Meet our new Director of Facilities & Security

Q&A with James Ball, Sr.

Meet our new Director of Facilities and Security James Ball! Born in Columbus, Ohio, James comes to Health Care for the Homeless with more than two decades of experience in health care settings. James is a Marine veteran who served as a non-commissioned officer, drill instructor, reconnaissance officer and on U.S Embassy Duty. As Director of Facilities & Security, he'll oversee the safety and maintenance of our sites to ensure we can effectively serve clients each day. Read on to learn more about James…

You previously served as facilities director at a hospital that included multiple surgical and physical therapy centers. What drew you to Health Care for the Homeless?

Our values and mission statement align with my personal values and beliefs. I was raised to serve the community and love that I have a new opportunity to continue to make a positive difference in people's lives.

How did your Marine Corps service shape your leadership style?

The youngest of 12 children, I was raised by my father and mother in a structured environment. My father was an ex-military man, and my mother was warm, kind and caring. Both held us accountable for our actions beginning at an early age. We had daily chores and responsibilities. There were consequences if our chores weren't completed correctly and on time, or if we were found to be disrespectful inside or—more importantly—outside of the house.

This helped prepare me to become a Marine. In the military, we focused on details, communication, collaboration and execution. I learned how to believe in myself and my ability to accomplish things beyond my wildest imagination. It helped to establish my “can do, will do and want to do” mindset. It taught me patience, rational thinking, focus and how to work with people from all walks of life. It taught me about teamwork and how important it is to be inclusive when leading a team. I learned to value my life and the lives of others more than I ever knew was possible. It gave me the true meaning of extended family.

Being exposed to all of the above truly helped me to understand what being a leader is all about versus just being someone's boss.

What are some of your initial goals or priorities?

I plan to learn as much as I can from my colleagues while getting acclimated to my new role. A few focus areas include:

• Improving the cleanliness and presentation of our buildings and workspaces
• Addressing climate control in our workspaces and common areas
• Creating more efficient processes to maintain our buildings and workspaces

Your teams help keep our buildings operational, in compliance with many regulatory bodies and safe. How do you balance client and staff safety with the larger goal of making access easy for the people we serve?

Staff safety is first and foremost. We do that by assessing each and every situation we face, initially utilizing de-escalating techniques and reassuring both staff and clients that we always have a watchful eye on what's happening in and outside of our building. Keeping staff safe puts us in a better position to keep clients safe as well. That sets everyone up to have a good experience at Health Care for the Homeless.

Our core values are dignity, authenticity, hope, justice, passion and balance. Which value speaks to you the most?

All of them, but particularly authenticity, dignity and passion:

• Authenticity (keeping it real/genuine) - This aligns with who I am. Over my career, I've found that leaders who are truthful and transparent tend to attract more people who want to follow their lead.
• Passion - I'm very passionate about what I do and the people I serve.
• Dignity - I always try to treat others like I would want them to treat me.

What helps you find balance or joy outside work?

My wife, dog and family bring me joy. I enjoy the outdoors and quiet times as well. Spending time with my grandchildren is a priority.

Give a warm welcome to James when you see him next!