Excited for the future yet sad for the leaving

An artist could paint two distinctly different portraits of Jon Mercer today and each of them would be completely accurate.

The first portrait would show a man supremely confident in his abilities and eager to take on the challenges of a new leadership role in a new town.

The second portrait would show a man sadly preparing to depart from both a workplace and a community that have nourished and supported him and his family for nearly three decades.

On Tuesday, July 1, Mercer will begin his duties as president of Novant Health Clemmons Medical Center, a position that will give him “the responsibility of running an entire health care campus,” and will provide him “the opportunity to make a strong impact on a new community.”

And yet, he candidly acknowledges, “I’m gonna miss everything about this community and this health care family, inside and out. I have been fortunate in that there have always been good people to guide me and to help me. I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss the people that I love every day.”

Mercer has been senior vice president and chief operating officer for UNC Health Blue Ridge for the past nine years, but his employment with the organization stretches back for 27 years.

He sits down with a visitor to discuss his upcoming departure on a late May morning marked by unusually cool temperatures and a steady rain that brings to mind late October rather than the approaching summer.

Impeccably dressed in a gray suit, blue-striped button-down shirt, and floral print tie, Mercer looks younger than his 51 years as he answers questions with a quiet grace and ease. The title of “president” will sit well upon him.

But first … to get rid of the elephant standing squarely in the middle of the room.

“Did you want the top job here when it was open last year?” the visitor asks, referencing the 2024 retirement of longtime Blue Ridge President and CEO Kathy Bailey and her replacement by Gary Paxson.

“Yes,” he responds with no hesitation, “I did. But I fully understand why the board chose to go with Gary and the unique strengths he brings to the position. Absolutely no hard feelings. My departure is solely about me being presented with an opportunity I can’t pass up.”

A HISTORY AT BLUE RIDGE

Opportunities have certainly presented themselves regularly to Mercer at Blue Ridge since he initially joined the organization as the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program coordinator at age 24 back in 1998.

Some of the patients with whom Mercer worked in that program — men like the late Valdese Mayor Jim Hatley (and former board chairman of the hospital), textile executive John Bleynant, and educator Richard Oxentine — grew to be trusted friends and advisers to the young man.

Mercer, the son of a furniture executive, knew that he wanted to carve out a career in healthcare management and found that he had nothing but support from both his friends and professional associates.

“That has been one of the great blessings of my life,” he recalled. “Whenever I have faced a career decision, people have been so kind to me. They have given me good advice, and they have provided me with opportunities.”

Already possessing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Western Carolina University and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Appalachian State, Mercer sought the proper path to an advanced business degree.

That path presented itself at Pfeiffer University, which offered a unique program leading to a master’s in both business administration and health administration.

After completing a one-year fellowship with the Blue Ridge HealthCare executive team, he went on to spend 21 years in various executive positions, culminating in his role as senior vice president and chief operating officer.

Over the final five years of his tenure, Mercer served as the ramrod for more than $250 million in capital projects, including the new Morganton Surgical Center, the Valdese Cancer Center, and the Morganton Patient Tower with a new intensive care unit and emergency department.

Speaking of Mercer’s years of service at Blue Ridge, Paxson said, “His unwavering commitment to excellence and compassion for both our patients and team members have left an indelible mark here. “While we are saddened to see him go, we are incredibly proud of all he has accomplished and grateful for his many contributions.”

Blue Ridge Boad Chairman Mac McCrary echoed Paxson’s thoughts, saying, “Jon’s leadership and energy have been significant factors in Blue Ridge’s success over the years. He is well qualified for this new challenge, and though I will miss him, I wish him every success in the future.”

During his years with Blue Ridge, Mercer has also been very active in the community, serving as a board member for the YMCA of Catawba Valley, a trustee at Western Piedmont Community College, a member and president of the Valdese Rotary Club, and a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Valdese First Baptist Church.

Also during those years, Mercer and his wife, Kristina, have raised two sons and developed a 45-acre farm. Mrs. Mercer is a partner in Highland Butchery, a custom butcher shop and restaurant in Valdese.

ON TO CLEMMONS

Clemmons, with a population of about 22,000, is in Forsyth County, just to the west of Winston-Salem, and is considered a suburb of the larger city.

Serving western Forsyth, Davie, and Yadkin counties, and the surrounding areas, Novant Health Clemmons Medical Center is a full-service hospital with a special focus on emergency and surgical care — including joint replacement, urological, colorectal, and bariatric surgery.

Mercer says he will bring the same philosophy of “servant leadership” to his new position as he has attempted to practice at Blue Ridge.

“I see my role as serving those who are serving the community,” he explained. “My focus is doing whatever I can to make their jobs easier and more productive.

“I’m looking forward to a new environment and to new challenges,” he said of his new position. “And I’m looking forward to learning all about a new community — new people, new restaurants, new parks.”

While Mercer emphasized that he plans to be just as active in the Clemmons community as he has been in Burke County, he also noted that his new home will not be that far away from his old one.

“I’m not moving to Texas,” he said. “I’m moving to Clemmons, which is roughly an hour away from my front door now. It is hard to walk away, but I’m not walking all that far. I love this community and its people. And that love is not going to go away.”