OACB Board of Trustees selects Bridget Gargan as new Executive Director
On Monday, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Bridget Gargan as OACB's new Executive Director. Following discussions with the Board of Trustees as well as her current employer, Bridget has accepted OACB's offer and will start in her new position effective July 8.
Bridget is currently Vice President of Government Affairs for the Ohio Hospital Association, a position she has held for the past eleven years. In this position, she has been responsible for state level advocacy and representation with the legislative and executive branches. She joined the OHA team in 1992 after working with the Ohio House of Representatives and at Prentice Hall, Inc.
At OACB, Gargan will perform similar duties to those she currently performs at OHA, as well as take on a much larger portfolio of responsibilities that include executive management, member relations, and hands-on oversight of all Association programs.
Gargan has been active in many community organizations in the social services realm over the years, including volunteer leadership positions with United Cerebral Palsy, Inc. of Central Ohio, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Mid-Ohio Chapter), and Amethyst, a long-term drug and alcohol treatment center located in Columbus.
A native of Kent, Ohio, Bridget graduated cum laude from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in rhetoric and communications and a minor in political science.
The Board of Trustees and staff are very excited to welcome Bridget to the Association, and look forward to a bright and productive future under her skilled leadership. Special thanks also go out to Blaine Brockman, Dean Fadel, Rick Marriott, Laurie Benintendi, Kay Ervin, Lisa Edris, Steve Oster, and Kim Linkinhoker for serving on the ad hoc selection committee tasked with coordinating the process, and to BeecherHill for their able performance throughout the executive search.
If you would like to contact Bridget prior to her start date or wish her well on this new endeavor, please feel free to e-mail her at bgargan@oacbdd.org. Note: While this e-mail address is active, Bridget will not be checking it until she officially begins on July 8.
