News

VVMC Appoints New VP of Human Resources

Vail Valley Medical Center recently announced the addition of Rick Smith to serve as the senior vice president of human resources.

“Rick brings over 30 years of experience and leadership skills to VVMC and has proven to build robust team-oriented work cultures” said Doris Kirchner president and CEO of Vail Valley Medical Center. “As one of the largest employers in Eagle County we are excited to add Rick to our team and have him lead our extensive HR efforts.”
 
Smith has over three decades of business experience with companies such as Vail Resorts and Gerry Baby Products where he served as vice president of human resources The Pillsbury Company where he was responsible for human resources and negotiating all labor contracts for the company's largest manufacturing facilities and Frito Lay in both their sales and manufacturing divisions.

During Smith's career his leadership and direction has contributed to creating value-based cultures and structuring human resource departments that focused on customer service business results and efficiency. Smith's areas of expertise and experience are in developing strong leadership teams and building and implementing employee development programs.

"After working for Vail Resorts for eight years and then traveling across the country consulting for the last six years I found out just how much I missed working in this community and with the people of Eagle County" said Smith. “I'm excited to work with the dedicated staff at VVMC and under the leadership of Doris Kirchner.”

Smith received his Bachelor of Science degree from Regis College in Business Administration and a Masters of Arts in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois. He is an avid cyclist and skier and lives here in the valley with his wife Devon son Cooper and daughter Brodi.

Vail Valley Medical Center is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) health system serving mountain communities and guests from all over the world since 1965.