"The client is always king — always been that way and always will be"
Ronny Shumaker Tweet
Ronny Shumaker is a master certified executive leadership coach as well as an experienced operational and management leader who partners with executives to enhance their leadership skills and increase their businesses’ operational efficiencies. Ronny’s 40 years of experience in business leadership and management has enabled him to establish a proven record of successfully implementing and enhancing established leadership and operational strategies. Ronny brings valuable experience applicable to the total picture of successful leadership, client satisfaction, and operational processes.
He has served in a variety of leadership roles ranging from Controller to Executive Director, as well as the Chief Operating Officer.
After spending more than two decades in the healthcare operational area, with a majority of that time spent in physician practice operations and management, Ronny brings valued experience applicable to the total picture of leadership and operations. His tenure in healthcare has provided him with opportunities to cultivate professional relationships in the healthcare hierarchy, as well as with key city leaders and government officials.
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Table of Contents
Thank you for joining us today! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Please introduce yourself to our readers by sharing your story.
Ronny Shumaker: I have an MBA with a concentration in management, innovation, and change, as well as a bachelor’s degree in accounting. I have been privileged to serve on several professional and non-profit boards of directors. I am the proud father of four children and a grandfather of eight. I am a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds and though I am not good at it, I love to play golf, especially with my sons.
2020-2021 was unlike any other year. What is your favorite item you’ve bought in the past months and why?
Ronny Shumaker: Entry into the Houdini 10K run in Appleton, Wisconsin. This is the most favorite item I bought in the past few months because it exemplified the need and desire that I have to remain healthy, and I enjoy being around others.
Life is like a box of chocolates…What unexpected surprises did life grant you that contributed to your success?
Ronny Shumaker: As a child, my family moved up and down the east coast eight times in seven years before finally settling in North Carolina. I learned southern graciousness and naturally adopted this as I grew into a young man. If given the opportunity of growing up in a fast-paced metro hub or a small town in North Carolina, I would choose the small town in North Carolina every time.
Treating people with respect, courtesy, and “yes ma’am” and “yes sir” has served me well over my career. If I was offered a box of chocolates right now and I closed my eyes and carefully selected one piece of candy, and it turned out to be a chocolate-covered cherry, I would be a happy man. My time spent growing up in North Carolina was my chocolate-covered cherry.
Tell us about the job. Is there any exciting project you’re currently working on?
Ronny Shumaker: I am a certified intelligent leadership executive coach. I concentrate on leadership development in emerging leaders. I am currently working with a young emerging leader in the package shipping industry helping her to identify and strengthen her leadership abilities. The progress she has made in a few short months has been enjoyable to witness for her team and for me as her executive coach.
Sir Richard Branson famously stated that “Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” As a CEO/leader how do you feel about this philosophy and if you agree with it, how do you implement that in your company? Conversely, if you disagree, explain why and how do you do things differently?
Ronny Shumaker: As a leader, I do want to take care of my employees; however, the need to take care of my clients is paramount in my leadership philosophy. At this stage in my career as an executive coach, I do not have a team save for myself; however, my philosophy is a simple one: The client is always king — always been that way and always will be. I do think that taking care of my employees is vital, but in deference to Sir Richard, I believe that it is my responsibility to impart to my employees the philosophy that working together to meet the clients’ needs are what drive the company’s success.
There is one point that I do agree with as an executive coach: I am both “boss” and “employee.” I would welcome my “boss” taking care of me by giving me a box of chocolate-covered cherries (see question #4 above).
The COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, in many cases, it pushed the employees and the consumers to critical stress points. How did you lead your team through these difficult times and maintain a good reputation?
Ronny Shumaker: As stated previously, I am my own team; however, due to the circumstances presented by COVID, I worked diligently in making myself available to my clients by using technology to my advantage. It has been vital for me to create new and maintain existing relationships in spite of this “pandemic.”
The COVID pandemic raised a lot of polarizing politically charged issues. According to ‘The Harris Poll’, 75% of Americans said that they would avoid taking a position on political issues if they were CEOs. We would love to know your thoughts about this. Is it better to take a political position or to avoid it completely When it comes to being a great CEO/Leader, do you have one name that comes to mind, please share with us how they influence the CEO you are today? What lessons did they teach you over the years?
Ronny Shumaker: As a CEO, I understand the danger of speaking out and taking a stand on politically charged issues; however, I always stand for freedom and individual rights. Our country was founded on the same. It is never wrong to promote our God-given rights. As a leader, I feel that my team will respect me more for communicating my beliefs on such issues.
Gary Wade was the founder of a company that provided long-term care for the elderly. He founded his company based on biblical standards and values. As most successful leaders do, he demonstrated these values and principles with pride both in his professional and personal relationships. His influence on me both professionally and personally was a true blessing. I am a better man for knowing him. Gary recently passed away. I am proud to have called him my father-in-law.
You have been very generous with your time and knowledge. Our readers would also love to know, What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? and what is the advice you give the most often to new team members?
Ronny Shumaker: One of my MBA professors shared this advice with me: As a leader, it is my duty and responsibility to provide my team with the tools and support they need to be successful; then get out of their way and let them do the job they were hired to do.
My most often shared advice is to be confident in one’s abilities and not to be afraid to ask questions.
Thank you so much for your time but before we say goodbye, we do have one more unusual question. If you ask yourself any question what would it be and how would you answer it?
Ronny Shumaker: As an inspiration from a song entitled “Dear Younger Me” recorded by one of my favorite musical groups MercyMe, my younger self would ask my present self: Given the circumstances presented and the choices made throughout my lifetime, am I HAPPY now? YES, I AM!
Larry Yatch, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Ronny Shumaker for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Ronny Shumaker or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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