Hospital CFO heads home

Tim Noakes, chief finance officer of Sonoma Valley Hospital and interim chief executive officer, has announced his resignation effective August 11.

He has accepted the position of CFO and Assistant Administrator for Sutter Tracy Community Hospital and Memorial Hospital in Las Banos, a facility close to his Central Valley home. Noakes said the new job offers an exceptional opportunity for career advancement

“I had not been looking,” he said. “But when the position was presented to me, I could not refuse.”

Still, “it was not an easy choice, because I’ve enjoyed the community and the people I’ve worked with,” he said. “I’m excited and a little sad.” Sonoma Hospital “is on the cusp of doing some exciting things. Financially, it’s much stronger than a year ago.”

Hired as the CFO in October of 2009, Noakes took on the additional assignment of interim CEO after Carl Gerlach departed as planned on June 30.

“I am deeply proud of the accomplishments achieved by the Sonoma Valley team and am honored to count myself as a contributor and member of that team,” said Noakes. “With the on-going progress of the design-build project and the many other positive initiatives in place, I believe the district and Sonoma Valley Hospital are on a strong path.”

Noakes’ July 1 announcement to the board came just days before the hospital’s choice of new CEO, Kelly Mather, was made public. “She will be a great addition,” he said. “She can think ‘outside the box’ and will bring her own style of leadership and talent in working with doctors, staff and community.”

Noakes will have more time with his family, which had not yet relocated to Sonoma, and enjoy a short bike ride to work. “My office is a mile and a half from my house,” he said. “It’s a green move.”