introduced by Lion Mac Ragsdale
Join the Austin Founder Lions Club to learn about Central Health’s Brackenridge Campus Master Plan to redevelop the campus into an innovative mixed-use development. Currently under construction, this 14.2 acre site that encompasses six city blocks just south of the new Dell Medical School at UT Austin will shape this area of the City and the future of health care for generations to come.
Christie Garbe, M.A., Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, leads Central Health’s strategy, government relations and communications initiatives. Garbe has been with Central Health since 2006, serving in multiple capacities, all with a focus on providing better access and improving health care in Travis County for uninsured and low-income residents. Garbe provides strategic guidance as Central Health’s responsibilities expand to include health promotion, developing value-based health care delivery models, and expanded partnerships with the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin and Seton Healthcare Family. Prior to joining Central Health, Garbe served as CEO of the American Lung Association of Alaska for eight years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in human development and social policy as well as a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Northwestern University. Garbe serves on the boards of the Community Care Collaborative; Mayor’s Health & Fitness Council; Children’s Optimal Health; and the Community Advancement Network.
Juan Garza is serving as Vice-President of Finance and Development and is on special assignment to Central Health to head up the master planning and eventual redevelopment of the UMCB Campus. Juan comes to Central Health after a long career in public service during which he has served as an urban planner, financial planner, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant City Manager and City Manager. During the span of his career, he has led the City of Corpus Christie as City Manager, Driscoll Children’s Hospital as Interim CEO, Austin Energy as General Manager, and Pedernales Electric Cooperative as General Manager and CEO. He has served in various other capacities including Chief financial Officer, Human Resources Director, and Fleet Services Director (Interim).
A native Texan, Juan attended Loyola of Chicago where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and a Masters of Business Administration in Financial Management. He is a graduate of Cotulla High School in South Texas; the very place where LBJ taught elementary school; and, is the son in law of one of LBJ’s students.
Juan currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Capital Idea, Austin; and the Greater Austin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He also serves as a board member of Sendero Health Plans.
Juan believes that Providence places us here on earth to be of service to each other and we do that though our work. Happiness, therefore, is a by-product of being productive.
