Ronald E. McAdams, MBA, is a co-founder and past Board member of V-VHA. He has broad business experience, serving since 1979 as President, CEO, or Chairman of a number of companies, both private and public. He has founded over 10 companies, ranging from high technology companies in Silicon Valley to a natural meat company in Billings, MT.

In his early career Mr. McAdams worked in corporate finance for two Fortune 500 companies in the energy and chemical markets, ending as Treasurer of Raychem, Inc. in 1979. He started his first company after leaving Raychem, resulting in an IPO in 1984. This company and a number of other companies he founded were in the medical technology field, an area where he has extensive experience. In 1986 he became Chairman and CEO of a public medical company, leading a turn-around that advanced the stock price from $1.50 to $21.50 before resigning to move to Montana in 1991.

Mr. McAdams has also taught Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management at the university level, including being Executive Entrepreneur in Residence at Montana State University for four years. Mr. McAdams has a BS from the University of Evansville and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School, where he was a Joseph Wharton Fellow. Prior to receiving his degrees he was in the military, working first at several Naval Hospitals before being assigned to Alpha Company, 1stBattalion1stMarines, in Vietnam, as a medical corpsman with the USMC. In summer of 1966 he attended the Intensive Vietnamese Language Program in Danang, Vietnam, and in January 1967, he received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for Valor.