LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Jane Ehrlich, CEO of Columbia Memorial
Hospital, upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2011
Business Woman of the Year by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
exceptional individuals and businesses which substantially contribute to
the economic vitality of their communities and the entire Empire State;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Jane
Ehrlich, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the 2011 Business Woman of the Year by the
Greene County Chamber of Commerce at its Annual Recognition Gala at The
Point in Catskill, New York, on Thursday, June 16, 2011; and
WHEREAS, The Greene County Chamber of Commerce is the county's largest
commercial organization, proud of its region's historic past and natural
beauty, is dedicated to advancing the prosperity of all of its members
from not-for-profits and sole proprietors to large corporations; it
offers a valuable pool of resources from which members can draw ideas
and energy to grow their organizations and improve their bottom lines;
and
WHEREAS, Jane Ehrlich began her career as a nurse in New York City and
Boston before enrolling in the University of Connecticut's Master of
Business Administration program, from which she graduated in 1982, with
a concentration in healthcare management; and
WHEREAS, After two years as assistant executive director of Connecti-
cut Peer Review Organization, Jane Ehrlich became director of planning
at Windham Hospital in Connecticut; before her departure seven years
later, she had become executive vice president of the facility; and
WHEREAS, When Jane Ehrlich took over as head of Columbia Memorial in
1994, the hospital was in the midst of a financial crisis, complete with
aging buildings and outdated technology; a visionary, she quickly fell
in love with the Hudson Valley and saw real potential in Columbia Memo-
rial to become a state-of-the-art facility; and
WHEREAS, As one of her first initiatives, Jane Ehrlich helped develop
a new master plan for the hospital that included renovation and expan-
sion of facilities, a new bloodless medicine and surgery program, and
state-of-the-art technology; she also sharpened the focus on individual-
ized patient care, noting that the hospital is not all about technology,
it's all about patients; and
WHEREAS, Today, under Jane Ehrlich's leadership, Columbia Memorial
treats more than 34,000 patients in its emergency department each year,
delivers 500 babies, and provides more than 180,000 physician office
visits; the hospital is also a leading employer, with more than 1,400
employees; and
WHEREAS, In addition to taking the reins of the hospital, Jane Ehrlich
is also an accomplished dressage rider who has participated in many
competitions; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for Jane Ehrlich and to wish her contin-
ued success in all of her future endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Jane Ehrlich, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital, upon the occasion

of her designation as recipient of the 2011 Business Woman of the Year
by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jane Ehrlich, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital.