Richard C. Breon, alumnus of the University of Iowa College of Public Health, was named 2018 Business Person of the Year at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids’ 31st Annual Dinner on June 18.

Breon, who received a Master of Hospital and Health Administration degree in 1980 from the University of Iowa College of Public Health, is president and CEO of Spectrum Health, the largest integrated health system in West Michigan. He joined Spectrum Health in 2000, soon after the merger of Grand Rapids’ two largest community hospitals, Butterworth Hospital and Blodgett Memorial Medical Center. The health system is now a $5.7-billion enterprise that includes 12 hospitals, 180 ambulatory and service sites, 3,600 physicians and advanced practice providers, including more than 1,500 members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group, and Priority Health, a health plan that served 996,000 members in fiscal year 2017.