About Gary J. Borgstede

I am the Chief Administrative Officer and a Lead Team Pastor at Church of the King in Mandeville, Louisiana, one of the largest non-denominational churches in the Greater New Orleans region. I am also the President and Founder of The Make It Happen Learning Institute – Reaching People, Unleashing The Extraordinary! ® and a Consulting Member Partner of the medical coding management services and technology firm, MedKoder, LLC – Medical Coding With Financial Peace TM. Lastly, I am an Executive Coach certified by Coachwell to inspire excellence in personal and professional leadership.

This is my personal blog. It is focused on faith-based leadership insights for marketplace leaders. My heart is to engage, encourage, equip, and empower business leaders to make it happen in the marketplace for the glory of God and the benefit of others. I write on leadership principles, team values, and faith. From a faith-based perspective, my writing challenges secular business thinking to embrace the “can do” values of the kingdom of God in the marketplace.  Additionally, with a kingdom-minded perspective, my writing also challenges traditional religious paradigms for the expression of faith in the marketplace.

My goal is to help business leaders create cultures of empowerment in the marketplace that reach people and unleash their extraordinary God-given potential to make a real difference in life.  Additionally, it is my intention to awaken business leaders in the marketplace to God’s kingdom purpose in business.

I post material as often as my writing calendar allows. To be certain that you do not miss any of my posts, please be sure to visit the upper right side of this page and subscribe to the blog.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Besides serving my local church as the Chief Administrative Officer and a Lead Team Pastor at Church of the King , I lead The Make It Happen Learning Institute as the President and Founder and I am a Consulting Member Partner of MedKoder, LLC – a medical coding management services and technology firm. Additionally, I am an executive coach certified by Coachwell ®, a published author of two leadership books, a national speaker on business leadership principles, a teacher of faith-based team values, and an experienced leader in business and ministry with more than 24 years of diverse professional experience in financial management, strategic operations, human resources, information technology, customer service, and leadership development.

As a former System Vice President of Ochsner Health System, I helped to lead the largest healthcare delivery system in the Gulf South region with 7 hospitals, a 600-plus Physician Medical Group Practice, and more than 1.2 billion dollars in net patient revenues – at that time.  In my last executive role in operations at Ochsner, I led the Clinical Divisions of Radiology, Primary Care, Women Services, Pediatrics, and Hospital Medicine as well as the ancillary business Divisions of Elmwood Fitness Center and the Brent House Hotel.

In 2009, I left Ochsner Health System to join the executive leadership team of my local church as the Chief Administrative Officer.  In my leadership role at Church of the King, I am helping to build the organizational infrastructure to support our church’s four campus locations and growing membership base of more than 7,000 members.  In addition to my leadership gifting, I have a pastoral heart that inspires my passionate pursuit to equip, engage, encourage, and empower business leaders in marketplace ministry. And lastly, as a Consulting Member of the MedKoder organization, I help provide strategic direction for the organizational development of MedKoder into a premier medical coding management services and technology firm in the healthcare marketplace.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Masters of Business Administration, Southeastern Louisiana University, 1991
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance, Louisiana State University, 1988
  • Certified Public Accountant, Louisiana State, 1996 (Inactive)
  • Certified Executive Coach, Coachwell, 2013

PUBLISHED LEADERSHIP BOOKS AND ARTICLES

  1. The Make It Happen Journey: Creating A Culture Of Empowerment That Reaches People & Unleashes Their Extraordinary God-given Potential, Strang Book Group, Co-published June 2010
  2. Kings Come Forth: The Call To Awaken Business Leaders To God’s Kingdom Purpose, Strang Book Group, Co-published March 2011
  3. The Make It Happen Moment ®  Faith-based Leadership Messages, Faithreaders
  4. A Winning Combination: Technology and Human Resources Achieve Bottom-Line Results, Group Practice Journal, September 2001

PERSONAL FUN FACTS

  • Board Secretary of the New Orleans Dream Center
  • Board Secretary of Next Generation Ministries
  • Secretary Treasurer Officer of Church of the King
  • Secretary Treasurer Officer of The George Shinn Leadership Retreat Center
  • Former Board member of Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans
  • 2006 Team Recipient of the Ochsner Spirit of Leadership Department of the Year Award – Elmwood Fitness Center
  • 2006 Recipient of the Ochsner Spirit of Leadership Community Service Award
  • Certified team finisher of the Race Across America – 3,005 mile bicycle race
  • Certified finisher of the Florida Ironman triathlon – 2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run
  • Certified finisher of the New Orleans Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Marathon – 26.2 mile run
  • Two time finisher of the 6 Gap Century Ride – 103 mile bike ride over 6 mountain passes and 11,200 ft of elevation in Dahlonega, GA
  • Short term missionary to Mexico, Honduras, Alaska, Belize, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Egypt
  • Active participant in local prison ministry at the Rayburn Correctional Institute
  • Ministry team leader and men’s weekly small group leader at Church of the King
  • A founding Officer and former Treasurer of Christian Men’s Fellowship
  • A founding father and former student Treasurer of The SLU MBA Society
  • Member of the national honor fraternity, Beta Gamma Sigma
  • Member of the international business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, and former student Vice President of Finance
  • Husband to my beautiful loving wife for 25 years and blessed father of my 5 wonderful children ages 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23

