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Bethesda Welcomes John Twardos as new Vice President
and Chief Operations Officer

070702/01

John Twardos has accepted the position of Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc. As COO, Twardos will be responsible for all of the operational support services of Bethesda, including those of Good Shepherd Communities (GSC), and international programs.

“John is an outgoing, compassionate person; he cares for others and that is why we feel he will do an outstanding job in this position,” said Dr. David Geske, President and CEO.

Twardos has a rich background in healthcare administration; serving fifteen-years as the COO of a large mental health services agency in Indiana. He will use his expertise to provide sound financial management to clinical areas. His knowledge in program development and program expansion will also be an asset.

This position creates new challenges for Twardos. Initially, he plans to familiarize himself with Bethesda’s different services and regions. “I plan to travel and get out into the regions,” stated Twardos. “I want to meet management teams and staff to learn about their programs.”

Twardos will use his experience and analytical abilites to mentor and develp management staff. An important skill he possess is the ability to develop leadership qualities among co-workers. “I look forward to the opportunity to tell the Bethesda story to the community,” says Twardos.

“I can offer my skills to form a foundation,” stated Twardos. “I am anxious to see the impact I will have on the organization.” Twardos would like to continue learning and is excited about this new opportunity. “To find an organization that is compatible with my values and where I can get satisfaction by contributing is tremendous,” said Twardos.

Twardos will assume his duties as Vice President and COO on August 1, 2007. He is eagerly awaiting the challenges ahead and has been impressed with Bethesda staff. “Everybody is extremely competent in their particular areas of expertise and people enthusiastically embrace the mission of Bethesda. That’s impressive to me,” said Twardos. “I can accomplish a lot and I plan to hit the ground running.”

Now in its second century of service, Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc. provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the country and throughout the world. It is Bethesda’s mission to support the needs of the individual—both physical and spiritual—and as a result, Bethesda offers many different types of services for the individual and their family, including a variety of residential facilities, supported-living programs, outreach services and secular training workshops. For more information on Bethesda’s services and support programs, call the public relations office at 800.369.4636, ext. 3817, or email: pr@mailblc.org.