Kace L. Ragan

*** ******** ***, *******, ** *****

601-***-**** (cell) • acn0qj@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Independent Consulting (October 2014 - present)

Marketing, Strategy, Communication & Public Relations

Community Health System (2011 – September 2014)

Director of Market Strategy and Branding, Jackson/Vicksburg, MS Network (Jan. 2014 – Sept. 2014)

Lead the strategic integration and growth of six (6) hospitals challenged with operating as a health

network in the Jackson/Vicksburg market.

Developing and executing internal and external communication strategies for the network.

Creating timelines, programs and execution strategies for all multi-facility network initiatives.

Developing recruiting, on-boarding and retention strategies and tool-kits for physicians and

physician practices.

Working closely with business development team to strengthen physician-to-physician referral

programs and identifying methods for building professional relationships between providers.

Developing integrated plans-of-action to improve network market share in women’s services,

cardiac services, emergency services and clinical practices.

Oversight for all website, collateral, advertising and public relations messages.

Southern Division Marketing Manager / Health Management Associates, Jackson, MS (2011-2014)

NOTE: HMA acquired by CHS in January 2014

Oversight for the budgets, strategic marketing plans and communications efforts of 14 hospitals and

several hundred physician practices across Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas.

Reduced division’s annual marketing expenditures 10%, saving over $600,000 by creating

process efficiencies and eliminating wasteful duplications across geographic markets.

Grew name awareness of a 12-clinic network from 12% to 22% in just 2 years, resulting in a 14%

increase in new patient volume in the first 12 months by developing and executing a cohesive,

interactive, online and traditional marketing campaign.

Reshaped all marketing messages to include an easy to measure call-to-action while targeting

very specific demographic and psychographic audience profiles.

Responsible for directing statewide public relations campaigns, community involvement

initiatives and crisis communication matters.

Peterson Regional Medical Center (2009-2011)

Marketing Director, Kerrville, TX

Responsible for all marketing, public relations and communication efforts for a not-for-profit,

regional hospital located 60 miles northwest of San Antonio, TX.

Grew the scope and depth of the marketing department to include graphic design, web design,

physician relations and community communications. This was achieved without increasing the

total marketing budget by tapping into internal and local university talent.

Worked on an aggressive physician recruitment campaign which included developing a strategic

physician on-boarding and orientation program.

Redesigned all external marketing, communication and promotional efforts to reflect a clear and

cohesive brand.

St Dominic Hospital – Jackson, MS (2002 – 2009)

Director of Marketing - (2007 - 2009)

Reorganized and integrated the marketing and communication efforts of all Health Services entities.

Refocused marketing efforts to better represent growing service lines and key employed

physician clinics.

Connected directly with department and service line leaders to better support both internal and

external communication efforts, promotional messaging and return-on-spend calculations.

Created the first comprehensive marketing/communication plan that directly aligned with the

hospital’s long-range strategic growth plan.

Built more efficient processes and grew a strong marketing team to make the best use of the

$3 million marketing budget.

Administrative Projects Director - (2004 – promoted in 2007)

Worked directly with the hospital President and other administrators on projects including

operations, financial management, medical staff and clinical issues, strategy development and board

presentations.

Assigned responsibilities related to governmental and regulatory reporting, customer service

leadership and emergency preparedness initiatives.

Named team leader for the hospital’s Malcolm-Baldridge self-assessment project.

Worked with senior leadership to develop/implement their first long-range strategic plan.

Community Relations Coordinator - (2002 – promoted in 2004)

Responsible for developing market analysis and media plans hospital marketing, advertising, internal

communications, public relations, business development efforts and community events.

Developed and implemented a media buying process and freelance production team saving the

department over $200,000 the first year.

WGHP/FOX8 - High Point, NC

Community Affairs Manager - (1999 – 2001)

Responsible for the organization and execution of community and public relations events designed

to maximize the station’s image.

Wrote/produced promotional TV spots and image events to maintain the station’s top ranking.

Advertising Consultants, Inc. - Jackson, MS

Owner - (1991 – 1999)

Designed comprehensive ad and public relations campaigns for local and regional clients.

Other Experience

Adjunct Instructor – Mississippi College Communications Department, Clinton MS

Creative Advantage - Client and Creative Services, Dallas, TX

Ft. Worth Star Telegram - Account Executive, Fort Worth, TX

Lone Star Gas Company - Customer Relations, Dallas, TX

EDUCATION

Texas Tech University – 1983, Lubbock, TX - Bachelor of Arts in Advertising

Mississippi College – 1995, Clinton, MS - Master of Science in Communication

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