Bellevue Alum Embraces New Healthcare Leadership Roles
Little did Lori Mazanec know when she took a position in 2001 as a finance assistant at Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) in Box Butte, Nebraska, that it would be the start of her leadership journey.
“After joining the hospital, my engagement grew, and I turned to love the mission and purpose of BBGH,” the 2018 MHA graduate of Bellevue University explains. “In the first few years, I got involved in several committees, shared my opinions on different things, and truly found my rhythm within the finance department.”
Mazanec was eventually promoted to controller and believed she was on track to become the next CFO. After five years in that role, the CEO approached her about applying for the open Chief Operating Officer position — an opportunity she had never considered.
“He mentioned he saw me eventually sitting in his chair as CEO someday,” Mazanec shares. “That one moment is what led me to visioning myself as a hospital CEO.”
Realizing she didn’t necessarily need to be a CFO and that her passion was more aligned with BBGH’s overall strategic purpose and mission, she accepted the COO role.
From there, Mazanec knew she needed to pursue a master’s degree, and the CEO encouraged her to explore Bellevue University. She considered both the MBA program and the MHA program, but since she planned to remain in healthcare, she chose the latter.
“Plus, the curriculum related to my knowledge base from my tenure at BBGH,” Mazanec says.
Though eager to start, she was nervous about the program’s fully online format.
“My undergraduate was nearly 20 years earlier and 100% in-person, so returning to school in general was intimidating, let alone online participation,” Mazanec explains. “At the time of my enrollment, my girls were still young (12 and 7), so working to create a schedule that provided harmony to family-work-school was trying.”
Yet she quickly developed a consistent routine and became more comfortable in her studies.
During this time, the CEO of BBGH resigned and recommended that the trustees name Mazanec as interim CEO. She served in the role for six months before being hired as the permanent CEO, taking a semester off to adjust to her new responsibilities.
“I have recommended the MHA program at Bellevue University to others I’ve mentored, and that might be my biggest accomplishment. Two of the senior leaders at my organization during my CEO tenure have accepted CEO roles at other hospitals. While it has been tough for me to see them go, it has been rewarding to know I’ve played a small role in their growth and advancement in healthcare.”
“Mike Freel, Program Director of the MHA program, was concerned I would not return, but knowing my position as CEO required it, I promised him I would return and complete the program,” Mazanec says. “It was important for me to do this for my girls, too. My family was completely understanding, and we found time to spend together. I promised them a big experience once I graduated since they were a big part of my time and energy that was put into it.”
When she graduated in 2018, she made good on that promise with a trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas.
Today, Mazanec continues to serve as CEO at BBGH, where she has worked for nearly 24 years. She’s proud to have increased total patient revenue by over 47% through expanded service offerings, including a robust outpatient orthopedic surgery program. She also implemented an industry-leading wellbeing program, modeled after Gallup’s CliftonStrengths®, incorporating it into the hospital’s onboarding and orientation platform.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mazanec has stayed active in her community, coaching youth and middle school volleyball and basketball, engaging in civic activities, and advocating at the state and federal levels with the Nebraska Hospital Association, where she currently serves as board chair.
“Healthcare has evolved immensely, so it is still important to find harmony with life,” she says.
For Mazanec, earning her MHA degree elevated her confidence in her role. She frequently draws on that knowledge, particularly in her work with the NHA. She even supports the NHA Leadership Institute program Bellevue University coordinates — one she once participated in — by mentoring emerging leaders at the hospital.
“I have recommended the MHA program at Bellevue University to others I’ve mentored, and that might be my biggest accomplishment,” she says. “Two of the senior leaders at my organization during my CEO tenure have accepted CEO roles at other hospitals. While it has been tough for me to see them go, it has been rewarding to know I’ve played a small role in their growth and advancement in healthcare.”
Ultimately, Mazanec is grateful for her unexpected leadership journey and the skills Bellevue University’s MHA program helped her build.
“I have been able to stay in touch with Dr. Mike Freel from time to time,” she adds. “He was a great mentor to me during the MHA program. He provided some great insight and advice during the program, which played a role in my ability to excel and complete the program. I am grateful for that.”