Lijah Lokenauth of Tampa General Hospital Named to Tampa Bay Business Journal 40 Under 40 Class

The academic health system’s vice president of accounting and finance received distinction for his exceptional leadership, financial acumen and contributions to Tampa General’s growth.

 

 

Tampa, FL (Aug. 25, 2023) – Tampa General Hospital (TGH) announced that Lijah Lokenauth, vice president of accounting and finance, was named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2023 cohort of “40 Under 40” leaders in Tampa Bay from a robust group of more than 400 nominees. The Tampa Bay Business Journal’s recognition of Lokenauth’s achievements underscores his outstanding contributions to the financial excellence, growth, leadership and the development of Tampa General, as well as the greater Tampa Bay community. Lokenauth’s inclusion on this list follows his recent recognition by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth as a 2023 “Up & Comer." 

 

“Lijah’s tireless work ethic, dedication to his team and collaborative style have been a driving force behind Tampa General’s growth,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. “His ability to translate financial insights into actionable strategies has been invaluable to fostering a culture of financial responsibility and excellence throughout the organization, making it possible for our team to deliver world-class care to our community.”

 

As vice president of accounting and finance for the academic health system, Lokenauth oversees a range of critical financial functions at Tampa General, including management of the general ledger, financial reporting, tax, payroll, treasury, grant compliance, accounts payable and decision support. In this capacity, Lokenauth translates financial intricacies into a purpose-driven narrative, thereby anchoring the organization’s financial health to its overarching mission of providing area residents with excellent and compassionate health care.

 

In the past year, Lokenauth led an ambitious initiative aimed at revitalizing financial education within Tampa General. Under his guidance, Lokenauth’s team successfully implemented new budget management software and user-friendly financial dashboards. His team proficiently trained more than 300 of the academic health system’s leaders to use these tools through an empowering self-service model.

 

“Recently, Lijah successfully led a multi-year effort to modernize our financial reporting, decision support and productivity management systems,” said Mark Runyon, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Tampa General. “This work was critical to our efforts to effectively manage costs during the pandemic.”

 

As part of his steadfast commitment to financial literacy and continued education, Lokenauth also volunteered to support Tampa General’s People Development Institute (PDI) in partnership with the University of South Florida Muma College of Business to teach several finance courses for physician leaders, physician residents and nurse leaders. He also recently launched the first complimentary, in-person Healthcare Finance 101 course through PDI that is available to all 10,000 team members systemwide.

 

“I am honored to be included by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as part of its impressive cohort of ‘40 Under 40’ leaders in Tampa Bay,” said Lokenauth. “This recognition is a testament to the unwavering support and enthusiasm of the entire Tampa General team and our collective commitment to advancing health care through sound fiscal management. It’s a privilege to be a part of a mission-driven organization that is focused on the development of its team members, innovation, education and improving the health and well-being of our community.”

 

The Tampa Bay Business Journal is a leading source for exclusive breaking business news and business-to-business market intelligence in the seven-county Tampa Bay region. For more than 20 years, the Tampa Bay Business Journal has celebrated the area’s young professionals who have made an indelible mark on the local business landscape. Award recipients, such as Lokenauth, exemplify business success and career growth, as well as community involvement, influential leadership and a commitment to drive positive change. Learn more about Lokenauth and the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2023 “40 under 40” honorees here.