www.btobmagazine.com/Articles/print.html_1660617519.htm -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 1/1/2008
Last Visited: 1/5/2008
CEO of the Year - Jim Tally, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
...
For any organization to be successful, you need a buy-in from every person , up and down the corporate ladder. James Tally knows this better than anyone, which only is one reason why he is the 2008 Business to Business CEO of the Year.
In 1998, following the merger of Egleston Children's Health Care System and Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center, Tally was charged with bringing the two corporate cultures together.In the decade since the merger, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) has become a model of health care excellence.
As CHOA's first CEO in 1998, Tally rallied the company's 6,800-plus employees with his collegial, team-building, value-based management style.A few months shy of his 65th birthday last year, Tally, the former chief administrator and CEO at Scottish Rite from 1984 to 1997, announced his retirement.
...
Her selection is seen as board endorsement of the organization Tally created over the past decade and the strong management team he's assembled.
"We got lucky [with the selection of Hyland], but not really because Jim groomed her for the role," says Joe Rogers Jr., chairman of CHOA's board of trustees.
...
When meeting Tally for the first time, one is struck by how personable he is, and how that sense of caring permeates Children's.A visitor in Tally's well-apportioned yet unassuming office refers to him as "Dr.Tally," acknowledging his doctorate in higher education administration from Southern Illinois.Tally quickly says, "Call me Jim," as he takes a sip from a Diet Coke.
The team player Tally is a consensus-builder, not dictating policy and direction but involving others in the process so they have an ownership stake in whatever decision is made.When asked to outline his greatest accomplishments during his decade leading CHOA, Tally talks about the common values, passion and love employees have for the children they serve; the strong culture of the organization; and the dedication of CHOA's board to do the right thing every time.He doesn't mention building a three-hospital, $3 billion in assets children's health care organization or CHOA's $265 million, five-year capital funds campaign that's close to conclusion.
...
Tally's office proudly features a framed certificate pronouncing Jim and Carol Tally as members of True Faith Baptist Church, where Elligan is pastor.
...
"The negotiation with Grady was a six-month process, and Jim did most of that work," Rogers says.
...
"If that happens, Jim and his staff did all of the work and will get the credit."
Tally first met Elligan, who also is president of Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc., when the reverend said a prayer at the ribbon-cutting at Hughes Spalding."His prayer was so meaningful, I talked about it in my comments," Tally recalls."If we lived the words of his prayer, we certainly would succeed at Hughes Spalding, and I asked in front of the crowd for them to continue to pray for us."
The two met for lunch shortly after and have been meeting monthly ever since, with Tally gaining valuable insight about working in inner-city Atlanta.Eighty percent of Hughes Spalding patients are on Medicaid, compared to about 56 percent of patients at Egleston and 45 percent at Scottish Rite.Hughes Spalding represents a different working environment than the suburban hospitals, and Tally wants to make sure Children's effectively addresses the needs of this patient population.Elligan serves as a great sounding board for Tally.
...
Manners taught Tally about concern and passion for the community, while Hiller helped him expand his talents in business acumen.
...
Tally strives to be a Level 5 leader , one who recognizes leadership isn't about the individual but about "the mission and a passionate commitment to achieve goals, a recognition it takes a lot of people working together to achieve success."
Working in tandem with a board that shares similar values, Tally relies on the employees to help him and the board focus on issues that are important to employees.
...
Tally will spend a few additional months helping transition leadership to Hyland, who will lead the organization into its second decade.
...
But Tally will leave CHOA knowing the organization is in good hands.
137 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ claim profile ]
