ONTARIO – In the early 1990s, Ken Hart was ready to dedicate his life to politics.
Mr. Hart was already familiar with big-time politicians as a member of Sen. Mark Hatfield's staff in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hatfield, one of the most influential politicians in Congress at the time, was preparing to retire. Hart met with his boss for a final interview. When Mr. Hatfield asked what Mr. Hart's plans were, Mr. Hartfield, a Southern California native turned Oregonian, told the senator that he planned to make a living in politics.
“He said it wasn't a good idea,” Hart said.
Hart was surprised.
“I was hurt. This was my idol, and I thought he was telling me not to get the job I wanted,” Hart said.
Hatfield gave Hart other advice.
“You don't want to start a family here (in Washington, D.C.). You have to go home and raise a family,” Hatfield told Hart.
Hart thought about coaching the Hatfields. And he decided that the senator was right.
“So I took his advice and moved back to Portland,” Hart said.
More than 30 years later, Hart started a family and moved to Ontario, where he became a successful accountant and local civic leader.
On Friday, Jan. 19, the Ontario Regional Chamber of Commerce honored Hart as Athlete of the Year at the Four Rivers Cultural Center.
“It's amazing. I'm very honored,” Hart said.
Hart and his wife, Shelia, came to Ontario in 2004 when Hart was hired as Treasure Valley Community College's auditor.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” he said.
Since his arrival, Hart's career has flourished and his service to the community has grown as well. After working at the university, he became chief financial officer of Gentry Auto Group in Ontario and later served as deputy director of St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Ontario. Mr. Hart was elected president and chief executive officer of Ontario Hospitals in 2017.
In 2020, Hart left St. Alphonsus to become chief financial officer of Payette-based Valley Family Healthcare.
He was appointed CEO of the company in early 2023.
Hart hasn't completely left politics. He was appointed to the vacant Ontario City Council seat in 2020 and was elected to the City Council in 2022.
Mr. Hart is also a member of the Malheur County Poverty to Prosperity Committee and recently spearheaded the Ontario Promise Program. The program aims to secure funding for young people in Ontario to help fund higher education.
Hart also serves on the Treasure Valley Community College Board of Trustees.
Hart, 55, believes in Ontario and small-town living. As a child in Southern California, his family moved frequently as his father, a bank executive, changed jobs. When Hart grows up, he said he wants to find a place where he can put down long-term roots. Ontario fit the bill and was Sheila's home.
“One of the great benefits of moving to Ontario was the idea that I could land here and live in a home for 20 years. That would be a great gift to give to my children,” he says. said.
Promoting Ontario is a big part of Hart's job in the Valley family.
“I sell the community as much as I sell the Valley family. Living in this community for over 20 years tells you a lot. All of my children took classes at TVCC and attended Ontario High School. You can say you’ve graduated, and that shows you’re demonstrating leadership when it comes to your community,” Hart said.
Recruiting and retaining qualified medical professionals to work at Valley Family is one of Heart's biggest challenges.
“We have a huge shortage of nurses, doctors, front-line staff. Getting them to consider us is usually one of our biggest hurdles,” Hart said. .
Hart said he has become a “pretty good salesman.”
“My favorite part of my job is taking someone out to lunch and selling them Valley Family. Once they visit our staff and see our facilities, the chances of getting them is quite high,” he said.
Valley Heart oversees hundreds of employees and 12 clinics located from Emmett to Ontario to Nyssa.
“My job is to make sure everyone has the support they need to succeed. A big part of my job is building partnerships and getting out of the way of my staff,” he says. I did.
Hart prefers to start work early during weekday work hours. He uses his early morning hours to read and prepare for work. He is usually the first to arrive at work so he can “finish the day's work.”
He comes to work “to get the day's work done.”
“The rest of the day is related to meetings,” he said.
Hart said she is motivated by the challenges that occur every day in the Valley family.
“I just like business. I like helping solve things,” he said.
Hart, who holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's degree in political science, said he believes his academic background plays a key role in his success.
“Part of my job is to figure out what the organization needs and figure out how to provide for it. (TVCC) My role on the board and on the city council is to provide the financial background for these two groups. “I think it's about trying to bring as much as possible,” he said.
Hart said she wanted to work for the FBI when she was younger, but now if she could have any other career, she would like to be a teacher.
“I had a short stint (instructing) at TVCC when I was superintendent. I really enjoyed it,” he said.
Mr Hart said the highlight of his career was when he worked at Hatfield and when he was appointed chairman of St Alphonsus. Another high point for him is that St. Alfonso received his five-star rating from the federal government for its care for his services.
News tips? Contact reporter Pat Caldwell. [email protected].
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