From Our Team
Health Foundation announces new REALIZE Executive Cohort
Posted on August 27, 2024 by Dr. Michael Kelly
Leadership can be taught, and leadership can be learned. Using this premise, the REALIZE executive experience takes already good leaders and, over the course of nine months, helps them become transformational leaders for the benefit of the region’s health.
The Health Foundation’s REALIZE Executive program is a world-class experience established in 2010 and tailored specifically for the Paso del Norte region to inspire and train a cohort of up to 20 high-level leaders at a time to build upon existing leadership qualities and skills. Offered every 2 to 3 years, the more than 100 REALIZE leadership graduates include nonprofit executives, chief financial and operations officers, school district central staff, chief nursing officers, academic deans, and many more established leaders.
Paso del Norte region leaders gathered to celebrate the start of the sixth REALIZE cohort. The new 17-member cohort, selected from many applicants and representing various organizations in the region, will participate in an intensive nine-month leadership development program and experience leadership assessments, executive coaching, out-of-town experiential learning, seminars by national leadership experts, measurable outcomes, and much more.
“I’m really excited about the program overall but mostly about the professional coaching. I’m also really eager to meet all of the cohort members because it seems like it would be a great support group to have as a leader in the community,” Georgina Hernández, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way El Paso County, said.
Cohort members will start their journey to becoming better leaders in Sacramento, New Mexico, where they will be unplugged but connected to the REALIZE program.
“It’s a transformational experience that everyone keeps talking about. The organization that I currently work at is going through tremendous growth; being able to match that growth with a foundation of leadership skills that will really help us elevate and succeed during that time of growth is something I’m really excited about.” Janel Lujan, CEO of El Paso Health Medicaid Service Lines.
The REALIZE program is dedicated in honor of Robert H. Hoy, Jr. Mr. Hoy was a founding board member of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Paso del Norte Community Foundation. His leadership, support and advocacy of these foundations, and his role as a leader and mentor to countless young leaders are among his many outstanding contributions to health and well-being in our region. The Health Foundation is pleased to offer REALIZE programs to build health leaders in our region in honor and furtherance of Mr. Hoy’s legacy.
For more information on REALIZE, visit the Health Foundation website at www.pdnhf.org or contact Dr. Michael Kelly at mkelly@pdnfoundation.org.
The sixth REALIZE Cohort includes:
- Jessica Andrews, Behavioral Health Services Director, El Paso Child Guidance Center
- Lidia Carranco, Assistant CFO, El Paso Water
- David Chayer, Executive Director, Family Services of El Paso
- Evelyn Corral, Director of Field Operations, Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso
- Kellie Burns-Franco, Director of Development, Paso del Norte Community Foundation
- Annette Gomez, Assistant Administrator of Clinic Services, University Medical Center of El Paso
- Selena Gomez, Executive Director, Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach
- Georgina Hernandez, President and CEO, United Way of El Paso County
- Joy Leos, Health Training & Promotions Manager, City of El Paso – Department of Public Health
- Janel Lujan, CEO, El Paso Health Medicaid
- Laura Marquez, Program Supervisor, Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center
- Karin Melson, HR Benefits Manager, El Paso Electric Company
- Kathy Revtyak, Executive Director, Children’s Grief Center
- Dr. Sarah Ruiz, Founder & Registered Dietitian, Sun City Dietitians
- Lisa Saucedo, CEO, CASA of El Paso
- Candice Trujillo, SW Region Director, New Mexico Department of Public Health
- Dr. John Wiebe, Provost, VP Academic Affairs, The University of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Michael Kelly
Dr. Kelly joined the Foundation in 1999. In his role as Vice President of Programs, he provides leadership for the Health Foundation’s health priority areas and supervises a talented program staff. Dr. Kelly plays a central role in Health Foundation leadership, including staffing the Allocations Committee and overseeing grantmaking. He also is instrumental in designing, implementing, and evaluating Collective Impact initiatives and leading special projects. His philosophy is for all people to have the ability, environmental support, and freedom to pursue health and quality of life. He has an unsurpassed ability to predict and navigate the many complex vicissitudes in the philanthropic and population health. A native of Houston, Dr. Kelly received a Ph.D. in health education from Texas A&M University. He also holds a Masters of Education in Health Education and a B.A. in biology. He now lives in El Paso with his wife Nethia and their two sons.
PDNHF Initiative: REALIZE Executive
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