Day One Opening Remarks and Keynote Address | Indiana University Rural Conference 2020

Opening remarks

Kerry Thomson, Executive Director, Center for Rural Engagement

Kerry Thomson leads the Center for Rural Engagement's efforts to improve the lives of Hoosiers. Kerry’s work as a community builder began at a young age through her service with several charitable organizations, including Habitat for Humanity where she held many roles at local affiliates in Lynchburg, Virginia and Twin Cities, Minnesota, and later at Habitat for Humanity International. Kerry moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 1997 where she led the affiliate to unprecedented growth and success. Kerry’s focus, and the hallmark of her work, is on building community across lines which too frequently become barriers, creating relationships which span boundaries of race, culture, and income.

Keynote address

Steve Long, President and CEO, Hancock Health

Steve Long has spent more than 20 years working in healthcare, serving in a variety of leadership positions across the country in places including University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City, Iowa; MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas; and Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Steve also served as president and CEO of Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa. Steve has been with Hancock since 2014.