Executive Profiles: Getting to Know Our Leaders
With more than 7,000 associates across four counties and around-the-clock staffing, it can be pretty challenging to get to know people outside our departments. It can be even more difficult to become familiar with those in executive leadership because of their demanding schedules. To help bridge that gap, we will be featuring executive profiles each month that we hope will not only shed more light on what our top leaders do in their day-to-day work, but also highlight their personal lives.
Diane Maas – Beacon Vice President of Managed Care and Business Development
An enthusiast of mystery novels, Diane loves working at Beacon. Diane enjoys the “incredible people” she gets to meet and work with every day.
Steve, Diane and Ryan
As the person most responsible for business development at Beacon, Diane has a lot on her plate –– and she likes it that way. “I like the constant change that comes with health care. I find that to be very exciting and it allows me to continue to grow and learn new skills. Every day is a new challenge.”
Many of us do not get to see Diane all that much since she’s located at the Managed Care office off Douglas Road, but you can bet she’s busy. If it involves buying or selling, there’s a good chance Diane is involved.
She oversees system-wide managed care, business development and sales activities, which includes negotiating and contracting with employers, commercial insurance companies and other third-party payers. She oversees Community Health Alliance, a Physician – Hospital Organization (PHO), CHA ACO, a Medicare Shared Savings Plan (MSSP), Memorial’s bariatrics program and physician liaisons and a variety of business development projects.
When numbers aren’t swirling through her head, Diane enjoys reading, exercising (walking and Zumba) and exploring new beaches while on vacation. Diane has been married for 31 years to her husband, Steve, and they have one son, Ryan, 28.
Kreg Gruber – Beacon Chief Operating Officer
A husband and father of three, Kreg seems to move faster than anyone else, though he always seems to make time to say “hello” and smile to those in his path. He’s helped by a colossal supply of energy and a deep passion to be part of an environment where “we make a difference in someone’s life.”
It makes good reason that Kreg is always on the go: he is in charge of the operations of Beacon Medical Group, Memorial Hospital and Elkhart General Hospital. If that’s not enough, he’s also been serving as President for Memorial Hospital, Memorial Children’s Hospital and Elkhart General Hospital.
The Gruber Family: Will, Lydia, Kreg, Jenny and John
His key responsibilities are to establish a plan for the organization’s operations, including the annual goals (customer service, employee engagement, financial and quality outcomes), budget and capital plans.
What motivates Kreg at work? “People who want to serve other people. People, who regardless of some of the hurdles and barriers (and we all have them) in their work, are happy to be helping other people. We have that opportunity every day –– and it is that opportunity – that makes me look forward the most.”
To recharge his battery, Kreg loves to escape to the outdoors –– the woods of northern Michigan to be specific. After work, you might find Kreg pedaling his bike along St. Joseph County roads.
“I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to go on long, hard bike rides. My best day is when I can exercise to the point of physical exhaustion, take a hot shower and then spend the rest of the day with my wife, Jenny, who happens to be my best friend. We met in high school –– and we still like to be with each other!”
