Florida Chamber Health Council Launching Statewide, Business-Led Mental Health Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ivette Faulkner
ifaulkner@flchamber.com
850-521-1231

TALLAHASSEE, FL (April 27, 2023) – The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Cabinet is making Florida the safest, healthiest, and most sustainable state in America. Florida businesses can’t be their safest and most sustainable unless public awareness is raised regarding mental health outcomes and a commitment to mental well-being. To help advance healthier outcomes in Florida by uniting and aligning businesses, government, and nonprofits to solve Florida’s mental health crisis, Dr. Robert “Navy Bob” Roncska is now Senior Vice President of the Florida Chamber Health Council. Dr. Roncska previously served as Corporate Executive Director for High Reliability and Unit Culture at AdventHealth.

For the past two years, Roncska was a distinguished Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Health and Sustainability Advisory Board member who helped create national standards for workplace safety and implemented first-in-the-nation programs to prevent injuries, reduce operational costs, and improve production, performance, and corporate safety culture. Roncska will officially take the helm of the Health Council on May 1st for a coordinated, business-led health initiative to develop local behavioral health systems, help funders of care implement best practices and create a national model of business-led mental well-being outcomes that can be replicated nationally.

“As Chair of the Florida Chamber’s Health Council, I had a front-row seat to the essential work needed to tackle the mental health crisis. The Florida Chamber is unifying the business community to ensure Florida is a national model for mental wellness. I am honored to help lead this important mission for Florida,” said Roncska.
Mark A. Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, notes that the creation of the statewide mental health initiative coincides with the annual Leadership Conference on Safety, Health and Sustainability in Orlando May 11-12th. Wilson adds that in order to bring more awareness to solutions that help make a positive impact on mental health and wellness, the conference will also feature keynotes from experts such as:

• • Dr. Caroline Leaf, Communication Pathologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist, on Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess
  • Pat Geraghty, President & CEO of GuideWell and Florida Blue on the common goal to build a better healthcare system that is more affordable, accessible, and works for everyone

“Leadership Conference attendees can meet Navy Bob while they learn about safety, health, and sustainability business practices from several other nationally acclaimed speakers,” said Wilson. Healthcare leaders and those interested in the Florida Chamber Health Council’s new mental health initiative can register at https://flleadershipconference.com.

Roncska’s first significant Health Council initiative will be to focus on creating and coordinating a statewide mental health initiative. With Florida ranking 49th for access to mental health care according to Mental Health America’s 2022 report, the workplace need for mental wellness is significant.

“We are grateful to have Dr. Robert Roncska leading the Florida Chamber Health Council and Jason Mozo, J.D., leading the Florida Chamber Safety Council on the journey to becoming the safest, healthiest, and most sustainable state in America,” said Katie R. Yeutter, President of the Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Health and Sustainability and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Before joining the Florida Chamber, Roncska served as Corporate Executive Director for High Reliability and Unit Culture at AdventHealth, after completing 28 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Navy Captain in 2018. He served as the Pacific Fleet’s top fast attack Submarine Commodore and the USS TEXAS’s Commanding Officer (SSN 775). He was warmly dubbed by U.S. President George W. Bush as “Navy Bob” and served as the Naval Aide to the President of the United States.

“As Chair of the Florida Chamber’s Health Council, I had a front-row seat to the essential work needed to tackle the mental health crisis. The Florida Chamber is unifying the business community to ensure Florida is a national model for mental wellness. I am honored to help lead this effort for Florida,” said Roncska.

Through the Florida Chamber’s Health Council, Roncska and his team will identify, share, and promote outcome-driven strategies that focus on total wellness and its impact on business. Mental health and well-being are essential to maintaining a safe and productive workplace. The Florida Chamber Health Council will directly engage with the Florida business community so that business leaders can take population-level best practices to scale, which will benefit Florida workers and their families. Examples of strategies include:

• • Research projects
  • Community presentations
  • Policy development at the state and federal levels
  • Quarterly webinars and podcasts
  • Introduction of promising corporate practices

“Navy Bob’s personal experience around mental health challenges with his mother and father combined with his engagement with corporate, military, and political leaders, make him the perfect leader to create America’s leading, business-led, mental health and mental well-being initiative,” said Wilson.

Learn more about the strategy and vision of the Florida Chamber’s Health Council. Plan to attend the 2023 Leadership Conference on Safety, Health, and Sustainability in Orlando. Browse all sessions and secure your seat today at https://flleadershipconference.com.

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About the Florida Chamber of Commerce
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of Florida job creators and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce, and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and region. The Florida Chamber is uniting Florida’s job creators for good to further diversity in Florida’s economy, growing it to a Top 10 global economy. The driving force of Florida’s Future and committed to fighting for jobs and defeating legislation threatening Florida’s free enterprise system, the Florida Chamber aggressively works within the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of state government to advocate legislation essential to Florida and the continued improvement of Florida’s business climate and sustained economic development across the state. For information, visit www.flchamber.com.