By Lois Thomson, South Florida Hospital News, for ACHE of South Florida

Jorge Quintero lives in South Florida, but his work for The Goodman Group takes him all over the country. Based in Minnesota, The Goodman Group has three sectors: healthcare, residential, and commercial, and Quintero is national vice president of Operations and Business Development for the healthcare sector. Quintero said the company has hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the nation, but he is responsible for two hospitals, and neither is close to home.

“I oversee Bitterroot Hospital in Hamilton, Montana, a very small, 25-bed acute care facility, and the second hospital is Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. It’s the only hospital in Flagstaff so it has 268 beds.” He also oversees seven post acute care facilities, which include rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities. Some of these post acute care facilities are located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, but “otherwise,” Quintero said, “I live in the airport.”

Quintero described his responsibilities for all of the facilities, saying, “I do the day-to-day operations, so I handle processing and quality improvements, and I oversee the facilities and construction.” Included in this is oversight of new investments, renovations, procurement, budget, and cost control, and resource optimization. “I also collaborate with HR regarding talent acquisition, and I oversee customer satisfaction for the entire enterprise.”

Of all of those areas, Quintero said one of the things he likes best about his work is that he can positively impact the healthcare of the population he serves. “I have the opportunity to conduct independent research tailored to each population group I serve, taking into account the specific needs of the location, state, and hospital. I’m passionate about the research process and enjoy developing service lines that are strategically designed to meet the unique needs of each community.”

Quintero said leadership and coaching is also one of his favorite parts of the job. “I am deeply committed to strong, values-driven leadership and take pride in setting clear expectations while modeling the standards and culture of our organization. One of my greatest passions is coaching and developing high-performing teams – identifying potential in individuals and providing the mentorship, guidance, and resources necessary to help them thrive and achieve long-term success.”

With a decade of experience in operations, Quintero has consistently set his sights on executive leadership within the healthcare industry. “Pursuing a leadership role in healthcare has always been a primary objective for me throughout my academic journey, including my formal education and ongoing professional development.”

Quintero earned his executive masters of healthcare administration from Florida Atlantic University, and he recalled during that time the college exposed him to ACHE, the American College of Healthcare Executives. “I initially joined as a student member and transitioned to full membership upon graduating from the executive program. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience – one of the most valuable aspects has been the opportunity to build meaningful connections through a strong professional network.”

He appreciates getting to know colleagues in the same market, saying it is absolutely crucial because by doing so you are able to find mentors, and connect with people who oversee different aspects of the healthcare industry, along with building partnerships. “Being part of a group solely dedicated to healthcare is incredibly impactful – it creates a unique environment for collaboration, learning, and industry-specific growth that I find truly invaluable.”

Quintero has already been heavily involved with the organization since he joined, particularly participating in a number of education sessions, and is working on accumulating enough credits to earn his fellowship. With all he has gained from ACHE he said he would “absolutely encourage others” to join.