongs to several financial associations including the Financial Managers Society. He is also a member of the CFO Committee of the New Jersey Bankers Association.
Q&A
What was your first job?
Flipping burgers at Burger Chef
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
Releasing employees due to merger and/or downsizing
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
The biggest challenge for financial institution managers is the significant increase in regulatory compliance and the related expense.
Linda G. Sullivan
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, American Water
In her role as CFO, Sullivan leads American Water’s Finance and Operational Services teams. She has responsibility for all aspects of financial management and strategy, including directing finance strategy, investor relations, treasury, financial planning, accounting, internal audit, risk management and control functions. Prior to joining American Water in April 2014, Sullivan completed 22 years of progressive leadership roles at the Edison International companies. Beginning in 2009, she served as Senior Vice President and CFO of Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities and a subsidiary of Edison International.
Q&A
What was your first job?
My very first job was as an extra on The Waltons in an episode called “The Woman” where John Boy becomes smitten with a woman. I was 12 years old and earned $50 for two days work. At that time, I thought I was rich! I still have that paycheck stub.
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
I think most CFOs will tell you that making hard decisions is part of the job. But, for me personally, the hardest decisions are always those that impact employees’ jobs. It is much more fun to work in a growing, vibrant environment, but that is not always possible. Over my career, I have had to shut down businesses, sell businesses and downsize organizations. Those have been my hardest decisions, because it impacts people’s lives. That gets to me and I guess if that ever stops getting to me, it’s time to hang up the hat.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
Managers' roles are evolving and becoming much more complex. Some of the bigger challenges today are managing through the impacts of market volatility, leveraging new technologies and data, and managing cyber security risk. These increasing demands require managers to ensure they are able to attract and retain the best talent.
John A. Turner
President & Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Synergies
Turner is a transformational and motivational leader with deep industry insights in the health insurance and broker channels. His commitment to drive exceptional employee benefits for clients permeates the entire Corporate Synergies organization. He has an exceptional record of increasing growth resulting from his focus on high-impact, service-driven strategies. Prior to joining Corporate Synergies, he served as Senior Vice President of the Health Services Division at Connextions Inc., a Florida-based programs for the health insurance industry, and President of J. Rolfe Davis Insurance Company, a multi-line insurance brokerage firm.
Q&A
What was your first job?
For my first job I worked as a paper boy delivering the New Jersey Star Ledger in and around the neighborhood where I grew up.
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
The most difficult professional decisions are those that potentially have a negative impact on an employee or a group of employees.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
I believe that the main challenge for business managers is keeping up and complying with new and evolving state and federal regulations. This is especially true of health care reform, which has inundated businesses with regulatory requirements over the past several years.
Benjamin F. Watts
Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Bell Bank
Watts joined Liberty Bell Bank in January 2012 after serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at First Bank of Delaware. He has acted as Chief Operations Officer, Compliance Officer, Controller and Audit Division Manager. Watts’ extensive background includes financial reporting, investor relations, expense control, budgeting and regulatory reporting and compliance.
Q&A
What was your first job?
Teller at 1st Peoples Bank
What's the hardest professional decision you've ever had to make?
The decision to leave a large bank for the small community bank was a tough decision but one that I do not regret.
What's the biggest challenge facing managers in today's business climate?
It’s important to have a detailed plan of action that is executed and supported by a specific list of action steps. Also, follow-up! There are never results without immediate follow-up and identifying the answer to, “What is our next step and what do we need to close?”
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 6, Issue 1 (January, 2016).
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