(l to r) Bruce Cutright, Mark Callahan, Ronda, Ehly, Shawn Nordby, Melissa Baker, Dave Long, Leslie Schroeder, Josh Yost, Eric Barber, and Jesse Sutton pose with the check presented to the winners of the Oakeson Steiner Big Idea.
On October 1, 2020, the Mary Lanning Healthcare Foundation hosted the 2nd Annual Oakeson Steiner Big Idea.
Similar to the “Hastings Big Idea”, Mary Lanning Healthcare employees were encouraged to submit their ideas for a piece of equipment, technology, or other initiative at Mary Lanning. All applications were reviewed by the Administrative team and narrowed down to the top five to present at the Oakeson Steiner Big Idea pitching event. The winner would receive a minimum of $3,200 from Oakeson Steiner Wealth & Retirement to fund their big idea.
Oakeson Steiner has been a faithful friend of Mary Lanning Healthcare for more than 20 years, and this is the second year that they invited employees to present big ideas that would strengthen their department and impact patient satisfaction. “Our job is to improve lives by helping employees plan for the future,” said Josh Yost, Financial Consultant at Oakeson Steiner, “the Big Idea allowed us to improve quality of work for the people that our team interacts with every day. We were grateful for the opportunity to participate.”
Five finalists pitched their big ideas in front of judges, Josh Yost and Leslie Schroeder. Eric Barber, president and C.E.O., Shawn Nordby, C.F.O., Mark Callahan, C.O.O, Ronda Ehly, C.N.O., Dave Long, VP of Physician Clinics, and Bruce Cutright VP of Human Resources at Mary Lanning Healthcare, joined employees who attended to support the presenters. The top five finalists included:
Jesse Sutton - Adaptive Feeding Utensils for Pediatric Rehab
Melissa Baker - Patient Lifts for Progressive Care Unit
Karee Dvorak - Security Camera for Morrison Cancer Center
Shana Schultz - Bassinet for Family Care Center
Kevin Ronne - Updated Bedside Laptops for Intensive Care Unit
After careful deliberation, Josh and Leslie announced that Oakeson Steiner would fund not one, but two big ideas. Melissa Baker, RN in PCU, received $5,000 to purchase new patient lifts for the Progressive Care Unit. Jesse Sutton, Occupational Therapist at Pediatric Rehab, was also awarded $800 to purchase four sets of adaptive feeding utensils and additional funds to help purchase these utensils for families in need. To learn more about these adaptive feeding utensils, click here.
Jesse Sutton, Occupational Therapist, expressed his gratitude: “We are so thankful for Oakeson Steiner's generosity and altruism that will empower and foster independence in the daily occupation of feeding.”