Vice President of Building + Design Values Organization’s Connections with the Community
Pat Rios, Vice President of Buildings + Design at Cleveland Clinic, has been with the organization for seven years. He’s responsible for managing the built environment portfolio, which includes planning, design, construction, facilities, management, real estate, media operations, art and sustainability. As he likes to say, “If I can do it to a building, that’s my job.”
From the Navy to the Community
Before joining Cleveland Clinic, Pat spent 30 years serving in the Navy. A bit watchful about making his move into private industry, he accompanied his wife, an Internal Medicine physician, on her own recruitment visit and decided that this was the right place for him, too. Coincidentally, Bill Peacock, a former Navy colleague and current Executive Vice President and Cleveland Clinic’s Chief of Operations, had been quietly encouraging Pat to join the organization.
“After listening to Tom Mihaljevic, I realized the Clinic really does live its values. I’ve been super impressed with the people I encounter and work with and their sincerity and dedication. I find it a worthy effort for the rest of my professional life,” he says.
Having a Presence in Our Neighborhoods
Since joining Cleveland Clinic, Pat has embraced its built environment and the opportunity it gives him and his team to care for the community – one of Cleveland Clinic’s four care priorities. He says, “Not only are we in the neighborhoods we serve, but we’re also the largest employer in Northeast Ohio. We always have a role in representing Cleveland Clinic to the community and being part of that public face.”
Helping Diverse Businesses Grow
Committed to empowering local businesses and talent, Pat is particularly proud of his department’s focus on investing in businesses that are run by minorities. “We’re focused on doing it with diverse vendors and making sure our money is spent with diverse businesses. We’ve built a significant ecosystem of vendors we work with. We’re also invested in helping these businesses grow their technical capabilities and be more competitive.”
Bringing Fresh Food to Fairfax
When it comes to deciding which projects to support in the community, Pat stresses, “We make sure all of our projects have a social benefit. We are very insistent that our teams go out into the community. We are the community, and our job is to serve the community.”
Buildings + Design welcomed the chance to join forces with Vickie Johnson (Executive Vice President and Cleveland Clinic’s first Chief Community Officer) to help Meijer open a Fairfax Market in the Cleveland Innovation District, providing residents with fresh, local and convenient food. “We were able to bring a grocery store to a USDA-registered food desert.”
Caring for the Community
Seeing his role as more than just managing buildings, Pat and his teams have collaborated with Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp. to support environmental initiatives, from planting trees and developing pocket parks to helping older residents cut their lawns and make minor repairs. They have also partnered with Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition to perform home assessments that test for lead, radon and asbestos.
Other efforts they support include Cleveland Clinic’s Annual Heart Walk and Hard Hats for Health campaign, which integrates health, well-being and solutions into the culture of the industry to address these risk factors and reduce cardiovascular disease among the construction trade.
“There is a lot of good behind that type of work. On top of that, it’s a feel-good mission,” Pat says.
Looking Ahead
Eager to discuss the wide range of career options that are available beyond healthcare roles, Pat shares, “Environmental Services (EVS) provides great entry-level opportunities to join the Clinic. They serve as entry points for broader career areas. Whether someone’s interested in becoming a police officer or wants to get into the phlebotomy tech program, they’ll find our managers are very attuned to helping coach them. We’re kind of a starting point.”
“One of the great joys I have at the Clinic is to represent people that come here and find a place of like-minded individuals. They either grow with EVS work or they grow within that pipeline.”
Mentorship Programs
His desire to support new employees’ career growth is never ending. In addition to internships for the trades, Pat and his team offer a mentor-protege program. “We bring in 10-15 kids straight out of high school. We embed them into one of our Northeast Ohio hospitals and they work side-by-side helping an HVAC mechanic or plumber, getting introduced to the work they do. They learn what a good-paying, skilled job is all about.”
Cleveland Clinic is a Place for Everyone
During the team’s service celebration after each Town Hall, Pat tells his caregivers, “Look, come work for us and I hope to be your last employer. It may not mean me personally, but if you come to work for the Clinic, we’ll find you a career path. It’s just a great place to work,” Pat says.
