Hartford Business Journal

HEALTHCARE HEROES | 2025 AWARDS B4 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | OCTOBER 6, 2025 that you were able to overcome. When I transitioned into my current role, I had little guidance on expecta- tions. I overcame this by creating plat- forms in Excel to more efficiently track invoices, respite utilization and housing data. I identified discrepancies that saved the hospital resources and built stronger systems to connect patients to care. What's your next major goal? My goal is to strengthen collaborations across all outpatient programs within the Institute of Living to ensure smoother transitions for patients facing housing insecurity. I also want to improve time management and balance in my role so I can continue serving at a high level without compromising my mental health. I'm also focused on building more sustainable systems that reduce stressors for patients while keeping them connected to vital resources. Winner Category | Health Care Staff Keishla Rodriguez Community Housing Case Manager Hartford Hospital/Institute of Living K eishla Rodriguez is a community housing case manager at Hartford Hospital. She supports community members facing housing insecurities by meeting with them one-on-one to address basic needs, daily challenges and struggles. She also provides community outreach and serves as a Spanish interpreter. Guiding individuals through their jour- neys, she connects them with behavioral health resources and support groups to help them gain tools for stability and mental well-being. What have been your significant contribu- tions to your organization in the past year? I earned my bachelor's degree in human services and advanced patient care as a certified Spanish interpreter, recovery support specialist and community health worker for the state. By developing hospital platforms to capture housing and inpatient respite data, I enabled data- driven interventions for patients facing housing insecurity. Building partnerships with community organizations, I expanded access to crit- ical support services and resources and developed programs aligned with our core values, leading to increased engage- ment among underserved populations. Tell us about a challenge in your job Winner Category | Health Care Staff Nickhadian Lynch Vice President of Human Resources InterCommunity N ickhadian Lynch is the vice president of human resources at InterCommunity Healthcare, where she leads initiatives that enhance employee engagement, streamline HR practices and foster a workplace culture built on collaboration and growth. She is committed to advancing the organization's mission by empowering employees, strengthening talent strat- egies and ensuring human resources efforts align with organizational goals. What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year? Since joining InterCommunity, I have transformed the credentialing process by streamlining regulatory audit requirements and reducing compli- ance gaps through stronger oversight and documentation. I elevated HR's role by building part- nerships with leaders to align workforce strategies with organizational goals. I have trained and mentored multiple HR professionals, strengthening team capability and leadership readiness. Additionally, I advanced recruitment and onboarding, cutting time-to- fill for critical roles and improving orientation efficiency. ese initiatives enhanced compli- ance, accelerated talent acquisition and reinforced a culture of accountability, growth and organizational excellence. Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome. One of my biggest challenges was changing the perception of human resources from a transactional role to a strategic partner. I overcame this by leading with transparency, collaboration and consistency — streamlining processes, improving compliance and working closely with leaders to align people strategies with organizational goals. is approach not only built trust, but also highlighted HR's value in driving culture, growth and employee success, positioning the department as an essential partner in advancing InterCommunity's mission. Congratulations to our very own Jennifer Valva and Nickhadian Lynch on receiving prestigious 2025 Health Care Hero awards! We are honored to celebrate your achievements and proud to have you setting the standard for excellence, leadership, and care; both in the industry and at InterCommunity. These heroes care. These heroes care. intercommunityct.org • 860-569-5900 Jennifer Valva LCSW, LADC Vice President of Behavioral Health Services Mental Health Care Provider of the Year Mental Health Care Provider of the Year Nickhadian Lynch SHRM-CP, SHRM-IWC Vice President of Human Resources Health Care Staff Award Health Care Staff Award

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