For more than 20 years, Adam Koch has been helping keep Kettering Health running behind the scenes. What began as a technical role in the organization’s electronic shop has grown into a leadership position overseeing critical infrastructure at Kettering Health Main Campus and Hamilton.
Koch joined Kettering Health in 2004, just one year after earning his bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering. As a skilled trade technician, he worked on hospital technologies including nurse call systems, televisions, tube systems, and other electronic equipment. Through hard work and a willingness to learn, he advanced to maintenance coordinator in 2013, facility manager in 2016, and director of plant engineering in 2023.
Today, Koch leads teams responsible for maintaining the systems that keep hospitals operating safely, including generators, fire alarm systems, medical gas systems, and other essential building infrastructure. His department also responds to emergencies such as utility outages, water main breaks, and severe weather events, helping ensure caregivers can continue providing exceptional patient care.
Although his role doesn’t involve direct patient care, he understands the importance of his team’s work.
“I really enjoy coming to work,” Koch said. “I enjoyed the people. I enjoyed coming here and just being around the building, being around the patients.”
That connection to the mission is one reason he chose to build his career at Kettering Health.
“The advantages of working here outweighed some of the stuff that I see out there in the, I’ll call it the real world,” he said.
Throughout his career, Koch has embraced opportunities for professional growth. Encouraged by mentors and leaders, he earned his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University while continuing to advance within the organization. About five years into his career, he began to see a future with Kettering Health, drawn by the people, the mission, and the opportunity to keep learning. He credits those leaders with helping shape his career and encourages others to seek out mentors of their own.
“If I had to give anybody a piece of advice, find somebody that you can learn from,” Koch said. “Everybody here has been willing to help and explain. Ask questions.”
Cristiane Santana Barnabas, chief operating officer at Kettering Health Main Campus, believes Koch’s leadership is rooted in his firsthand experience working at every level of the department.
“He’s mindful because he’s progressed through the organization himself,” Barnabas said. “He understands the support team members need at every level, and I believe that experience has contributed to his humble and approachable leadership style.”
That leadership has been especially valuable during times of crisis. Koch’s team played a key role in preparing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing incident command spaces, and supporting the organization’s response. More recently, they have helped navigate technology outages and other operational disruptions that affected hospital services.
Despite his leadership responsibilities, Koch remains committed to staying connected with his team.
“I try to keep involved by not just sitting in the office, but try to keep involved with what’s going on and how to make the building actually work better,” he said.
Barnabas says that hands-on approach is one of Koch’s greatest strengths.
“He is someone you can always count on,” she said. “Whenever you call, he’s there. There have been times I’ve forgotten he was on vacation or attending a conference, yet he still took the time to answer my call and offer support.”
Kettering Health has also become a family tradition for Koch. His wife, daughter, and son-in-law all work within the organization, while his mother and sister spent part of their careers serving patients and employees at Kettering Health.
“It’s been good to us,” Koch said.
For Koch, his career has been about more than maintaining buildings. It’s been about supporting caregivers, serving patients and helping ensure Kettering Health can continue delivering on its mission.
