Prominent attorney, law firm CEO to run $83 million health care nonprofit

SARASOTA — Tidewell Hospice and its umbrella nonprofit, Stratum Health System, named Jonathan Fleece president and CEO of the sprawling organization. 

According to a press release, Sarasota-based Tidewell and Stratum's board voted unanimously to appoint Fleece, a well-known area health care attorney, to the position after eight months of interviews, meetings, discussions, assessments and presentations. Tidewell has an annual operating budget of $83 million, and is one of the 20 largest hospices nationwide based on patients served. The organization has some 700 employees. 

Fleece will succeed current Stratum and Tidewell CEO Gerard Radford. Radford had previously announced his intent to retire. 

Fleece has served as CEO and managing partner of area law firm Blalock Walters. He has been a member of the Tidewell or Stratum boards since 2009. 

His health care career began in administration and in the general counsel’s office at Saint Louis University’s Medical Center. The statement says he is now a health care strategist, advisor, attorney, speaker and author.

“We were looking for a visionary leader and strategist who could grow and guide our role as the leader in the aging continuum and end-of-life care; someone who would inspire and nurture the personal and professional development of our employees,” says Jan Miller, chair of the Tidewell Hospice board of trustees and chair of the CEO search committee.

Fleece will work for Blalock Walters until September. He plans to assume the new CEO position at Stratum and Tidewell on Oct. 1.