PERSONAL ENDORSEMENTS

“There is no one quite like Gary Borgstede in how he leads people by positive example, high expectations and his unique ability to motivate his people to accomplish great things for themselves and their organizations. I was able to watch Gary grow and develop his leadership skills and abilities over a number of years. He constantly amazed me by his enthusiasm, supportive nature, creativity and professionalism. He put in place systems of professionalism and teamwork that transformed a lackluster bunch of employees into highly motivated and productive contributors to Ochsner’s financial operations.  Gary’s career swiftly skyrocketed at Ochsner, every promotion richly deserved based upon his past accomplishments. Senior leaders were watching him, certainly learning from him, and they provided him professional growth opportunities where his influence would make an even bigger difference.  One of a kind. A motivator. A challenger. A positive force. Preaches what he practices. A giver. An amazingly successful and genuine Christian businessman. I am quite honored to know him and was able to work with him.  I would love to work with Gary again in any capacity, on any project, anywhere. He is an inspiration.”

– Doug J. Fine, Principal
Defined Performance Solutions

“As the organization’s chief audit executive and chief compliance officer [at Ochsner Health System], I watched Gary take over the billing and collection processes of Ochnser Health System’s various entities over a period of seven years. Each of the areas he led showcased the outcomes of his leadership through their improved operations and efficiencies, increased contributions to our organization’s bottom line revenues and employees who all knew how their work contributed to Ochsner’s overall success. Regardless of his technical acumen (of which he has quite a few), I can say his highest and best calling is in leading people. He is someone who inspires others and draws people into the tasks at hand.  Having also trained for and ridden long-distance bike rides with Gary, I can attest to his devotion to all tasks at hand (both professionally and personally) with a commitment that I rarely see others exert.”

– Charlie Johnson, Chief Audit Executive and General Auditor
Lower Colorado River Authority

“It is my pleasure to recommend Gary as the most action inspiring executive I have had the pleasure to know. Gary lives his commitment to a team enriching program he created called “Make it Happen” and has, through this program at Ochsner Health System’s Business Services Department, created one of the most cohesive team environments I have ever witnessed, in any industry. The breadth of his areas of responsibility at OHS are as broad as most CEO’s in other companies and he leads them with apparent ease. Gary is a great leader, a dependable teammate, a solid performer, and a nice guy – too.”

– Mike Rogers, Principal
Southern Provider Consultants

“Thanks Gary! …for personally helping me and my company create a “Make it Happen” adventure that turns ordinary performance into extraordinary performance every day!” I will always remember you as a “Servant Leader” that made a real difference in my life.”

– Tim Twomey, President
Groundhog Landscape Company

PERSONAL STATEMENT OF FAITH

I believe the Bible is the Holy Word of God written and inspired by God and is without error.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16  “Every word of God is flawless, He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5

I believe the Holy Word of God is God, and became flesh in Jesus Christ.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1  “ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

I believe the Holy Word of God provides guidance and direction for living life as a child of God in His Kingdom.

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.” Psalms 119:105 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'” Luke 4:4

I believe that God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One.

“Jesus answered him. ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.’’ Mark 12:29 “’I [Jesus] and My Father are One.’” John 10:30 “Believe Me that I [Jesus] am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” John 14:11  “But when the Helper comes, whom I [Jesus] shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” John 15:26-27

I believe Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father who freely gave His life, dying on the Cross for my sin and the sins of all who would believe in Him for eternal salvation.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

I believe every person has sinned and fallen short of God’s Holy and Righteous standard.

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…”  Romans 3:23 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

I believe salvation is for every person that calls upon the name of the Lord, confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believes that He was raised from the dead.

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10  “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6  “And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21

I believe the Holy Spirit lives inside all believers, removing their heart of stone and transforming them into a new creation in Jesus Christ, holy, acceptable, and righteous to God the Father.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 “God made him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5: 21 “I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:25-27 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

I believe the Holy Spirit guides, teaches, and counsels all believers in the things of God as well as empowers them to overcome the world without harm or separation from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name [the Name of Jesus], will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26  “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one [Holy Spirit] who is in you is greater than the one [antichrist] who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4  “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you.”  Luke 10:19  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I [Jesus] have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

I believe God uniquely created each person with a plan and purpose for their life.

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you…” Jeremiah 1:5  “For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalms 139:13-14 “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30 “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11

I believe the Lord Jesus is faithful to complete the good work that He begins in all believers as we seek Him and He perfects our faith without boundary, strengthening us in Christ Jesus.

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13  “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23

I believe the Lord builds His Church on the foundation of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, and commissions all believers in Him to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus.

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19  “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

As a believer, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and willingly share my personal faith with others, acknowledging that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  As a fully devoted Christ follower, it is a privilege and pleasure to personally invite others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior so that others may enjoy eternal life and follow after Jesus as well.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 “ Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33  “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.” Matthew 9:9

CONTACT INFORMATION

You can contact me via e-mail at gborgstede@makeithappenbooks.com or phone at 985-302-0858.  You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

DISCLAIMER

This is my personal blog. The opinions that I express here do not necessarily represent those of my employer, Church of the King.  The information I provide is on an as-is basis.  I make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.