The dynamics of business leadership have significantly changed over the past few years. CEOs, in particular, have to shoulder different responsibilities to keep up with the change. They have to become the best motivators and inspirations for employees, customers, and consumers. They also inspire the company culture, provide excellent opportunities to employees, and drive positive changes in the organizations. Kevin MacRitchie (CEO, Tactical Rehabilitation ) is one such astute leader keeping his company ahead with strategic planning and a proactive approach.
The Illustrious Journey
In the early 1980s, a new major consisting of Information Systems (IT) and Operations Management (ISOM) was introduced at the University of Toledo. Kevin became an early pioneering member of the project and focused on how technology would play a part in the improvement of the operational efficiencies of a company. He also focused on how the IT and ISOM combination would create a new comprehension and improve the company from within along with market dynamics. This program included high-level studies in math, statistics, economics, and logical thinking through computer programming and technological operational problem-solving.
Professor Joe Sass at the University helped Kevin to start as an intern in a program where he applied his learning experience as well as ran the new technologies and implementation of hardware and software systems. The company where Kevin worked for 8 years, was a big mainframe shop, and it started shifting to more and more distributed computing. Later, he was hired by Cisco Systems to engineer change for customer networks. At Cisco, he served in numerous roles and industries, developed successful teams, and with his persistent efforts, he became the youngest person ever promoted to Vice President in the company. “I found Healthcare, Education, and Government to be among the areas I made the most significant impact in my more senior roles,” says Kevin. After having a considerable experience at Cisco, Kevin joined Tactical Rehabilitation in 2019.
Serving the Nation
Tactical Rehabilitation was founded by David Marr (Now Chairman of the Board) in 2013. It was established with the mission to provide the highest quality products and the highest level of qualified service to active-duty service members, veterans, and their families in the initial areas of biomechanical, musculoskeletal, and non-pharmaceutical pain management. The company is particularly focused on solving over 68% of the US Military injuries that prevent people from sustaining a “service-ready” status. It is a very specific mission and falls under the super category or umbrella category of Durable Medical Equipment (DME). Moreover, the company has expanded since its inception and stayed true to its focus on achieving success.
Balancing the Needs
Currently, Kevin leads and continues to invest in the team of Tactical Rehabilitation bringing educational opportunities in leadership development and customer experience. He also ensures that every employee adheres to his/her personal goals around certifications as well as company performance goals. This allows multiple levels of personal and professional achievements along with the company’s growth.
As a decorated leader, Kevin serves the most critical part of the role—listening to his employees, partners, patients, and doctors. This way, he understands their needs and helps in creating internal balance as well as ensuring the best possible care. Kevin also ensures that along with the best solutions, the business needs are balanced.
Growing out of Challenges
Every company encounters waves of highs and lows in its growth journey. Tactical Rehabilitation is currently going through the next phase of business growth and development in which the company wishes to grow its number of locations as well as the number of patients. It focuses on improving the underlying systems, hiring incredible people in the team, and adhering to its core competencies as new opportunities emerge. Though the company faces all these challenges positively, navigating them with a team of amazing leaders and ensuring the right business decisions are crucial.
A Team of Experts
A team is a basic foundation of every organization. Tactical Rehabilitation is blessed with such an exceptional team in which every member is recognized and honored as an individual of value with unique talents and skills. The solutions the company offers reflect these skills and Kevin has sought out team members from every background and skill diversity. He encourages his teammates to represent the efforts with the best and most well-rounded inputs possible. In case of improvements, the team actively approaches Kevin, and together they discuss the solution. The employees are instructed either to be active members of the solution or to lead the solution. If the company does not have any in-house talent, it partners with the experts and includes them in the team.
Ensuring Client Satisfaction
With such an expert team, Tactical Rehabilitation is always looking forward to challenges to grow more opportunities for its employees and create better services for its consumers. The company focuses on constant improvement to the “Tactical Experience”. “We believe that by defining what top quality service and solutions look like, and ever-increasing that bar through listening to those we serve, we can continuously re-define it and make it better through a planned improvement process,” says Kevin.
Life beyond the Cabin
When asked about life beyond the cabin, Kevin answers that he is a workaholic. “Anyone who knows me knows I work all day every day and rarely take a break,” says Kevin. He ensures that all the employees can reach out to him in case of any difficulty or emergency. Besides work, Kevin is an avid and very active horseman; he often goes horse-riding and supports the local sheriff department and herding buffalo in Michigan and South Dakota. Moreover, he enjoys quality time with his family in 4 wheeling in his jeeps.
Future Plans
Tactical Rehabilitation will continue to grow and serve the nation in the future also. This will require new and advanced models for more difficult-to-reach geographic areas in the USA and the globe as well as stronger partnerships. Additionally, the company will continue to expand its solutions based on the priority needs of its patient base. It is planning to launch new services and solutions that go beyond the initial founding.
Along with his future plans, Kevin also shares his valuable advice with young leaders.
- Plan. Set goals.
- Achieve your goals, celebrate them and set new and higher goals.
- For the new goal, remind yourself the goal is still attainable, it has just moved further down the road; for the only constant is change.
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Also Read: Top 10 Revolutionary CEOs of 2023
