May 2007

Jeff Chrobak named Vice President of Finance at Sharon Regional

Ray Schauer to retire in July after 26 years of service

Sharon Regional has announced the appointment of Jeffrey Chrobak as vice president of finance and chief financial officer to succeed Raymond Schauer, who will retire from that position effective July 13, 2007. Chrobak, a native of Sharon, joined Sharon Regional in 1987 as a financial analyst and cost/budget accountant after serving as a senior staff accountant at Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie.

During his 20 years of service at Sharon Regional, Chrobak held several different financial positions each with increasing responsibility. He was promoted to manager of reimbursement in 1993 and to director of finance in 2005. Chrobak earned an associate of science in business administration from Pennsylvania State University; a bachelor of science in business administration from Youngstown State University, and has taken classes from Gannon University in Erie towards a master of science in health services administration.

As vice president of finance and chief financial officer, Chrobak will have responsibility for all of the financial operations of Sharon Regional, its satellite centers, and subsidiaries. This includes budgeting, capital analysis, payroll, Sharon Regional Physician Services, special projects, reimbursement, operations analysis, patient accounting, admitting and registration, clinical information services, accounts payable, general accounting, long range financial strategic planning, and more.

Schauer joined Sharon Regional in 1981 as Director of Finance after serving for five years in a similar position at Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital (currently Elk Regional Health System) in St. Marys, PA. He was promoted to vice president for finance at Sharon Regional in 1991. Sharon Regional expects Schauer to continue in a consulting role focusing on government advocacy, state and federal grant research, and local fundraising and development efforts.

John Zidansek, president and CEO of Sharon Regional, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the work Schauer accomplished during his years at Sharon Regional and welcomed Chrobak into his new role.

“I can’t say enough positive things about the leadership and accomplishments of Ray Schauer here at Sharon Regional for the past 26 years,” Zidansek says. “The field of hospital finance gets increasingly more challenging and complex every year, and Sharon Regional has been extremely fortunate to have someone of Ray’s caliber on board to provide us with the financial stability to accomplish so much positive growth."

" Fortunately, Jeff Chrobak has been with us for 20 years working alongside Ray, and I have the utmost confidence in him to continue to provide Sharon Regional with the highest level of financial leadership,” Zidansek concluded.

In addition to his duties as director of finance, Chrobak also serves as the president and CEO of the SGE Federal Credit Union; is a past participant of the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Shenango professional development program (serving as secretary); is a member of the St. Patrick Church of Hubbard finance committee; and also facilitated the development of a Revenue Cycle Network Group for western Pennsylvania hospitals.