Lyle Ford

About Lyle Ford

Innovation & AI Strategy Leader | 4x SPARK Award Winner | Driving Health Equity & Enterprise GrowthI believe that collective imagination inspires trust—and trust moves mountains. My professional journey began in rural Montana, where I learned the value of resilience, and continued as an Army Officer, where I learned that leadership is a mission-focused team sport.As an Innovation Leader and Nonprofit Executive, I’ve found that the secret to progress is simple but rare: perseverance. It is the willingness to fall down seven times and get up eight. Today, I translate that grit into systemic change, bridging the gap between high-level technology and human-centered impact.I’ve learned that while AI can provide data-driven insights, it cannot notice when a team member is burning out or when a subtle shift in tone indicates a lack of trust. My leadership focuses on Emotional Intelligence (EQ)—using tech to streamline the routine so we can prioritize the uniquely human art of coaching and connection.How I Create Value: Innovation & AI Strategy: As a 4x Centene SPARK 1st Place Winner, I specialize in identifying creative solutions to enterprise challenges. I am an AI Champion focused on leveraging emerging tech to solve \"real world\" problems.🤝 Health Equity & SDOH: I am a dedicated advocate for addressing the Social Determinants of Health. I build programs that dismantle barriers to care and create measurable progress for underserved populations. Veteran & Military Family Leadership: My background as an Army Officer fuels my passion for supporting our military community. I excel at mission-driven leadership and high-stakes collaboration. Operational Excellence: I bring a rigorous executive toolkit to every project, including:Strategic Planning & Board GovernanceBudget Management & Program DevelopmentGrant Writing, Fundraising & Community OutreachPublic Speaking & Professional TrainingMy Vision:I envision a world where we work together to accomplish healthy, positive change. We may still fall down, but our mission now is to give others an empowering hand up.Specialties:Innovation Strategy | Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)| Nonprofit Executive Management | AI Implementation | Veteran Advocacy | Budget & Strategic Planning | Grant Writing | Public Speaking | Collaborative Leadership.Let’s connect to discuss how we can innovate for a more equitable future.

Experience

1. Employment Administrator

   Arizona Complete Health

   Aug 2019 — Present · Tucson, AZ, US

   In the Arizona healthcare landscape, I\'ve seen that health equity is impossible without economic stability. My work as an ACC-RBHA employment administrator focuses on the intersection of behavioral health and employment—creating innovative pathways for Medicaid members to achieve self-sufficiency.Operationalized equitable access to vocational services for members with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), substance use challenges, and complex behavioral needs, directly addressing the economic social determinants of health.Leveraged data-driven strategies to increase employment rates among underserved populations, reducing long-term dependency on social safety nets and improving overall health outcomes.

Education

• Quartermaster Officer Basic Course

  Logistics Management

  1992 — 1992

• Combined Arms Services Staff School

  Military and Strategic Leadership

  1997 — 1997

• Aviation Officer Basic Course

  Military Science and Operational Studies

  1991 — 1991

• Arizona State University

  Professional Certificate, Non-Profit Management

  2009 — 2010

• University of Arizona RISE

  Recovery Support Specialist

  2012 — 2012

• Army Logistics Management College

  Logistics Management

  1997 — 1997

• University of Montana

  Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (Honors Program)

  1987 — 1991

• Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course

  Logistics Management

  1997 — 1997

• Center for Deployment Psychology

  Certificate, Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health

  2012 — 2012

Skills

• Sustainability
• Editing
• Behavioral Health
• Human Resources
• Photography
• Non-Profit Program Development
• Collaborative Leadership
• Non-Profit Board Development
• Program Management
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Fundraising
• Analysis
• Project Management
• Public Speaking
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Proposal Writing
• Program Evaluation
• Mental Health
• Organizational Development
• Event Planning
• Small Business
• Non-Profits
• Marketing
• Report Writing
• Logistics Management
• Social Services
• Grants
• Volunteer Management
• Training
• Community Organizing
• Program Development
• Team Building
• Management
• Project Planning
• Leadership Development
• Social Media
• Executive Management
• Peer Support