Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Ortiz.
Hi Jesse, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my career in EMS, where I worked for three years before transitioning into the emergency room setting. I then spent 10 years working as a paramedic at Medical City Arlington. During that time, I began taking classes at the University of Texas at Arlington and ultimately earned my bachelor’s degree in marketing.
As I progressed in my career, I had the opportunity to step into a newly created leadership role as a Lead Medic, the first position of its kind within our emergency department. In that role, my responsibilities expanded well beyond direct patient care. I became involved in leadership, logistics, supply chain, quality improvement, and several other aspects of emergency department operations and management.
That experience helped me realize how much I enjoyed the business, leadership, and operational side of healthcare. It eventually led me to pursue my current role as Director of Business Development, which I began in April 2026. It has allowed me to combine my clinical background, leadership experience, and education in marketing in a completely new way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was finding a way to transition from a primarily clinical background into a business-focused role. Breaking into a new field can be difficult, especially when most of your professional experience has been in healthcare and emergency medicine.
What helped me was making a conscious effort to build new skills that would make me more versatile and better prepared when opportunities came along. I taught myself Photoshop and graphic design, became highly proficient in Excel, and developed experience with other software and business-related tools that could transfer across industries.
Over time, I learned that changing career paths is not always about leaving your previous experience behind. It is about finding ways to combine what you already know with new skills and showing employers the value that combination can bring.
We’ve been impressed with Harbor Lakes Nursing and Rehabilitation, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m the Director of Business Development for a skilled nursing facility in Granbury, Texas. Harbor Lakes is a 5-star rated facility for both overall performance and quality, and we are especially proud of our reputation for cleanliness, strong staffing, and high-quality care.
What really sets us apart from other facilities in the area is the level of quality we consistently provide. I believe our ratings speak to the standards we hold ourselves to when it comes to patient care, cleanliness, service, and the overall experience we provide.
Our biggest focus is making sure every patient and family feels supported and receives the quality of care and service they deserve. At the end of the day, we want families to feel confident that their loved one is being cared for in a clean, welcoming, and dependable environment.
What matters most to you?
Having pride in my job and the output that I create for not only the company, but for our patients and families as well is something I strive for every day.
The most important thing to me is making sure patients and families have the easiest, most streamlined admission experience possible. In many cases, they are already dealing with unexpected circumstances, whether that is an illness, an injury, or the financial stress that can come with a sudden change in health.
I want families to know that we are working through every possible avenue to make the process as smooth and supportive as we can. My goal is for them to have a positive experience not only once they arrive at our facility, but from the very first conversation and throughout the entire admission process.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.harborlakesnursingandrehabilitation.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarborLakesNursing
