Health Care 2023: MARK NANTZ

Joining Valley Health in June 2020, Nantz is responsible for overseeing about 6,000 employees and six hospitals, including two in West Virginia. He previously held executive roles at Bon Secours Mercy Health, including as chief administrative officer and president of its Atlantic Group.

In January, Valley Health joined West Virginia University Health System, Mountain Health Network and Marshall Health as a co-owner of provider-led Peak Health, which is expected to begin insuring up to 8,000 Valley Health employees and dependents starting in 2024.

In late 2022 and early 2023, Valley Health shed about 100 jobs and closed four fitness centers as cost-cutting measures, with Nantz citing rising pay rates, a decline in demand for services and insurance reimbursement rates not keeping pace with inflation.

Last year, amid ongoing industry talent shortages, Nantz announced that the Shenandoah Valley-based health system would invest $17.2 million toward compensation — in addition to previous investments of more than $50 million since 2020 — allowing a 3% pay raise for eligible full-time and part-time employees.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in accounting, Nantz has a master’s in health administration from Pfeiffer University.