History of the Foundation
As a successful entrepreneur and a member of the Cleveland chapter of Young President’s Organization Bill Rowley recognized an opportunity to leverage his peers’ connections for the greater good of the entire group. Conceptualized long before widespread use of the World Wide Web, well before platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook were invented, Rowley’s forward-thinking led to the creation of the Inventory of Skills Foundation (IOS) in 1991.
IOS began as a networking service among presidents and CEOs, helping each other to experience-share, grow their businesses and improve their lives. One aspect of this networking service grew demonstrably – networking for hospital services.
No longer focusing on the other networking needs of business leaders, IOS Foundation began to focus exclusively on networking our members into the top hospitals in the country when our members and their families have medical needs.
In 1992, Rowley and the Cleveland chapter were honored with YPO's Most Innovative Event in a Chapter Education Program for the creation of the Inventory. Rowley was again honored in 1993 with awards for Most Innovative Program and First Place-North America and the North America Region-Best Chapter Education Program. Realizing his new concept's amazing potential, Rowley began offering IOS to other chapters. IOS soon was serving all of YPO and extending its reach to the World Presidents’ Organization (WPO), Chief Executives Organization (CEO) and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).
In 1997, the Inventory of Skills (IOS) Foundation was granted 501(c)(3) status and became a non-profit organization. Medical connections were the forte of IOS and soon became the focus of operations for the small non-profit foundation that was making an incredible impact around the world.
Created in 2002, HealthNet would serve other leadership organizations with similar member profiles who were not members of the original “O” communities. HealthNet provided the same medical access to this group. The leaders of Legatus and the Founders Society of Ocean Reef brought HealthNet on as a member benefit; leaders of the Founders Society of Baptist Health South Florida quickly followed them.
In 2004, IOS and HealthNet were consolidated under the name of Healthnetwork Foundation. This foundation continues today as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing our members with timely access to medical information, wellness programs, mental health resources and top hospitals across the U.S.
In 2007, a powerful group of leaders, Vistage International supported the unique services of Healthnetwork as a member benefit for its members. They were soon joined by a new community in Florida which offered Healthnetwork services to the donors of the Boca Grande Health Clinic. Vistage Florida was next to offer Healthnetwork as a member benefit.
In 2009, Healthnetwork Foundation opened an office in Cincinnati, Ohio, in collaboration with a group of local Healthnetwork GOLD supporters. They approached Healthnetwork with a request to bring the concierge model of care to the hospitals within the Cincinnati area. These GOLD supporters and four of the local healthcare systems along with matching funds from Healthnetwork support a local Cincinnati Healthnetwork office for all local members.
Today, Healthnetwork collaborates with the leadership at many of the most-respected hospitals in America, and because of our relationships and our innovative liaison program within these hospitals, we can provide our members access to the best diagnostic and treatment options - quickly. Our partner hospitals develop relationships with a powerful group of influencers and our business leaders connect with the most innovative, brightest physicians for diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
The Healthnetwork Foundation's headquarters is located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and also has a satellite office in Cincinnati, Ohio.