Karen Kresnik tapped for Leadership Hall of Fame

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Bellwether League Inc., the Hall of Fame for Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership, recognized five professionals for their contributions to supply chain operations during the first decade of their respective careers.

Karen Kresnik, RN, director of supply chain value analysis and contracting at Methodist Health System, was among those named to the Future Famers Class of 2017.  Hall of Fame selections were based on leaders who have made significant strides in the healthcare supply chain industry early in their employment.

“It is wonderful that Karen’s peers in the industry recognize what we already know about the great work in value analysis she does every day at Methodist for our patients and clinicians,” said Jeff Francis, Methodist Health System vice president and chief financial officer.

With a clinical and consulting background that reinforces her business acumen, judgment and negotiations, Kresnik tackled historically difficult projects within the Methodist organization. She oversaw the review of processes in orthopedics, laboratory distribution and blood management, and worked with clinicians to cut costs by more than $2 million for their organization and bolstering its self-distribution model.

“The Future Famers Class of 2017 has individually and collectively contributed to the supply chain profession and to their healthcare provider’s efforts to maximize supply chain performance,” said Jamie Kowalski, Bellwether League Co-Founder and Board Member who chairs the nominating committee. “Some Future Famers have done this through success in a narrow, more focused initiative, while others have taken a broad scope in what they have already done.

Nick Gaich, Chairman, Bellwether League’s Board of Directors, expressed his admiration and excitement for the Future Famers Class of 2017.

“Bellwether League’s Future Famer recognition program allows us to look at some of our industry’s best young executives and their accomplishments, which in turn provides us a glimpse of those who will carry forward the legacy of supply chain contributions,” Gaich said. “I would like to congratulate all five Future Famers in this year’s class, and along with our Board of Directors, look forward to keeping a watchful eye on their continued path of scaling supply chain excellence.”

Kresnik and the other Future Famers will be recognized during the 10^th Annual Bellwether Induction Dinner event, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 16, at The Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown Magnificent Mile.