Care Synergy names Tricia Ford CEO elect as Tim Bowen plans retirement

Care Synergy said President and CEO Tim Bowen will retire March 2, 2027, after more than a decade leading the Colorado nonprofit healthcare network. The board named Hospice COO Tricia Ford CEO elect to guide a planned transition for the organization and its affiliates.

Why it matters: - Care Synergy is preparing for a leadership handoff at a major Colorado nonprofit healthcare network that serves hospice, palliative care, PACE, aging services, wellness programs, and community-based care. - The transition is designed to preserve continuity for employees, patients, community partners, donors, and affiliate organizations. - The organization’s next CEO will inherit a system that supports care across Colorado and beyond.

What happened: - President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Bowen announced plans to retire on March 2, 2027. - Care Synergy’s Board of Directors named Hospice Chief Operating Officer Tricia Ford as CEO elect. - Ford will start in the new role immediately and work alongside Bowen before becoming chief executive after his retirement. - The announcement came from Care Synergy in Denver on June 30, 2026. - Care Synergy also said it plans to begin a search for the next chief operating officer in the coming months.

The details: - Bowen was Care Synergy’s first employee. - Bowen helped shape the organization from a collaboration among nonprofit hospice providers into one of Colorado’s largest nonprofit healthcare networks. - Care Synergy’s family of affiliates includes The Denver Hospice, Pathways, Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, Colorado PACE, Pathways PACE, and Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care. - Since joining Care Synergy in 2015, Bowen led the organization through growth and a shift from a shared-services model to an integrated enterprise. - Bowen also spent 15 years as president of Haven Hospice in Florida before joining Care Synergy. - At Haven Hospice, Bowen helped guide growth and contributed to the organization earning the Circle of Life Award for excellence and innovation in end-of-life care. - Brad Baumgartner, chair of Care Synergy’s Board of Directors, said Bowen’s leadership strengthened end-of-life care across Colorado and positioned the organization for long-term success. - Ford brings more than three decades of healthcare leadership experience and nearly 10 years of executive leadership at Care Synergy. - Ford joined Care Synergy in 2017 and has served as Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Lead of the CAPABLE National Center. - As COO, Ford oversaw hospice, palliative care, wellness services, and national program expansion. - Ford has also served as interim president for multiple Care Synergy affiliates. - Ford has helped advance value-based care initiatives, expand community partnerships, and strengthen services for older adults and people living with serious illness. - Ford helped secure millions of dollars in funding for innovative healthcare programs. - Ford also guided the CAPABLE program’s growth to 48 licensed sites in the United States and Nova Scotia.

Between the lines: - The board’s early naming of a CEO elect signals a deliberate succession plan rather than a sudden departure. - Care Synergy is pairing continuity with change by keeping an internal leader who already oversees operations and affiliate relationships. - Bowen’s exit closes a long chapter for an executive who helped define the organization’s structure and identity. - The transition also reflects how nonprofit healthcare groups are increasingly emphasizing integrated care models and community-based partnerships.

What's next: - Ford will serve as CEO elect through the transition period and then become chief executive on March 2, 2027. - Bowen will remain involved until retirement to support a smooth handoff. - Care Synergy will move forward with its search for a new chief operating officer. - The organization says it will remain focused on nonprofit, community-based healthcare for individuals and families across Colorado and beyond. - More information is available in the company’s announcement.