Leadership Profile: Rob Rioux, Chief of Strategic Development
Inspired by his desire to have a positive impact on the lives of others, Rob Rioux joined the Cornell
Scott-Hill Health Center leadership team in 2010 as the Director of Community Relations and
Corporate Development. After three years of overseeing and directing the health center’s outreach
and communication activities including marketing, public relations, government relations and
media relations, Rob was promoted to Chief of Strategic Development in 2013. While maintaining
his previous responsibilities, which also include grants management and development as well as the
management of the Health Center’s Call Center and Wellness, Education and Outreach Department,
Rob is now responsible for the all of the health center’s satellite sites including those at Columbus
House and the Connecticut Mental Health Center.
However, it’s not just his management skills that are being called upon in his new role. During his time
at the health center, Rob has been recognized for his innovation, applying both strategic and outof-the-box thinking to help the health center best meet the needs of its patients. Those skills will be
further utilized in his new role, as Rob guides the health center in its decision-making, working closely
with the rest of the senior leadership team to implement new ideas and innovative solutions to help
the health center continue its legacy of being a national leader in community healthcare
Rob brings an impressive list of credentials to his current position, which he gained through both
the corporate and consulting worlds. Prior to joining the health center, Rob founded and ran his own
consulting business, providing marketing and business advice to a variety of global and local clients.
Previously, he served as the chief executive officer of a national executive search firm specializing in
the direct mail and direct marketing industries. He also had lengthy tenures at both Aetna and United
Technologies where he implemented several innovative communication and business programs
resulting in significant savings and improved relations for those companies.
Since joining the health center, Rob has put his skills and experience to work. His many
accomplishments include:
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Developing and implementing a significant rebranding campaign
Creating HealthFest, the largest wellness fair in Greater New Haven
Re-establishing the health center’s position within the community
Re-establishing relations with community partners
Developing key relationships with government representatives
Producing significant amounts of patient communication tools including the Guide to Programs
and Services
Designing and leading campaigns to drive traffic, which have resulted in an average of 900 new
patients a month
Reconstituting the Wellness, Education and Outreach Department to allow for a single voice and
greater outreach abilities
Establishing and growing the health center’s social media presence
Looking forward, Rob is committed to driving awareness of our services in the community and to
improving on everything that we do. That’s because, as Rob says, “this is not just about having a job,
it’s about doing something with your life.”
When he’s not at work, Rob can probably be found on the golf course or, depending on the season,
watching hockey. Rob was an avid Hartford Whalers fan and, in fact, started and produced his own
Hartford Whalers newsletter for several years. His initiative earned him media credentials and he got to
meet the players and travel with the team. In addition to rubbing elbows with the Whalers, Rob also has
many political contacts. He’s been very involved in the state political scene since a very young age.
Rob received his B.A. degree in English/Comparative Literature from Assumption College in Worcester,
Massachusetts. He received an M.A. in Humanities from Wesleyan University in Middletown,
Connecticut.
400 Columbus Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519