The end of a year requires a transition – regardless of what happens moving forward. A year is filled with lessons learned, triumphs, setbacks and uncertainties. Even if we arrive in January at the same place of work at the same time we always do – there is still a sense of newness – the feeling of another beginning.

This year, I am announcing an exciting transition in our company taking place effective January 1, 2025. Lori Strubbe, our current Chief Operations Officer, will assume the position and role I have been in since starting Focused Care – Chief Executive Officer – CEO. I will still be active within the company focusing on new opportunities, but I couldn’t be more pleased to have Lori usher in our 2025 as the new CEO.

Lori and I have a history together – having worked in long term care at another company before I founded this one. She volunteered to join Focused Care for 6 months as a favor to help us get started with a strong “Organizational Systems” in place.  That favored morphed into becoming a Partner in Focused Care and earning the COO role. The breadth and depth of her experience in this healthcare sector is beyond impressive – she cannot be siloed because her talents are multifaceted. When you start a company in healthcare, you know your main asset is people. You want someone with leadership, someone who understands your mission and adds to it – someone who, when everyone has exhausted all explorations of perspectives and strategies – offers the one idea, approach or potential solution – that hadn’t yet been considered. That’s Lori.

Her work ethic is unmatched and she is a relentless problem solver. I laugh when people get in between her and an achievement she wants to reach.  They either get on-board or get run over, there really aren’t any other options. I know her goals will be lofty; however, they will be achievable when we stay disciplined to our processes that are currently in play or those new ones that may come as a result of change.

Historians often debate about leaders who see their people, countries, and allies out of a perilous hour or realize an astounding achievement. Is it the leader – the individual who made the time monumental or did the time – the moment in history – make the leader? I think certain leaders rise to the moment and are uniquely suited to guide and act.

Lori Strubbe is the leader to take us into 2025 as a company, a community and a role model for other long term care organizations. She is the face of our future, the voice of our mission. She has the innovative thinking and intuitive intelligence to run a company – but she also has and promotes compassion in a business where both are essential to succeed.

She is our person of this moment. I hope you join me in congratulating her and in feeling the excitement of this new year.

Mark McKenzie

Founder