Pat Rios, Vice President of Buildings + Design at Cleveland Clinic, has been with the organization for seven years. He’s responsible for managing the built environment portfolio, which includes planning, design, construction, facilities, management, real estate, media operations, art and sustainability. As he likes to say, “If I can do it to a building, that’s my job.”
From the Navy to the Community
Before joining Cleveland Clinic, Pat spent 30 years serving in the Navy. A bit watchful about making his move into private industry, he accompanied his wife, an Internal Medicine physician, on her own recruitment visit and decided that this was the right place for him, too. Coincidentally, Bill Peacock, a former Navy colleague and current Executive Vice President and Cleveland Clinic’s Chief of Operations, had been quietly encouraging Pat to join the organization.
“After listening to Tom Mihaljevic, I realized the Clinic really does live its values. I’ve been super impressed with the people I encounter and work with and their sincerity and dedication. I find it a worthy effort for the rest of my professional life,” he says.
Having a Presence in Our Neighborhoods
Since joining Cleveland Clinic, Pat has embraced its built environment and the opportunity it gives him and his team to care for the community – one of Cleveland Clinic’s four care priorities. He says, “Not only are we in the neighborhoods we serve, but we’re also the largest employer in Northeast Ohio. We always have a role in representing Cleveland Clinic to the community and being part of that public face.”
Helping Diverse Businesses Grow
Committed to empowering local businesses and talent, Pat is particularly proud of his department’s focus on investing in businesses that are run by minorities. “We’re focused on doing it with diverse vendors and making sure our money is spent with diverse businesses. We’ve built a significant ecosystem of vendors we work with. We’re also invested in helping these businesses grow their technical capabilities and be more competitive.”
Bringing Fresh Food to Fairfax
When it comes to deciding which projects to support in the community, Pat stresses, “We make sure all of our projects have a social benefit. We are very insistent that our teams go out into the community. We are the community, and our job is to serve the community.”
Buildings + Design welcomed the chance to join forces with Vickie Johnson (Executive Vice President and Cleveland Clinic’s first Chief Community Officer) to help Meijer open a Fairfax Market in the Cleveland Innovation District, providing residents with fresh, local and convenient food. “We were able to bring a grocery store to a USDA-registered food desert.”
Caring for the Community
Seeing his role as more than just managing buildings, Pat and his teams have collaborated with Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp. to support environmental initiatives, from planting trees and developing pocket parks to helping older residents cut their lawns and make minor repairs. They have also partnered with Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition to perform home assessments that test for lead, radon and asbestos.
Other efforts they support include Cleveland Clinic’s Annual Heart Walk and Hard Hats for Health campaign, which integrates health, well-being and solutions into the culture of the industry to address these risk factors and reduce cardiovascular disease among the construction trade.
“There is a lot of good behind that type of work. On top of that, it’s a feel-good mission,” Pat says.
Looking Ahead
Eager to discuss the wide range of career options that are available beyond healthcare roles, Pat shares, “Environmental Services (EVS) provides great entry-level opportunities to join the Clinic. They serve as entry points for broader career areas. Whether someone’s interested in becoming a police officer or wants to get into the phlebotomy tech program, they’ll find our managers are very attuned to helping coach them. We’re kind of a starting point.”
“One of the great joys I have at the Clinic is to represent people that come here and find a place of like-minded individuals. They either grow with EVS work or they grow within that pipeline.”
Mentorship Programs
His desire to support new employees’ career growth is never ending. In addition to internships for the trades, Pat and his team offer a mentor-protege program. “We bring in 10-15 kids straight out of high school. We embed them into one of our Northeast Ohio hospitals and they work side-by-side helping an HVAC mechanic or plumber, getting introduced to the work they do. They learn what a good-paying, skilled job is all about.”
Cleveland Clinic is a Place for Everyone
During the team’s service celebration after each Town Hall, Pat tells his caregivers, “Look, come work for us and I hope to be your last employer. It may not mean me personally, but if you come to work for the Clinic, we’ll find you a career path. It’s just a great place to work,” Pat says.
