ROBERT PETER PALUSSEK

2628 CHEYENNE RD. SEBRING, FLORIDA 33875

robertpalussek@yahoo.com phone (305)407-7053



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Innovative leader with extensive expertise in operations, finance and business development
Proven ability to quickly analyze key business drivers and develop strategies to grow the organization
Leading Change
Redesigning Business Processes
Negotiating Contracts
Navigating Conflict Management
Building Strategic Plans
Forming Strategic Alliances
Developing Teams
Fostering Provider Relationships
Ensuring Revenue Growth
Implementing Cost Reductions
Managing Budgets & P/Ls
Growing Community Partnerships
High-integrity, energetic leader known for ability to create successful outcomes in complex situations and changing
environments that demands continuous forward motion. Experienced healthcare professional with a history of
leadership within operational functions of healthcare organizations. Visionary and results driven executive offering
government and private sector experience and success in driving operational growth through advancing
organizational culture through coaching, mentoring and inspiration of professionals. Excellent communicator with
emphasis on building strong client and community relationships.
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS

~ Functioned as project manager throughout six-month/ $1.5M Cardiac Cauterization Laboratory renovation and
equipment replacement project (2013)
Developed and implemented statewide mentoring program for new Health Officers received Florida Image
Award from Surgeon General Florida Department of Health (2012)
~ Championed successful launch of new satellite site providing 55,000 medical/ dental services to over 5,300 new
clients within 18 months through creating a team of 14 professionals (2011)
~ Functioned during 4 hurricane deployments as Section Chief within Incident Command System (ICS) structure
during Hurricane Dennis, Rita, Wilma, Katrina and as Incident Commander during Tropical Storm Fay (2005-2008)
~ Corporate officer involved in multiple compliance audits reducing possible liabilities of over $30M (2002)

CAREER EXPERIENCE

Chief Operating Officer, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Sebring, 08/2012 Present
Promoted from Associate Administrator to Chief Operating Officer in 03/2013.
Served as Interim Chief Executive Officer from 01/2014 to 03/2014 for 126-bed facility, 450 employees and a
medical group of ten providers. Delivers leadership as COO to over 120 associates within the following
departments: Laboratory, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy/Rehab Services, Wound Care Center, Plant/Ops Engineering,
Environmental Services, Security, and Dietary Services. Functioned as responsible Officer for Emergency
Department, Respiratory Services, and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory during a ten month vacancy of the
Chief Executive Nurse position. Focus on market and service line development through continuous physician
relationships. Ensures successful implementation of redesigned processes to achieve hospital's mission. Manages
and maintains over 250 equipment, maintenance and affiliation agreements, including hospital and physicians
group lease agreements. Involved in all facility planning and budget preparation efforts. Develops long-term
strategies and executes short-term operational plans. Formulates and administers hospital policy. Carries out cost
analysis, evaluation of service, and review of operational procedures. Represents the hospital at various professional
and governmental organizations and community meetings. Acts as a member of executive leadership team and
serves at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees. Develops and cultivates high quality relationships with elected
officials, county government and state agencies.
Key Achievements:
Improved organizational ICS/ NIMS leadership readiness level from 26% to 100% (04/2014)
Successfully passed AHCA Life Safety Inspections without any citations (05/2013)
ROBERT PALUSSEK
CAREER EXPERIENCE CONTINUED



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Provided oversight to 50 private room/ single bed renovation project on 2
nd
Med/Surge Floor completed
under budget and two weeks before plan (01/2013)

Administrator Health Officer, Highlands County Health Department, Sebring, 12/2008 07/2012
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 05/2005 07/2012
Serves as official county health authority in the event of natural disaster, bioterrorism event other threat to public
health. Acts as administrator and chief resource person to 140 professional, technical and clerical employees.
Ensures that community and clinical medicine are combined through the regular appraisal of community health
needs, the planning of services in response to those needs and the regular involvement of the community in the
department and its programs. Functions as countywide safety-net provider serving over 14,000 unduplicated patients
with more than 38,000 core public health, primary and dental care service visits in three dispersed clinics.
Guarantees accountability to the Department of Health, the Board of County Commissioners and the Legislature in
making the most effective and efficient use of resources. Functions as advocate for the department in obtaining new
and expanded resources from both public and private sources to generate local revenue responsibility of 60% of total
budget. Continues to strengthen existing relationships to medical community including all three local hospitals and
non-profit organizations. Ensures that all 17 core public health and prevention programs remain dynamic and
responsive to changes in needs, priorities, regulations and the local healthcare environment.
Key Achievements:
Influenced positive development of statewide "County Health Rankings" to 29/67 from 41/67 in 2010
(03/2012)
Advocated for adoption of tobacco free county properties; policy adopted by Highlands County Board of
County Commissioners (11/2011)
Increased dental client base since December 2008 by 83%; averaging 30 clients seen per clinic per day
(06/2011)
Implemented a culture of Behavioral Event Interviewing (BEI) for recruitment purposes and 360 feedback
with follow up coaching calls over past two years amongst all 6 division directors and 12 agency supervisors
(02/2011)
Decreased medical clinic no-show rate from 39% to 24% six months after implementation of redesigned
clinic flow process (12/2010)
Increased total amount of provided agency services compared to previous fiscal year by 6% to 318,380
while successfully reorganized the administrative division, resulting in annual savings of $375K (09/2010)
Decreased annual staff turnover rate from 14.5% to 7.1% (08/2009)

