Western Healthcare Alliance (WHA) has announced the hiring of Ginette Sebenaler as its new chief financial officer (CFO) for WHA and its family of companies. In this role, Sebenaler will be responsible for overseeing and managing all financial functions across the entire organization, a move with implications for the rural healthcare providers and clients across the Western Slope that WHA serves.
As CFO, Sebenaler's responsibilities will include developing strategies and identifying opportunities aimed at maximizing WHA’s impact for its rural members and clients, according to a WHA news release. She will also join the leadership team, actively working to ensure WHA continues to meet the needs of those it serves.
WHA CEO Angelina Salazar stated that bringing Sebenaler on as CFO strengthens the leadership team. Salazar described Sebenaler as a strategic thinker with a proven track record in rural healthcare finance, sharing WHA’s commitment to its mission of improving rural healthcare through collaboration.
According to the news release, Sebenaler brings extensive senior-executive experience in finance, administration, human resources, and information systems. Her background spans both healthcare and privately held companies, where she has demonstrated a track record of strengthening internal controls and driving profitability.
Prior to joining WHA, Sebenaler founded and owns Key CFO Solutions LLC, a firm specializing in CFO services for healthcare entities. Before establishing her company, she spent 16 years at Aspen Valley Hospital. She joined the hospital in 2004 as controller and advanced to CFO in 2016. During her tenure at Aspen Valley Hospital, she contributed to stabilizing its finances, navigated the institution through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and led the financial aspects of its independent adoption of Epic’s electronic-health-records system. Earlier in her career, Sebenaler served as CFO for two firms located in the Roaring Fork Valley. Her career also includes corporate tax roles at two multinational companies, The Quaker Oats Company and Tellabs Inc.
Sebenaler holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois. She is also a certified public accountant (CPA), a certified revenue cycle representative, and a certified healthcare financial professional through the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Sebenaler expressed her excitement to join the WHA team, acknowledging that rural healthcare often requires doing more with less. She noted her firsthand observation of how WHA members work hard to stretch every dollar while maintaining quality care. She emphasized that WHA organizations were built by rural providers who understood the importance of collaboration in facing challenges, believing this spirit will ensure a strong financial future. Sebenaler stated that through initiatives like group purchasing, value-based contracting, and dignity-centered revenue recovery, WHA assists independent hospitals in not just surviving, but thriving. Her stated goal is to establish a financial foundation that is sustainable, transparent, and truly serves local communities.
