Last summer, Ron Beer, a 20-year healthcare veteran, moved from COO to CEO of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center, one of the largest area employers with a staff of nearly 500.

 

His experience as a taskmaster made the move to the chief executive's office a natural one. With three years under his belt at the hospital, he's worked tirelessly to help bring leading-edge services and technology to the region, including wound care/hyperbaric medicine and cardiac CT.  

 

So who would have guessed his career decision was the result of growing up in a very small town?

 

"I became very aware of healthcare the first time I broke my arm in second grade ...my mom came to school and picked me up and we drove the very bumpy 30 minutes to the nearest hospital," said Beer, whose high school senior class had only 19 members. "When I look at expanding services or adding services to the hospital, I remember that long, agonizing trip and the frustration my mom felt as she drove me to the hospital. Healthcare should be available to all."

 

Born the youngest of three sons to Bob and Georgia Beer, he grew up in a traditional Midwestern home, where his dad drove a semi for Interstate Brands (Dolly Madison). "I thought it was one of the coolest jobs in the world," Beer said. "Who wouldn't want to deliver Ding Dongs for a living?"

 

Imbued with a call to community service, Beer remembers painting picnic tables at the city park, not because he needed the hours for a college application, but simply because they needed to be done.

 

"We were all that way," he said. "The park was a collective backyard for us. We valued what he had. We valued our neighbors. We valued our friends. Sir and ma'am was everyone out of high school, and if you didn't wave to Mr. Smith or help Mrs. Hodges with her groceries, your mom knew about it before you got home. It taught me the value of community. It taught me the value of respect."

 

Beer also realized early on that he couldn't blend in unnoticed at school.

 

"Most of the teachers knew me from the time I was in kindergarten until I graduated," said Beer, valedictorian of his graduating class. "I learned very early that I enjoyed attention … and the class clown was born. I had an opportunity to go back in 2006 when my mom passed, and spent some time with my former teachers. It was one of the greatest moments in my life. They were so proud because they knew they helped shape me and now, through their influence, I'm in a position to help others. It was an incredible turning point in my life."

 

While studying biology at Emporia State College in Kansas, Beer joined the ROTC, which he lauds as "a great organization that teaches leadership, discipline and time management." He excelled in the cadet ranks and was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer upon graduation.

 

While stationed in Germany, Beer worked at Hanau Health Clinic as clinic administrator alongside LTC Barbara Wright.

 

"She started to mentor, develop and train me in hospital administration and further honed my leadership skills," he said. "She identified talents in me that I didn't know existed."

 

When he was transferred to San Antonio, Texas, Beer pursued a master's degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University, graduating with a 3.9 GPA in 2002. His military experience in Texas included serving as CFO of the U.S. Army Dental Command and before that, director of the management analysis division for the 450-bed Brooke Army Medical Center.

 

In 2003, Beer continued researching progressive healthcare management companies that focused on bringing high-tech healthcare services to rural and non-urban markets across the nation. He found the perfect fit with Health Management Associates, Inc. (HMA).  

 

"The company fit well with my values and its mission hit close to home," he said.

 

In 2004, Beer joined HMA's Williamson Memorial Hospital in Williamson, W.V., as assistant administrator, and worked as COO of Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville, N.C., before relocating to Central Florida.
"In the military and with HMA, I've moved around a lot," said Beer, who has a daughter, Amy, 3, with his wife of eight years, Kristie. "Staying connected to family, friends, and providing my family with a sense of stability has been a challenge. Technology has been a great asset for us. We stay connected through email, online networking sites and regular contact. My wife and I believe that happiness is all about balance. We make time for our friends and most importantly, make time for our family. Our activities are centered on being together so the location becomes almost secondary."

 

A fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives, Beer runs the 84-bed St. Cloud hospital in much the same way he was raised.

 

"I want our staff to feel like this is their business," he said. "The patients are their neighbors and the smile a family member gets when they walk into the lobby may be the one that lets them know everything is going to be okay. My leadership style is greatly influenced by the foundation my parents and community created."

 

Still the class clown, Beer enjoys golfing, boating, and piddling around the house.

 

"I enjoy golfing with friends and coworkers, but my favorite round is when my wife and daughter join me for a round on a Sunday afternoon," he said. "Somehow, shooting a 100 isn't so bad when you see your daughter putting a pink ball with a tiny pink putter and smiling from ear to ear."