Inducted into the West Virginia Health Care Hall of Fame

Building a Legacy That Lasts

Imagine waking up each day knowing your work doesn’t just balance books or build systems, it saves lives, strengthens families, and honors God’s call to serve the least among us. That’s the life I’ve built over decades in rural West Virginia health care, and now, with this 2026 induction into the West Virginia Executive Health Care Hall of Fame, it’s a humbling reminder that true success comes from stewarding what God entrusts to us with purpose and discipline. For this, I give all glory to God.

From Accounting Ledgers to Leadership

I didn’t set out to chase awards or accolades. Born and raised in the hills of West Virginia, with roots tracing back to my sixth great-grandparents who settled Mercer County in 1775, I started my career doing straightforward accounting work. Life pulled me back through financial sales, consulting, internet ventures, and telecommunications. But everything changed when I stepped into the role of Chief Financial Officer at Rainelle Medical Center in 2007.

Back then, RMC was a small community health center with just over 50 employees, fighting to survive in a region battered by economic hardship and the opioid crisis. We faced broken banking relationships, outdated systems, and the constant temptation to cut corners just to keep the doors open. I remember the early days, wrestling with budgets that treated people like line items instead of image-bearers of God. It was a rock-bottom moment professionally, realizing that GAAP and regulations alone couldn’t value human dignity.

But God had other plans. Partnering with our CEO, Kristi Atha-Rader, a dedicated board, and an incredible team, we turned things around. Today, RMC spans over 30 sites, employs more than 250 people, and generates over $35 million in annual revenue. We’ve expanded services to include dental care, adult behavioral health, psychiatry, and substance use disorder treatment, all while delivering high-quality, sustainable care to southern West Virginia’s underserved communities.

This growth wasn’t luck. It was rooted in faith, family, and the wisdom of those who’ve gone before me, like my parents Paul and Linda, who modeled self-sacrificing love, and my wife Stephanie, a national champion in skilled nursing who’s been my rock through all our trials as we worked and raised our four children and now look forward to grandchildren.

Where Is Your Treasure?

Jesus teaches, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.” This isn’t just poetry; it’s a blueprint for life. Blend it with modern insights on focus and productivity, and you see that what we invest in shapes our eternity. In healthcare, that means resisting the system’s pull to commodify people and instead building organizations that honor bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits.

My priest, Father Samuel, is always saying our wealth isn’t for indulgence but for distributing to those in need. When we look at where we spend our money nationally, this is a frightful thing. May the Lord be merciful.

From a business perspective, add a little prudence, or practical wisdom, as the virtue guiding ethical decisions, and this becomes principles that transform challenges into opportunities to lead with integrity.

The Five Principles for Meaningful Impact

Through my book, Five Principles for a Meaningful, Fruitful Life, I’ve distilled what worked at RMC into a framework anyone can apply. These aren’t abstract ideas; they’re battle-tested in the trenches of rural healthcare, where West Virginia’s overdose death rate peaked at 1,537 in 2021 and are combined with countless other challenges. Here’s how to live them out:

1. Live with Purpose: Start with strategic guidance rooted in your God-given mission. At RMC, this meant aligning our vision to become West Virginia’s best community health center. As we asked, what legacy am I building?

2. Develop Skills: We’ve worked hard to hone technical expertise in healthcare operations, finance, IT, and more. I overhauled our ERP system and modernized IT for 4-5x growth potential. Invest in training; it’s stewardship of your mind.

3. Build Relationships: Recruit, retain, and coach staff while fostering partnerships. I’ve mentored accountants into world-class leaders and treasure godparenting in my Orthodox faith community. The body grows when each part works properly.

4. Add Value: Analyze resources to serve communities better. We expanded dental services, mental health, nutrition, psychiatry, and substance abuse programs throughout the communities we serve to add value everyday.

5. Be Disciplined: Manage resources wisely. From clean audits to grant successes, discipline turns vision into reality.

Peter Drucker nailed it: “Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.”

I’m always trying to do the next right thing.

Are you or your organization doing the right things?

Real-Life Proof: From Survival to Hall of Fame

The fruit? RMC’s transformation created jobs and added services like integrated care in Rainelle and Maxwelton. Today, we’re continuing to grow and expand. We are looking toward the future. Seeking to be good partners to recovery homes, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities , and communities struggling.

Personally, my greatest success is my family: my wonderful marriage, four thriving kids, and grandchild on the way, who will sharpen my focus on legacy.

This Hall of Fame induction honors the team effort. We’ve trained up generations in purposeful living. We’re changing lives. Building the future generation. Serving our neighbors. Continuing to grow. I know national savings would reach billions if more followed our model, but locally, we have cut waste and continue to build sustainability.

Common Pitfalls and the Grace to Overcome

Healthcare tempts us to reduce people to expenses, especially in crises like the opioids devouring billions in West Virginia’s GDP or nationally during the COVID pandemic. I get the despair; I’ve felt the rage at broken systems. But we have to guard our hearts and turn anxiety into mastery through discipline. Grace abounds when we face those difficult and dark things.

Acknowledge struggles; seek patristic encouragement. Look for ways to channel energy into building, not bitterness.

Control Your Stewardship, Shape Your Legacy

The world needs men and women who steward their minds and resources for Christ, not chaos. In a spiritual battle against waste and deception, fight by building parallel economies of care. Burn the shortcuts; protect the innocent. Challenge corrupt rulers, expose darkness by shining light through action.

Physically, it means concrete steps: daily routines, deep work blocks, family dinners over screens.

Emotionally, protective love trumps anger.

Logically, cause-effect proves valuing people yields sustainability.

Join the Journey: Build with Truth & Prosperity

If this resonates, you’re not alone. Some feel triggered; that’s the spark of change.

The world doesn’t need more distracted leaders; it needs rooted, faithful stewards.

My book, Five Principles, maps out how to be more intentional in your life, relationships, and work. It’s a challenging resource for those willing to do the hard work.

Let’s build lasting legacies together. What step are you taking today to build a legacy? Share in the comments.

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