John Balzer

John A. Balzer, vice president of Planning and Development for Froedtert Health, was named by his peers as one of the top 20 professionals who have made a significant difference in advancing the design of health care facilities. (Healthcare Design, December 2008.)

That "making a difference" has been a hallmark of John Balzer’s career. He took an interesting path to his current position, beginning his professional life as an elementary school teacher. Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and math from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Balzer immediately received his teaching credentials and set about instituting innovative teaching practices that would engage and excite his young students. His efforts brought him recognition as a "State of Wisconsin Outstanding Young Educator."

Balzer supplemented his teaching with a part-time maintenance position. Eventually the intrigue of that work captured him and led him to earn a Master of Science in Engineering Management, specializing in construction management, construction finance and construction law, from Milwaukee School of Engineering.

He joined Froedtert Hospital in August 1980 as a second-shift maintenance worker. From the start he applied the same energy, skill and enthusiasm that he brought to teaching and steadily earned his way to his current position.

As head of facility planning and development, Balzer has made his mark by promoting the theme of "logical, not lavish" to all facility development initiatives. This approached has allowed Froedtert Health to gain the most value from every construction dollar. He bases all his projects on the key factors of flexibility, customer service goals, positive work environment for staff, operational efficiencies and capacity/growth accommodation all within a reasonable schedule and cash flow. Each and every project is subjected to a "what gets measured, gets done" mandate.