Dekowny will assume the helm of Dr. Noble Irwin Foundation in 2020

For the second time in the history of the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, the turning of the calendar to a new decade will also bring a change at the helm of the foundation.

Clay Thompson, who has served as Executive Director since January 1, 2010, will be retiring at the end of 2019 and turning the reigns over to Jim Dekowny, who moves up from his position as Major Gifts/ Development Officer.

Dekowny has been at the Foundation since December 2, 2013, and he feels that over the past six years he has progressed in his position, and it is a logical step to move up within the organization.

“The hard work Clay brought to the table is something that I want to continue with,” Dekowny said at a press conference at the Foundation office on October 11.

He said his Swift Current roots are also a strong positive as he prepares to moving into the Foundation’s top job.

“And I think just the network of people - I guess being from Swift Current, coming back to Swift Current, owning a business in Swift Current, being a teacher in Swift Current I know a lot of people and whether its volunteers or donors I think that’s part of what I bring to the table is just the network of people that I have and can tap on shoulders and those type of things when we need to do some things and get some things done.”

He admitted that working with Thompson has been an invaluable experience.

“I think that the biggest thing that I would think both Sean (Finell, Special Events/communications) and I have learned from the six years we’ve been here is just pay attention to detail, hard work, and look after your donors,”

Dekowny said he will bring a focus of increasing personal contact with both current and potential donors as the Foundation builds after its inaugural first two decades.

“That’s the next phase in part of my five year plan will be to get in front of more people and talk to more people, and explain to them why this makes sense. And find out what makes them tick.”

Thompson, who assumed the lead of the Foundation a decade ago, took over from Lyn Johnston who stepped down after serving as the inaugural lead of the Foundation which was founded in 1999.

He reflected on an exciting and impactful past decade by the Foundation.

“I’ve enjoyed the past 10 years immensely and will miss it. I won’t deny that I will miss what I do. But also looking forward to maybe playing a little bit more golf, get to see the grandkids a little more. So it should work out.”

Thompson oversaw significant healthcare investments in his decade at the Foundation, pointing to equipment and furnishings provided for the Southwest Integrated Healthcare Facility in Maple Creek, the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility, and the Cypress Regional Hospital.

“Locally and in Swift Current here, some of the equipment that was brought into the hospital here, the Cypress Regional Hospital, that provides quality care for the entire Southwest part of the province, I feel good about that,” Thompson said.

However a somewhat forgotten piece of equipment helped deliver another memorable contribution.

“The most visible one (at the hospital) is the walkway from the sidewalk to the front door to the hospital. If you remember back prior to 2012 I think that was wide open. And staff members would be telling us stories about people in wheelchairs trying to get from Point A to Point B, and get to the front doors of the hospital in a blizzard or something. And how hard it was to watch.

But hands down the largest project the have tackled was The Meadows.

“Turning those three long term care facilities into one has to be a highlight not only for us at the Foundation, because we helped with some of the furnishings and equipment. Just getting the new facility here because all those three they were in need of replacement in a big, big way. And it’s nice now that we have the facility that we have.”

The full story appears online at www.swbooster. com.