Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis Butts Jr.
Hi Dennis , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
This question causes me to remember that I almost didn’t have a story. I was almost kidnapped at the age of 3. I was snatched by a woman as I wandered off as a child only to be miraculously saved by the late Mamie Gardner (founder of Kandy Kane Daycare Center) on the other side of the mall as the woman tried to leave with me. She took me back seeing I was with someone I shouldn’t have been. My story tried to end before it got started, but God had other plans for me! Since then, I honestly struggled with my path having always had a sense I was purposed for something great but just not knowing how that would come to be. I went to the University of Akron for my undergraduate degree on a full scholarship studying international business. During my sophomore year I got an internship with Pfizer Inc, the largest pharmaceutical company in the world. It was then that I learned how I could put my talent for business to good use in a mission focused industry like healthcare. I thrived in the role as an intern and was offered a full-time job in the #1 performing territory in the company – but it would cause me to move to Michigan. I declined believing God wanted me to be in Akron. That was a big decision, as a young college student, but one that started my faith journey in my career. I was later offered the west Akron territory which happened to be last in the district and bottom 3 in the region. After hard work I was blessed to turn that territory around winning Vice President Cabinet for being in the top 10% of representatives in the entire company. I went back to school for my MBA knowing I wanted to do something beyond pharmaceutical sales. I went to the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. It was there that I wrote my personal mission statement – to help people achieve their dreams and exceed their own expectations. I took several business strategy, consulting, and entrepreneurship courses and fell in love with strategy. I walked away from much opportunity with Pfizer to pursue consulting. It was another faith move where I bet on myself as I left a $60B company to go to a small $4M boutique firm in Hudson. I took a pay cut with two small kids early in our marriage which wasn’t easy. After several promotions from senior consultant to manager I was again offered a Director role at Navigant Consulting which became Gudehouse. I came in as a Director, made partner after 3 years and then was promoted again to lead the entire Strategy & Innovation practice of the 2nd largest healthcare consulting firm in the country – not bad for the guy who couldn’t get an interview with any of the big 4 consulting firms coming out of my MBA program because my standardized test scores weren’t high enough. Throughout my career I’ve learned to never let the doubters stop me. When someone tells me I can’t it just fuels me to show them that I can. Lastly after leading my consulting team to being awarded “Best in Klas” for Strategy, Growth, and Consolidation services for 4 consecutive years, I was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Network Development Officer for Henry Ford Health (HFH) a $13B health system in Detroit including 13 hospitals, over 500 care sites, and over 50,000 employees.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As referenced before, I have always seemed to have to overcome the odds of others doubting me or recognizing my performance. I’ve had to step out on faith, betting on myself that I could drive performance in areas that leaders felt weren’t opportunities and do so consistently. I’ve had to say no to employers when offers didn’t align with my purpose, value for my family, or the level I believed I deserved. But it always hasn’t been a straight line as there have been some disappointments along the way, but I learned from them which only made me the better person I am today. I’ve learned that it is better to follow your purpose versus chasing a paycheck. Doing what you love and brings you joy is what is most important. The pay will follow as you have an impact.
Leaving a major company was hard. Telling a company that I wouldn’t move for the job was risky. Delaying my acceptance of a new job until the situation was right was hard to do, but it ultimately put me in a place where I could succeed while maintaining my commitment to Akron, my church, and my family.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
HFH is the largest health system in Detroit. The health system includes 13 hospitals, over 500 care sites, and over 50,000 employees generating over $13B in annual revenue. I serve as the Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Network Development Officer overseeing all strategy for the enterprise, performance improvement, transformation, facilities, and government relations. I came into this role after serving as the Integration Leader to bring in Ascension Southeast Michigan into the Henry Ford Health family which caused the organization to double in size. In my role I also help the organization operate as a true integrated delivery system which means helping our academic offerings, health insurance plan, value-based care solutions, and several thousand physician network operate in a coordinated fashion to deliver the highest value to patients in southeast Michigan and beyond.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Helping other people makes me happy. It’s how I’m wired, and it aligns with my mission statement to help people achieve their dreams and exceed their own expectations. It is what drives me related to the scholarship fund my brother and I started in honor of our parents – The Pastor Dennis K Butts and Jewrusha V. Butts Spirit of Excellence Scholarship Fund. We have given out $253,000 in scholarships to over 150 students in Northeast Ohio and $12,500 to support pancreatic cancer research. It gives me joy to honor my dad’s legacy, after he passed away from pancreatic cancer nine years ago, by doing good for others. Our mission is to 1) close the education and opportunity gap for talented students in Northeast Ohio on student and scholarship at a time and 2) help in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.buttsfamilyscholarship.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-butts-jr-648259b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
