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Latest News
Hoag Cancer Center Awarded Outstanding Achievement Award By
The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons
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International Expert in Breast Cancer Surgery Joins Hoag Hospital
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Stark Raving Madden:
How an IT wizard sailed into the Hoag Foundation
The 66-foot yacht, Stark Raving Mad III,
bears witness to the fact that Jim Madden never does things halfheartedly. From sailing, to a career, to philanthropy; when Jim sets his eyes on a goal,
he works through each obstacle until he achieves
his objective.
His perseverance has resulted in world-class
sailing race victories, a stunningly successful Web-based human resources process company, scholarships for Santa Ana students, and a big boat regatta in Newport Beach generating funds for Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.
Jim, and his wife Heather, have lived in Newport Beach for 10 years. She came up with the name Stark Raving Mad for Jim’s racing yacht because he was just crazy about sailing and, in typical fashion, didn’t approach racing in half measures.
Heather added, “When Jim gets it in his mind to do something, he goes all out.” Jim designed a yacht that is capable of winning major races. The original Stark Raving Mad won the Newport to Ensenada regatta in 2001, the first year that Jim re-started racing competitively after a hiatus since college, and he has been racing and winning ever since.
Given his love of sailing, Jim was inspired to co-chair the committee that created the First Team Invitational Regatta for the Hoag Cup. With the help of good friend Jay Swigart, former Commodore of the Newport Beach Harbor Yacht Club, they joined with the Balboa Yacht Club and in 2005 brought 18 of the biggest and fastest racing yachts to Newport Beach.
The complex logistics of a regatta of this magnitude proved challenging, but the leadership of Jim and Jay, a volunteer committee and staff created a unique event. Over 2005 and 2007 the event has raised more than $650,000, making it the most successful single charitable racing regatta in the world.
At an early age, Jim showed focus and drive. He paid his own way through Southern Methodist University in Dallas and after years in the tech field, began to see the advantages of utilizing technology to streamline business systems. In 1998, he created Exult, a company that provided computerized human resources processes over the Internet. The company succeeded beyond Jim’s wildest dreams and in 2000, Exult went public and was later purchased by Hewitt.
After Exult’s sale, Jim turned even more attention to racing and his philanthropic efforts.
Jim has returned “full time to the workforce” joining a private equity firm, Accretive, that invests in a variety of companies and business ideas. Accretive exemplifies Jim’s love of finding unique companies positioned for rapid growth by applying business rules, common sense and technology to improve service and profitability.
For the past five years, Jim and Heather have focused on two philanthropic issues: education and health care. Heather and Jim like to invest in local organizations that provide tangible outcomes for people. Their health care interests have family origins. Heather’s mother is a geriatric nurse who taught Heather a pragmatic attitude to illness and interested her in health care.
Heather volunteers weekly in CHOC’s pediatric oncology unit playing with kids and helping them forget their illness, if only for a little while. She knows that helping the kids have fun and be happy is more important than the perceived depressing nature of their illnesses. Heather admitted, “I know it sounds clichéd, but being with the kids gives me far more than I give them.” They exude hope in the face of adversity and remind her not to take anything for granted.
For Jim, health care interests go beyond business. Jim’s father died fourteen years ago from a brain tumor. At first, he was only given a year to live, but he went to MD Anderson in Houston and, with their specialized care, lived more than a dozen years beyond his initial diagnosis. In the ensuing years, cancer care has made great strides and Jim’s father’s illness would be treated by a gamma knife and most likely have a very different outcome today. Both of these facts underscore the importance of finding a hospital, like Hoag, that can provide the best care.
In the summer of 2002, Mike McKee and Bill Thompson recruited Jim to the Hoag Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. He was attracted to the high caliber of volunteers and the visionary leadership. Jim’s role has continued to expand and, beginning in September 2007, he will begin a term as chairman of Hoag Hospital Foundation.
As he looks ahead, Jim has identified Hoag’s “Centers of Excellence” as key areas of development that will bring the best physicians, nurses, facilities, technology and programs to the benefit of our community. Jim’s personal mission is to make sure that his friends, neighbors and the community recognize Hoag for its excellent care.
“It drives me crazy that people don’t know much about Hoag’s capabilities.” He hopes to educate people on Hoag’s expertise so they don’t unnecessarily feel the need to travel around the country seeking medical care.
“If we can accomplish this, the hospital will be positioned well for the future,” explained Jim. Given how he tackles projects, Hoag is very fortunate to have his leadership, passion and commitment.
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