Rick Russell’s Business of Compassion: How Purpose-Driven Leadership Transformed Hospice Care
Richard Russell, President and CEO of Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg Ohio
Rick currently serves Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg, Ohio, as President & CEO, joining the organization in 2021. He has over 35 years of nursing and leadership experience. Prior to joining Hospice of Northwest Ohio, he served ProMedica as the Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer for Post-Acute Services and General Manager of the Midwest Division, where he had oversight of all hospice, home health, DME, and palliative care services in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Rick has held local, regional and executive leadership roles with leading hospice and home health providers for the past 20 years. He holds a nursing degree from the University of Toledo, a BSN from Bowling Green State University, and an MBA from the University of Toledo. He is also a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator (CHPCA) and actively serves on numerous boards and committees.
In the world of business and entrepreneurship, we often associate leadership with rapid growth, aggressive scaling, and sharp profit margins. But Rick Russell offers a different kind of vision—one rooted in mission, service, and deeply held values. As the CEO of one of the oldest nonprofit hospices in the country, Rick’s story is a reminder that true success is about more than just numbers—it’s about purpose.
Finding Purpose in Unlikely Places
Rick didn’t start his career aiming to lead a hospice organization. With over a decade in oncology nursing, he was trained to fight for every moment of life. “I couldn’t imagine a world where you gave up hope,” Rick shared. But what he found in hospice care wasn’t hopelessness—it was a profound redefinition of hope. “You don’t give up hope. You just change the way you think about it.”
In business, as in life, unexpected opportunities often lead us to our calling. Rick accepted his first hospice leadership role for practical reasons—proximity to family. What he found was a mission that reshaped him. The lesson here for entrepreneurs? Stay open. Sometimes, purpose finds you where you least expect it.
Servant Leadership: A Strategy That Works
One of the most powerful takeaways from Rick’s journey is his deep commitment to servant leadership—a philosophy that flips traditional power structures and puts leaders in service of their people. When COVID-19 hit and staff morale plummeted, Rick didn’t react with top-down directives. He listened. He rebuilt trust. Through open forums, transparency, and intentional communication, his team went from a 40% turnover rate to over 99% retention among one-year employees.
This is not just a feel-good strategy—it’s good business. Culture drives retention, retention drives consistency, and consistency fuels high-quality outcomes. Whether you're running a startup or scaling a global enterprise, servant leadership isn’t soft—it’s strategic.
Mission Over Margin: A Nonprofit That Thrives
Rick contrasts his experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. While acknowledging that some for-profits are mission-driven, he doesn’t mince words about the impact of prioritizing profits over people. “If you provide hospice care the way it should be,” he said, “there’s not much margin there.” Yet his organization has thrived for over 44 years, supported by Medicare, Medicaid, and generous community donations.
The insight for entrepreneurs here is clear: margin matters—but meaning matters more. Build something people believe in, and your community will rally around you. Purpose isn’t a tradeoff; it’s an engine for sustainable success.
Entrepreneurship and the Long Game
Perhaps the most touching moment from Rick’s interview was the story behind a sign on his office wall: “Don’t mistake God’s patience for His absence.” A gift from his daughter during a frustrating startup season, it reminds him—and us—that the entrepreneurial journey is not always fast or easy. But perseverance, guided by purpose, bears fruit.
In a world that glorifies instant results, Rick’s career is a testament to the power of the long game. Build trust. Invest in people. Lead with heart. The success that follows won’t just be measured in revenue—it will be measured in impact.
Rick’s leadership embodies the heart of entrepreneurship—not just building something profitable, but building something meaningful. Whether you’re just starting out or leading an established business, ask yourself: Am I chasing numbers, or am I building a legacy? The answer might just change everything.
Written by Jovilyn Dela Cruz
“True leadership isn’t about control—it’s about service.”
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