Kim Lamb • LVN photo Banner Churchill Community Hospital CEO Rex Walk took the position at the hospital in part because of Fallon's small town appeal.
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MICHAEL MARESH MICHAEL MARESH,mmaresh@lahontanvalleynews.com May 9, 2008 PrintEmail New Banner Churchill Community Hospital Chief Executive Officer Rex Walk brings almost 20 years of hospital business experience to the community.
Walk said he loves the small-town atmosphere, and it is one reason he decided to move to Fallon to take over for Charlie Myers, who suddenly resigned a few months ago.
Walk began his new job last month.
Walk, who's in his 40s, grew up in Leoti, Kan., where he met his future wife, Kay, and the two have been married for 23 years. They have three children - a daughter attending the University of Colorado, a son who will be playing football at West Point next fall and another son attending first grade.
He attended Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where he earned a master's degree in administration.
After graduating from college, Walk worked for a defense contractor and lived in Fort Worth, Texas, Belgium and Holland.
After five years, Walk and his wife made the decision to move to a smaller town for their children, and chose Scott City, Kan.
He said he was not looking at switching professions, but a hospital officer told him - while they could not pay him what he was making - it would give him the opportunity to make a difference.
"That resonated with me," Walk said. "I wanted to be grounded in a community."
The new Banner CEO worked as a hospital administrator in Scott City for five years before moving to Sydney, Neb., where he was the CEO at Memorial Health Center for seven years.
Deciding he wanted to be closer to family, Walk then took a job at a hospital in McPherson before moving to Fallon.
"We are really excited," he said. "We spent most of our lives in rural America."
What attracted Walk to Fallon is the community and a chance to be a part of the Banner Health System.
He walked around Fallon before accepting the position, though.
"It was pretty obvious it would be a good fit for us," Walk said, adding he was approached about the position as he looked at other opportunities within the company. Another incentive, he said, was being close to travel to Reno and Carson City but far enough away to enjoy the smaller town atmosphere.
"We like to be close to larger cities, though, we are small town people," he said. The CEO added he wants to be involved and feel safe while still being involved in the community.
"We were selective, and this is where we want to be," he said.
In his new position, Walk said he wants to work on priorities, employ engagement between physicians and patients and provide successful customer service while being physician friendly.
"We want to be a leader in the Banner system," he said. "This is an opportunity to make a difference in a small community."
Walk said he plans to bring the same passion he brought to his other jobs.
"I am a team guy with high energy," he said. "I set high standards. I am very excited about this opportunity. This is a good place with dedicated physicians."
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