Lee Memorial taps Spence for CFO post

Ben Spence has been named chief financial officer of Lee Memorial Health System, Fort Myers, Fla., effective Sept. 8.

Spence, 45, has been with Lee Memorial since 1995. He most recently served as the system’s controller, overseeing acute-care reimbursement issues.

Spence will take over for Mike German, 58, who is retiring Sept. 5. German has been part of Lee Memorial for more than 20 years. Lee Memorial President Jim Nathan said in a statement that German “has made an outstanding contribution in overseeing our financial health during his tenure.”

Lee Memorial also named Patricia Duquette, controller of the system’s acute-care and treasury functions, as VP of finance. Duquette, 53, will report to Spence and manage the organization’s core financial processes.

Lee Memorial, a public, not-for-profit system, has three acute-care hospitals. In its fiscal 2013, ended Sept. 30, Lee Memorial had a $63.5 million operating surplus with $1.26 billion in revenue.

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