Champion Business Leader

Gretchen Guess - Providence Health and Services

Gretchen Guess is the Executive Director of Operations for Providence. Providence Sacred Heart employs nearly 5,000 employees in the lower south hill medical community. Gretchen feels it’s important for Providence to offer their employees options on getting to work to the impact on our earth and to financially support their employees.

Providence offers fully subsidized bus and vanpool fares, preferred parking for carpoolers, secured bike storage, showers and lockers, compressed work schedules, teleworking for some and a guaranteed ride home program.

Gretchen is also an executive sponsor of Providence’s Green Team and feels that CTR fits right into Providence’s plan to be Net Neutral by 2030.

They actively market their Green Initiatives and CTR program to all employees with quarterly events and educational meetings. Their ETC, Seth Norman, and Gretchen meets with all new employees during orientation to make sure they understand all the benefits of their CTR program. Seth also does a swag drawing each month for all CTR participants.

Supporting the caregivers is one of Gretchen’s main priorities. Having a communications plan, an enthusiastic ETC, swag and a supportive executive all add up to a successful CTR program.

Gretchen’s advice to other executives or managers, “Be assessable to your team. Get engaged and be supportive of the program. Don’t sweat the small stuff (swag/prizes), and of course have fun!”

Congratulations Gretchen!