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We're incredibly proud of the culture we've built over the past 25 years. And it all started with a simple question: "Why don't we create a place where employees are excited to come each day?"
Don DeCamp, our first chief people officer, didn't just ask the question; he was the architect of our culture.
Don recently passed away at the age of 81, and I want to share memories and tributes to a man who demonstrated the power of Putting People First and was a clear example of how one person can make a lasting difference.
Welcoming people with open arms
I started at CHG about four months after Don retired in early 2010. But his presence was still in the building. During my first week, I was about to head down the elevator when the doors opened, and there was Don. Despite his retirement, he was back doing a training on customer experience and his unwavering belief that by building a great people culture, CHG had the secret sauce to be a trusted partner for our clients.
He welcomed me to CHG with open arms, becoming an onboarding buddy via phone during my first year.
Kevin Ricklefs, our former chief culture officer, shares his memories of Don and his singular impact on our culture. "Don helped create a workplace where employees felt valued every single day," Kevin says. "He created the first sales training, the first leadership development program, and new hire onboarding. His passion and drive for employee engagement changed the way CHG ran every facet of the business: to focus on the employee's needs first before process or profits."
Building something extraordinary
Former CEO Scott Beck remembers Don as someone who deliberately did the right thing, in the right way, every time. When they met at a career fair in 1999, Don took Scott in and guided him on how to be an effective, caring leader.
"When Don joined CompHealth in 1998, the company had been through five CEOs in seven years, turnover was over 50%, and profits were minimal. But Don had a simple, powerful approach. He asked: What do the people want?"
Scott recalls that when Don announced his goal to make Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Scott thought it was aspirational but not necessarily achievable.
"We've now made Fortune's list more than a dozen times," Scott remembers. "But Don didn't care about the recognition itself. He wanted to build the most amazing company from our employees' point of view, knowing that would attract more great people and create a virtuous cycle."
The principles that guide us today
Former CEO Mike Weinholtz noted that Don's influence at CHG is still present, even though he retired more than 15 years ago. "It was Don who inspired CHG's defining core value, Putting People First, which still guides our successful culture today."
Don's impact extended beyond CHG. He helped raise the profile of the entire healthcare staffing industry through his work with NALTO and NATHO.
Patrick Donovan, co-founder and chair of VeloSource, was there for the formation of NALTO in 2001 and served as NALTO president until 2008. "My most obvious memory is how he was always about others, not himself. He truly cared about our industry, and NALTO was just another way to pursue improvement. His leadership set the tone for respectful communication and collaboration that still endures today within the organization."
Shane Jackson, president of Jackson Healthcare, reflects on Don's industry influence: "Don was a part of a core group of leaders at CHG who have long earned my respect. We considered Don and their team as much more than competitors; they were common spirits trying to elevate our industry and the many people we serve."
Jeff Freeman, CHG's current executive vice president of culture, shared that Don was his boss, mentor, and friend. "One of the many things I learned from Don is that the most powerful business driver isn't strategy or process; it's people. Don taught me that a leader's primary responsibility is genuinely caring for their team, and from that foundation, everything else follows."
The daily rituals that showed he cared
Many people remember Don's daily walkabouts, how he'd get his coffee and walk every floor, connecting with people.
Mark Law, former chief sales officer, remembers that "Don was always focused on being positive and upbeat. He told me that if he got to work and didn't have that mindset, he would sit in his car and work on it until he was ready to project that positive attitude."
Tricia Warnken, senior vice president of marketing, recalls that "Don's leadership was defined by his unwavering belief that core values must be lived daily, not merely displayed on a wall. Those values show up in the way you treat people and care for them."
A legacy that lives on
Scott Beck reflects on CHG today. "More than 4,000 people enjoy our healthy, people-focused, trust-based culture. CHG's retention is nearly 90%. We're a $3 billion company. But more importantly, we're a place where people want to work."
"Don taught us all how to build and nurture a culture focused on people. He showed us that humility, kindness, and genuine care for others isn't just the right way to lead; it's the most powerful way to build a lasting company."
We're so grateful for the foundation Don built for all of us, and we're committed to putting people first every single day, just like Don would do.
