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36 VO L . X X V N O. V I M A R C H 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 He spent 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, most recently as a hospital commander in Japan. He's not a traditional military leader from the chain-of-command school. He has honed a leadership style that is inclusive and involves a good deal of trust, Fournier says. "One would think a colonel in the Air Force would have a little of that style, but Kelley really prides himself in working with the senior leaders," says Fournier. "He's inclusive. He doesn't micro-manage. He outlines the goals and trusts his team to come up with a plan." Kash brings other nitty-gritty talents to the job as well, in areas of finance and interpreting and using data. He is a mentor and works well with the board. "He has a nice way of describing complex situations, problems or sys- tems in laymen's terms," Fournier says. "I really appreciate that because I'm so engrossed in the work, and he'll help me translate." Small-house design Maine Veterans' Homes has locations in Augusta, Caribou, Scarborough, South Paris, Bangor and Machias. e Augusta home will open in 2021. Under Kash, the veterans' homes have adapted a "small house" design that's becoming a widespread trend in the industry. It's replacing an old model that had an "institutional" feel, Kash says, with long hallways and meals in one common dining hall. "It was like living in a dorm or a hos- pital, not like living at home," Kash says. "Now [the homes are] built around 10- to 12-bed 'households,' with private rooms. e old model had one small chair. Now there's a recliner and desk. e rooms are on the outside of the building." Each household has a kitchen, dining room and den. Patients are encouraged to get involved in cooking, if they like. "We make it more home-like," he says. At the same time, the new sites are equipped with the latest health care technology, suited for short-stay nursing and rehab, long-term care, memory care and longer-term dementia care. Coming to the veteran-oriented nonprofit in 2007 was a natural transi- tion, he says. And being a veteran is a prerequisite for the job as CEO of Maine Veterans' Homes. "I understand the medical field," says Kash, whose background was in acute care. "I've grown to love long- term care. We build relationships with patients and their families. We go to funerals when a veteran dies." 5 QUESTIONS Age: 60 Leadership icon: I've been blessed. I've worked with a lot of great military officers and leaders. But the leaders I would look to are: UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden and his book on leadership. And Abe Lincoln. All the challenges he had to go through, his approach. Maine's biggest challenge: Workforce. It's our industry and every industry. It's about remaining competitive. Maine's biggest opportunity: Workforce development. It's getting people here, getting them to stay here, developing them. What can we do to make Maine more attractive? Some of the great things are also the things that keep people from coming here, like the cold winters. Best business advice: I can only be as good as my team. We need a strong team. I'm blessed. I have brilliant people who work with me. When I first got here we looked at core values: Doing things with integrity, honesty. Every veteran is unique, special. Treat people with dignity and respect. Strive for excellence in all we do. Works as a team. Lead the way. That's why we're always pushing and building things. It's uncomfortable. Do things with intention. Kelley Kash » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E "Being a veteran means instant cred- ibility with veterans' organizations," he says. "It's very, very helpful." Augusta veterans' home is under construction In Augusta, the new veterans' home will have private rooms with their own bath- room and shower. "ere will be plenty of space for family visits," he says. "e community center will have a 'main street' feel, with a bank, a chapel and a theater. It will have a veterans' club, like an NCO club. It will have a children's play area, so you can watch your grandchildren play. We will invite the community in and offer meetings space to veterans' groups." e Augusta home might not have come together without the advocacy of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who is a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. She played a critical role in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' decision to grant $50 million for the construction of the Augusta home. Collins recently hosted Kash and COO Fournier at her Washington, D.C., office. "Maine Veterans' Homes provides veterans with the high-quality care and support they have earned through their service to our country," Collins said in a news release in February. "I had a productive conversation with Kelley and Deb about the challenges Maine Veterans' Homes faces and ways we can work together to solve these issues, ensuring Maine's veterans continue to receive the health care they deserve." Work on the Augusta facility started in January and the site is expected to welcome its first residents in 2021. Cianbro, Maine's largest construction firm, is managing the project. Of the cost of $90 million, nearly $50 million came through the Department of Veterans Affairs. e balance will be paid for with Maine Veterans' Home reserves, loans and a $3 million capital campaign. e capital campaign "is new for us," Kash says. "We've never done this. But in the past year we've brought on a director of development [ Josh Scroggins]. It's a new world and a cul- ture change." At the same time, he takes pride in the fact that the Augusta facility will be built without state funding. "We have saved the state money," Kash says. "Like all other nonprofits, we've had to cobble it together." Peter Van Allen, Mainebiz editor, can be reached at pvanallen @ mainebiz.biz P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY The site a future $90 million Maine Veterans' Homes facility in Augusta. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY

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