Metroplex welcomes new VP/CFO

Penny Johnson

Penny L. Johnson is the newest player to join the Metroplex Health System administrative team as its vice president and chief financial officer.

For the past eight years, Mrs. Johnson worked at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Merriam, Kan., most recently serving as assistant vice president of finance and controller.

"I am very happy to be here and I am impressed with the employees and leadership team," Mrs. Johnson said.

"When I toured both Metroplex and Rollins Brook, the people were excited about and appreciative of their jobs and really took ownership in Metroplex. That was impressive."

Mrs. Johnson replaces Janice Hagensicker who accepted a promotion in the Adventist Health System to regional senior vice president/chief financial officer for the Adventist Midwest Region in Chicago.

As Metroplex's new VP/CFO, Mrs. Johnson will serve as the key financial resource to the board of directors and president/CEO, providing stewardship over the organization's assets and participating in strategy development.

At Shawnee Mission, Mrs. Johnson was responsible for the accounting activities of the 383- bed, acute-care facility and its seven subsidiary corporations. She also oversaw materials management and the surgery center business office and admitting functions.

She received a bachelor of science degree in business administration/accounting from Union College in Lincoln, Neb., and a master of business administration from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan.

Mrs. Johnson said one of the reasons she was attracted to Metroplex is that even though it has been in a constant state of growth, it has upheld a standard of providing superior care and service.

"Even though Metroplex is not the largest facility in the Adventist Health System, it has developed quality and patient service initiatives that are at par or surpass many of the larger facilities. That is impressive."

Mrs. Johnson said she is anxious to begin looking for ways to optimize revenues, and one of her goals is to work with managers to find ways to grow volumes and service lines to benefit Metroplex.

"There are so many things on the horizon that will help Metroplex grow," she said.

A second goal is to help employees throughout the organization realize that her team is here to help support their needs. "I want employees to see these departments as valuable resources.

"These departments are here to help support the care of our patients. We are here to help the caregivers and we are going to focus on customer relations."

Mrs. Johnson said she has enjoyed getting acquainted with the employees and learning the system. "I've been able to hit the ground running. The Metroplex administrative team is fun to work with and has a lot of energy," she said. "It is also nice to work under a CEO (Ken Finch) who is very well regarded within the Adventist Health System and has such vast experience."

Mrs. Johnson and her husband, Jeff, have two children, Parks, 7, and Macy, 4. She said they are enjoying Texas and are excited to live in the community.

Mrs. Johnson said the family plans to explore as much of Texas as possible and take day trips to all the local hot spots. "We are going to embrace being Texans," she said.