Get to Know: Sonja McLendon
Sunday, December 10, 2023
By Barbara Myers Myers Mason APR
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This month we turn our member focus toward a Hall County Rotarian whose first encounter with Rotary took place as a young adult in Finland as part of an international exchange program! Many years later, she would become a Rotarian and even a club president. Her professional career as a health administrator has been on an exciting upward trajectory, currently serving as Chief of Operational Excellence for the Northeast Georgia Health System. She is an Adjunct Instructor at Brenau University and is an accomplished keynote speaker, having participated in conferences and summits around the country. She has even volunteered her time as a speaker at the D6910 Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly in Toccoa, GA, for the last two years. Join us this month as we get to know Sonja McLendon.
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| Sonja McLendon, FACHE |
Sonja McLendon was first introduced to Rotary in her late 20’s when she participated in a Rotary Group Study Exchange to Finland. She credits this experience with changing her life.
“I came to understand the role of Rotary on an international level, the importance of lifelong learning, the power of diplomacy and peacemaking, and the joy of finding connection with a diverse group of colleagues,” she said.
“I also made a personal connection on that trip, with a handsome young man in our group. We’ve been married for 23 years.”
McLendon has been a Rotarian since 2009 and has served with the Rotary Club of Hall County since 2013, including as president.
She stays in Rotary as it provides her the opportunity to serve both her local and global communities. “I have deep connections with the members of my club here in Hall County, yet I also know I am welcomed in any Rotary Club in the world.”
“I love being part of an organization that is committed to doing good in the world in big and small ways, and is relentless in its pursuit of making positive change.”
McLendon knows a lot about positive change. A member of the Northeast Georgia Health System administrative team since 2013, she has served as the Chief of Operational Excellence for the five-hospital system since 2015.
In this position, McLendon leads the organization’s lean transformation, performance improvement and patient experience functions. In addition, she facilitate strategy deployment throughout the system that provides tertiary care and serves one million northeast Georgia residents in 20 counties.
Prior to joining the system, McLendon served as the vice president of ancillary and outpatients services at ValleyCare Health System in Pleasanton, California, and as a vice president of Tuomey Healthcare System in Sumter, South Carolina.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, a Master of Education in sports medicine from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, Columbia.
McLendon is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Certified Lean healthcare professional, and earned a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
On top of her work responsibilities, she enjoys spending time with her club members who are also passionate about serving the community. “And they are interesting and fun people!” she said.
“It’s a great way to give back to a community that has welcomed me and my family.”
She enjoys the relationship she has with other clubs within the district and the opportunity to share her talents. She has especially appreciated participating in RYLA the past two years as a speaker.
Aside from Rotary, McLendon serves as a mentor for young people in healthcare through the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives and as a senior warden at Grace Episcopal Church in Gainesville.
She and her husband, Scott, have a daughter, Molly, who is a junior at the University of Georgia.
“For us, Rotary is a family affair,” she said.
“Molly grew up as a ‘Rotary kid,’ coming along with me to service projects and club events even as a child. She continued through high school in her Interact Club, and Scott is a regular at meetings and volunteer events.”
In her free time, McLendon enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling, and collecting funny stories that may end up in her next presentation or in the book she keeps threatening to write!