Finance & Accounting Director, Highlands County Health Department, Sebring, Florida, 02/2007 11/2008
Served as Comptroller and managed all accounting and financial concerns for this eight million dollar annual
operating budget county health department. Supervised a staff of 15 personnel responsible for budgeting, accounts
payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, information technology, contract management, supply warehousing, vital
statistics and building management. Oversaw design, construction and equipment of one and a half million dollars.
Trusted with Acting Administrator duties since departure of previous Director since April 2008.
Key Achievement:
Restructured the Operations Department's responsibilities to fit new organizational needs; financial savings
p.a. equals over $140K (06/2008)
Reestablished financial control, leading agency from severe underutilization of earmarked funds to strong
and sustained program budgets (12/2007)
Redesigned and successfully streamlined budgeting process by establishing clear program budget guidelines
and quarterly budget meetings with the intention to shift sole financial accountability from Administration to
Program Managers and Division Directors. (07/2007)
ROBERT PALUSSEK
CAREER EXPERIENCE CONTINUED



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Senior Management Analyst, Monroe County Health Department, Key West, Florida, 05/2005 - 01/2007
Responsible for budget administration, expenditures, and revenue. Prepared monthly/quarterly financial reports,
developed budgets, and performed variance analysis in accordance with business plan. Compiled periodic financial
reporting packages for division directors and agency head. Interacted with senior management regularly concerning
financial forecasts and reports.
Key Achievement:
Instituted new purchasing process that resulted in annual savings of $50K (10/2006)
Restructured annual budget development processes to ensure divisional accountability (07/2006)

Manager, Karlsruhe, Germany, 04/2003 04/2004
MICHAEL SCHNEIDER FOOD SERVICE, Karlsruhe, Germany, 04/2003 04/2004
Negotiated prices, terms and conditions with multiple wholesalers. Managed customer relations to maximize service
satisfaction and sales growth. Oversaw day to day operations including purchasing, sales and inventory
management. Introduced complaint management and problem resolution process to improve customer loyalty. Hired
and trained new sales representatives.
Key Achievements:
Expanded delivery service for commercial customer by 28% in 12 months. (04/2004)
Implemented reconciliation process of wholesale invoices resulting in yearly savings of $22K (12/2003)

Securities Specialist, Stuttgart, Germany, 09/2001 03/2003
DRESDNER BANK INC. (sold as of 08/2008 to COMMERZBANK INC.), Germany, 02/1996 03/2003
Quality Assurance Liaison for 120 branches. Performed as professional lecturer for new product placements/IPO.
Carried out internal audits to ensure regulatory compliance and operational efficiency/accuracy. Closed and
prepared monthly financial statements and audit reports. Fulfilled Securities Specialist position and analyzed
monthly region wide earnings and risk portfolios to counteract possible negative developments.
Key Achievements:
Monitored investment trends in total portfolio of $3.3 billion dollars (06/2002 - 03/2003)
Exceeded all annual corporate performance objectives for 2003 and ranked as #1 region. (01/2003)

Securities Advisor, Baden-Baden, Germany, 03/1999 08/2001
Conducted Financial Need Analysis and recommended appropriate investment products to meet clients needs. Led
Financial Advisors staff through training and coaching to achieve performance goals and maintained top branch
ranking. Developed strategic sales plans for maintaining and further penetrating existing client relationships
(including pre-meeting planning and post-meeting follow-up activities). Executed market sales and service strategies
through proactive sales calls with financial center customers and prospects.
Key Achievements:
Increased branch net return by 42% over 15-month period and boosted branch above regional and national
benchmark. (07/2001)
Grew customer base within first year on the job, adding approximately 60 new clients with investment
worth of 200K or more. Earned a reputation for expert financial advice and superior customer service that
resulted in strong referral business. (06/2000)
Acquired over 6 million in new investments within first 12 months on the job and ranked at # 1 branch for
category of "Newly acquired money - mutual funds" (04/2000)

ROBERT PALUSSEK
CAREER EXPERIENCE CONTINUED



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Financial Advisor, Karlsruhe, Germany, 11/1997 02/1999
Performed in-depth reviews of clients' financial status and future goals referred to Securities Advisor or Loan
Officers. Sought business opportunities through referrals from existing client relationships. Handled sales and
service requests from financial center walk-in traffic and combined consultative sales and financial expertise to
create value-added solutions for clients.
Key Achievements:
Increased sales of financial center by 17% within first six month (04/1998)
Met annual goal in first quarter for three out of seven goals (03/1998)

Special Forces Command, (German Federal Armed Forces) Calw, Germany, 01/1997 10/1997
Completed basic training (Regensburg, Germany) was followed the assignment to human resource department.
Functioned as administrative assistant to Colonel overseeing all administrative functions on base. Honorable
discharge as Lance Corporal.

Customer Service Officer, Karlsruhe, Germany, 02/1996 12/1996
Functioned as generalist for all consumer banking branch back office activities. Reviewed daily sensitive
transactions for accuracy and conducted mandatory audits.

EDUCATION
Masters of Business Administration - enrolled, expected Spring 2015 - STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK -
EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE SCHOOL FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Graduate in Business Administration (VWA) 2002 ACADEMY FOR ADMINISTRATION AND BUSINESS
KARLSRUHE, GERMANY (U.S. Equivalency: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from a regionally
accredited institution with a total of 156.5 credit hours considerable as graduate level course work)
Certified Bank Merchant 1996 FRIEDRICH LIST SCHOOL KARLSRUHE, GERMANY (U.S. Equivalency:
Associate of applied science degree)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Heartland Rural Health Network Vice-President
Florida Public Health Association - Public Health Administration Section Chair (2008 2012)
Florida Association of County Health Officers Treasurer (2009 2012)
National Public Health Finance Steering Committee (2008 2012)

Graduate (as Co-Salutatorian) of Florida Public Health Leadership Institute at University of South Florida - Class 13
Graduate of National Public Health Leadership Institute at University of North Carolina - Class 19

LANGUAGES

German - fluent (reading/ writing)
Polish - conversational