In his own words: John Dolores, head of Center for Hope

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about Center for Hope of the Sierras and your position.

John Dolores: Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Center for Hope of the Sierras provides an intimate setting ideal for healing and recovery for individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and related disorders. Center for Hope offers residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment to women and adolescents ages 16 and up (ages 14 and up for partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program). Center for Hope also offers partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment to men ages 14 and up. Center for Hope is proud to offer one of the country's only specialized residential tracks for the complex treatment of co-occurring diabetes and eating disorders.

As the executive director, I am responsible for the management of the facility, including budgetary authority, staffing, clinical programming, marketing and growth.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Dolores: During my fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina, I was tasked with developing a medical-psychological clinic, which I enjoyed very much. That exposure to administration whetted my appetite for more.

NNBW: What's the most important thing you have learned in your career?

Dolores: Listen to your stakeholders. I have found that the way to be most successful in business is to identify your stakeholders and obtain their feedback. By doing this, a business is able to adapt to the wants and needs of its stakeholders, which creates a more positive environment and a greater buy-in to the company's mission.

NNBW: What do you consider the most difficult aspect of your job?

Dolores: The hardest part for me is working a balance between employee needs, facility needs, and patient needs. The patient comes first, but there are certain facility needs (e.g., regulations) and employee needs (e.g., appropriate staffing levels) that may conflict with patient needs. I handle every situation individually from a team-based approach and try to arrive at solutions that best accommodate all three.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Dolores: The best advice that I can offer is to make sure that you have a passion for the job. At an executive level, success does not come without dedication so do not expect to work a typical 40-hour work week. Additionally, it is imperative to have the proper motivation, which is to provide outstanding care.

NNBW: What was your first job?

Dolores: My first job was as a cart collector at a supermarket. I would be stationed in the parking lot assisting customers with their bags and then collect all of the carts and bring them to the front of the store. That job taught me a lot about hard work and personal responsibility.

NNBW: Tell us about your dream job.

Dolores: My current job is my dream job. Of course, I have career aspirations, but I believe that it is very important to always be where you want to be.

NNBW: What's the most fun you have had on the job?

Dolores: I love seeing a program successfully launch that was part of a team effort I led. This is one of the most satisfying parts of my job and it is great to see a team come together under my leadership to produce a much-needed product for the public.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Dolores: I had a professor in college who told me to choose the career path with the most flexibility. Without his advice, I may have never discovered my passion for the field of healthcare administration.

NNBW: How do you spend your time away from work?

Dolores: Most of my time is spent with my wife and children, but I enjoy watching sports and movies when I get the chance. These activities provide a nice escape.

NNBW: If you could live your life over again, what one thing would you change?

Dolores: I can't say that I would change anything as I believe that it is the culmination of your life experiences that make a person who they are and I am happy with who I am.

NNBW: What has been your biggest professional accomplishment?

Dolores: In my previous position as director of behavioral health at a general medical center, in two years' time I turned around a very dysfunctional department by improving employee engagement by 20 percent, receiving a national award for improvement in patient satisfaction, successfully recruiting four new psychiatrists, passing our Joint Commission and CMS surveys without any deficiencies, developing six new programs to fill gaps in the continuum of care, and increasing our contribution margin by over $600,000 on an annual basis.

NNBW: What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

Dolores: When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a screenwriter.

NNBW: What can you do that someone else can't?

Dolores: Nothing.

NNBW: If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?

Dolores: I would not retire, because I love what I do and I believe that work is an important part of life. I want to continue contributing to society and use my skills and abilities in a productive manner.

NNBW: What's the last concert or sporting event you attended?

Dolores: I attended a Colorado Rockies game a couple of years ago. Because of work and family responsibilities, most of my sports viewing is done from home.

NNBW: Where's your perfect vacation spot?

Dolores: Telluride, Colo. during the film festival. I have been there twice and loved every minute of it.

NNBW: Why did you choose a career in northern Nevada?

Dolores: I chose to come to northern Nevada because of the wonderful organization of which I am now a part. I enjoy the diversity and accessibility of accommodations that Reno has to offer and look forward to learning more about the area.

The basics:

Name: John Dolores, executive director, Center for Hope of the Sierras

Number of years in this job? Just started, two months and counting ...

Years in this profession? 11 years in mental health

Education: J.D., Ph.D.

Last book read? "Intuitive Eating" by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch

Favorite flick? "The Wild Bunch"

What's on your iPod? Sinatra, classical

Spouse, kids or pets? I have a wife, four kids, and a dog.

Know someone whose perspective you want to share with NNBW readers? Send contact information to: rsabo@nnbw.biz or call 775-850-2146.