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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 9 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 25 CT HOSPICE What Can We Do For You? 860.871.1111 www.nemsi.com 166 Tunnel Road, Vernon, CT 06066 Choose an Award-Winning Partner For Over 50 Years, Clients Have Counted On NEMSI For: • HVAC, Plumbing and Process Piping • Design-Build Construction • Energy Management Systems • LEED Certification Programs • Electrical Services • Comprehensive Preventive Maintenance Programs • 24/7/365 Emergency Response Recent Awards Include: » ABC Platinum Safety Award » ABC Accredited Quality Contractor (ABC-AQC) » ABC Excellence in Construction Award » ABC Specialty Contractor of the Year » Contracting Business First Place Design/Build Award License #s: E1-104939 • S1- 302974 P1- 203519 • F1- 10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134 Offices in: New London | Trumbull | Pawtucket, RI | Palmer, MA | Manchester, NH | Albany, NY Offi ces in: New London | Trumbull | Pawtucket, RI Palmer, MA | Manchester, NH | Albany, NY Choose an Award-Winning Partner For Over 50 Years, Clients Have Counted On NEMSI For: • HVAC, Plumbing and Process Piping • Design-Build Construction • Energy Management Systems • LEED Certifi cation Programs • Electrical Services • Comprehensive Preventive Maintenance Programs • 24/7/365 Emergency Response License #s: E1-104939 • S1- 302974 P1- 203519 • F1- 10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134 What Can We Do For You? 860.871.1111 www.nemsi.com 166 Tunnel Road, Vernon, CT 06066 Recent Awards Include: » ABC Platinum Safety Award » ABC Accredited Quality Contractor (ABC-AQC) » ABC Excellence in Construction Award » ABC Specialty Contractor of the Year » Contracting Business First Place Design/Build Award A previously unplanned career twist as interim president and CEO of the financially troubled Connecticut Hos- pice has brought with it "the world's steepest learning curve," explains Barbara L. Pearce. at's saying quite a bit for Pearce, of Guilford, a Harvard MBA who's chair and CEO of Pearce Real Estate in North Haven, a company founded by her father, Herbert Pearce, in 1958. Building on that legacy was a natural career path for Pearce, one she's pursued with considerable suc- cess and distinction. But at the end of January, Pearce's career took an expected and unpredictable turn — that's when she took on 12-month commitment at the Branford non- profit, with a mission to streamline operations and re-energize the financially troubled facility. Longtime Hospice CEO Rose- mary Johnson-Hurzeler retired in 2018. It was reported that her philosophy on how to enact orga- nizational changes in the way the organization operated clashed with that of some board members. Methodology aside, a turnaround was needed. And the right person for the job turned out to be Pearce, for whom the new challenge itself represented a dramatic career shi, or at least a detour. "My turnaround is full of surpris- es," Pearce says with some under- statement. She said she felt lucky in this stage of her life to be hired for such a worthwhile challenge, something she says she could not resist. Another reason she under- took the challenge is because, she explains, "I felt I was honoring my family's legacy of community service. My father's best friend, Fred Grave, was the Connecticut Hospice board chair early on, and I think my father was the vice chair." In addition, Pearce adds, "Pearce Real Estate put [Connecticut Hos- pice] into that building, as well as putting [automotive parts manu- facturer Echlin [Inc.] there years before." But there's an even stronger tie that binds Pearce and her family to Connecticut Hospice: Herb Pearce's life ended there when he passed away in 2011 just days shy of his 95th birthday. e founder of the family real-estate empire was a larg- er-than-life figure who was much admired and respected in the New Haven business community. But Herb Pearce's legacy is not the only Pearce family connection to Connecticut Hospice. "Connecticut Hospice was found- ed by Florence Wald, dean of the Yale School of Nursing, where my mother went [to school] and later taught," Barbara Pearce explains. e institution is very nurse-cen- tric, and I was raised to believe that nurses — especially Yale nurses — were a special breed." Pearce holds a bachelor's degree, a law degree, and an MBA from Harvard. "I've used my law degree more here" at Hospice than in her Continued on Page 26 Even three Harvard degrees and three decades of professional experience didn't prepare Barbara Pearce for her latest challenge — bringing CT Hospice back from life support to financial health By Patricia Villers