Administrative Staff

Kathy Hess

Executive Secretary to CEO, COO, CCO & CFO

Kathy joined the GAHHS family in 2007 after 15 years with Christie Clinic.  With her, she brought her invaluable experiences in administrative secretary duties and coordinating credentialing of providers.  Kathy is also a member of the National Association of Medical Staff Services, (NAMSS).

As Executive Secretary for GAHHS, Kathy is responsible for providing support to the CEO, CFO, CCO, CNO/COO, as well as attending and taking minutes at all Hospital Board meetings; attending Foundation Board meetings; assigning duties to her support staff; and coordinating the various fund raisers for the Foundation in addition to all Open Houses.

Kathy also finds time to help coordinate the placement of awards, plaques and other items in the hospital waiting rooms. She directs the annual Showers of Flowers, the semi-annual Trivia Nights, the Easter Egg Hunt and other functions hosted by the Recruitment and Retention Committee, of which she is a member.  As a member of the Customer Service Committee she assists in keeping Customer Service on top of the list for all of the GAHHS staff.  Kathy also oversees the Clerical Float Pool staff as well as the Auxiliary Gift shop and various other duties.

After assisting the Foundation Director, Jill Arends, on successful foundation events over the years, Kathy replaced Jill as the GAH Foundation Director in 2011.  As Foundation Director some of Kathy’s duties includes planning and organizing the Annual Golf Outing and Spring Event, a challenge Kathy gladly accepts. 

“I have learned from Jill Arends, the best of the best.  Working very closely with her over the years I know that I have huge shoes to fill, but I am confident that I can make the transition a smooth one,” said Kathy.

Kathy and her husband, Tom, have been married 40 years and live in Fisher. They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren, Kiersten, Kaitlyn, Christopher and Breanna.  In 1992 Kathy and Tom became members of a support group that unfortunately comes with high dues, Parents of Murdered Children.  Parents of Murdered Children is a national support group for those who have lost their loved ones to violent crimes. Their 17-year-old daughter, Amy Marie, was murdered on February 4, 1992. With the help of this support group, Kathy and Tom have been able to not only deal with their own grief, but also help their son, Shane, and daughter, Sarah, cope with losing their sister.

Kathy and Tom are also contacts for the State of Illinois for those who may need to talk to someone that has ‘walked in their shoes’. 

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