Plant City resident and executive director of Florida Presbyterian Homes, John Hehn, was presented with LeadingAge Florida’s Advocate of the Year Award in Lakeland. This award is presented annually to a LeadingAge Florida member who has made exceptional advocacy efforts on behalf of the field of housing/retirement communities or long-term care for seniors.
Highlights of Hehn’s advocacy efforts include advocating for the city of Lakeland to create a plan to become recognized as a senior-friendly community; clarification of assisted-living staffing requirements for retirement communities that license independent living homes as assisted living; meeting with local legislators on the importance of “aging in place”; and the value of providing quality continuum-of-care services to elder Floridians. Hehn often invites local legislators to visit Florida Presbyterian Homes to cultivate those relationships.
“As we move forward through the next 10 to 20 years, the field of aging services and care will become the most dynamic industry in America,” Hehn said. “It will employ more people than retail, and it will incur rapid innovation as the quality of services increases and the costs of caring for seniors are reduced. It is exciting to lead a community like Florida Presbyterian Homes that is on the cutting edge of innovation.”
Hehn has been the executive director of Florida Presbyterian Homes since 2003 and is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the community. He serves at the direction of the board of directors. Florida Presbyterian Homes is a senior living community for active adults.
“Daily, I witness compassionate, personalized continuing care and service of the highest quality being delivered by staff, consistent with our Christian heritage,” Hehn said. “Our mission is alive, and it makes the Homes an inspiring and fun place to work.”
Prior to joining Florida Presbyterian homes, he was an executive with BayCare Health System, serving from 1993 to 2003 in various positions. Those included the director of support services and director of ambulatory services for St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, real estate manager for BayCare Health System and assistant administrator of planning and development for South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City.
Hehn serves on the board of directors of the Presbyterian Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, FAHA Health and Services, Johnnie B. Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute and the board of trustees of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay.
He received his bachelor’s in marketing and finance from the University of South Carolina and his master’s from New York University.
Hehn is married to Jean Laseter of Plant City and has resided in Plant City since 1980.