ROCHELLE – An open house was held in the Rochelle Community Hospital cafeteria Thursday afternoon to welcome the hospital’s new CEO.
On Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m., the public had an opportunity to come enjoy snacks and refreshments and meet Gregg Olson, the new CEO, as well as his wife, Denise. Olson was previously CEO for the hospital from 1997 to 2007 but then moved onto a different position for the last 13 years.
The job opening comes after Mark Batty, the former CEO of seven years left the hospital to take another position.
Olson says that a lot has changed in the last 13 years, but he is very glad to be back home.

“The organization has changed since the last time I was here and so have I as an individual, so I need to speak to the people who have been here all this time and listen to better understand the organization,” explained Olson. “For me it is like coming back home, I had a great experience my first time here and I expect to have the same success the second.”
Olson’s first day back as the CEO of the hospital was Monday, Jan. 13.
He says that his managing style is not to come in and just start making changes right away, but to do a lot of listening and speaking to the people who have been here the last 13 years. This will help him understand where the organization is currently, to help create strategies to where to best move into the future.
Olson says both the staff and the community is what makes the hospital the organization it is today.
“We have a great group of employees, board members and volunteers, I am just thrilled to be back and be part of such a great organization,” added Olson. “The people of Rochelle really make this area a very special place, you don’t find that in every organization and I have found it here in Rochelle.”