Ken Steele San Francisco

Chosen for his expertise in managed care contract negotiations and outstanding track record in the health care industry, Ken Steele became Vice President of Managed Care at Catholic Healthcare West in April of 2008. Prior to this position, Ken was the President of St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco. While he was at St. Mary’s, Ken Steele engineered a financial and strategic turnaround, resulting in a $21M improvement in operating income, over a 3 year period. A graduate of The Ohio State University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Hospital and Health Services Administration, his academic background prepared him for the challenges of the complexities of the health care delivery system. Serving Catholic Healthcare West in various managerial capacities over the years, Ken Steele went on to gather an exceptional string of achievements. Among these, Ken Steele negotiated contracts with Blue Shield of California and Health Net. These three year contracts, yielded reimbursement levels of $1.5B and $900 M respectively for 34 hospitals, numerous ambulatory surgery centers, home care services, and the CHW Medical Foundation. Ken Steele was instrumental in leading and managing multiple local and regional contract negotiations with Medi-Cal health plans, Independent Practice Associations, Medical Groups, Medicare Advantage Plans, Kaiser Permanente, and local governmental agencies. Additionally, Ken Steele has served on the Managed Care Advisory Committee for the California Hospital Association and as a Board member of the Northern California Hospital Association. Outside of the many demands of the professional world, Ken Steele fulfills a number of community and family obligations. Ken Steele has served as President, Secretary and a Board of his local Kiwanis Club. A devoted father, Ken Steele spends time his two young sons and enjoys golf, soccer, hiking and baseball. Ken Steele currently lives in San Francisco, California with his wife and sons.

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A Basic Overview of the Rules of Soccer by Ken Steele

by Ken Steele

Soccer, one of my favorite hobbies, got its start in the mid-1800s. The Laws of the Game were drafted in 1863, and these 17 rules of soccer remain key to the outcome of a match. I have compiled a list of these rules for beginning soccer players who want to attain a comprehensive knowledge of the basic conventions of the game.

1. Field of play: The soccer field must be between 90 and 120 meters long and 45 to 90 meters wide. The shape of the field must be rectangular.

2. Soccer ball: The ball can be made out of leather or any comparable material, and it must have a circumference of between 68 and 70 centimeters.

3. Number of players: Each team can have 10 players and one goalkeeper on the field at any given time. In official matches, only three player substitutions are allowed throughout the course of the game.

4. Equipment: Soccer players must wear a jersey or shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and footwear. Additionally, the two teams must wear distinguishing colors.

5. Main Referee: This judge of the game must enforce the official rules of soccer with regards to the match.

6. Assistant Referees: Situated on either side of the playing field, assistant referees must be available to assist the main referee in his decision-making abilities.

7. Duration of play: Soccer games include two halves that last 45 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission in between.

8. Start and restart of play: A kick-off, throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, indirect free kick, direct free kick, penalty kick, or dropped ball must take place in order to start, stop, or restart play.

9. Out-of-bounds and in-play: The soccer ball is in play on the field unless it crosses a boundary, a referee stops it, or there is a penalty.

10. Scoring: A soccer ball’s entire circumference must pass the goal boundary to score a goal.

11. Offside: An offside happens when a scorer from one team is closer to the goal than the ball and the second-last defender before the ball is in motion for a pass.

12. Fouls: Referees supervise the game vigilantly to watch for fouls or misconduct. The team that initiates the foul must face a penalty.

13. Free kicks: Caused by a foul or a handball, free kicks are chances for a player to make a shot at the goal, unobstructed by defenders except for the goalkeeper.

14. Penalty kicks: These types of kicks are for when a player fouls within the 18-yard box on the field, near the goal. The other team is then able to try to score a goal through a penalty kick, pitting the offensive player against only the goalkeeper in a short-range situation.

15. Throw-in: After a ball goes out of bounds, the opposing team of the last player to touch the ball must throw the ball in bounds in whatever direction he or she decides.

16. Goal kick: This method is used when a ball passes the opposing team’s byline.

17. Corner kick: A corner kick is implemented when a defending team allows the ball to cross their byline behind the goal, after having touched it last. While there are other specifications that guide the game of soccer, these 17 rules are the major laws of the game.

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Bay Area Ridge Trail

by Ken Steele San Francisco It is truly a privilege to live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area, in close proximity to numerous regional parks and outdoor destinations. I often enjoy getting out of the city and hiking along the diverse trails the Bay Area has to offer. One of the most interesting projects undertaken these past two decades is the 330-mile long Bay Area Ridge Trail, which encircles much of the Bay. The first section of the Ridge Trail was dedicated in 1989, for the first time connecting existing trails in regional parks with trails on adjacent public land. Notably, the 200th mile of the Ridge Trail was put in place in 1995, and the 300th mile in 2006. Trails making up the current Ridge Trail network run contiguously from Marin Country south across the Golden Gate Bridge, and through San Francisco down the peninsula to San Mateo. At this point, the Ridge Trail breaks into several sections in the Cupertino/ Sunnyvale area, and the Los Gatos area. San Jose features a long stretch of trail, and Fremont another. Finally, after a long gap, the trail picks up in San Leandro, winding through Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond. The trail continues as far north as Vallejo, with bits and pieces of the network found as far north as Santa Rosa. Viewing the online interactive map at www.ridgetrail.org, one can see that the Ridge Trail network, while far from complete, is beginning to take shape as a roughly oval-shaped network. The length and breadth of the Ridge Trail highlights the diversity of geography and the Bay Area supports. From fog-laced redwood groves, to parched hillsides of oak trees, manzanita, and chaparral, the San Francisco Bay Area has much to offer nature enthusiasts. Many animals, from deer to coyote, and mountain lions, make the hills surrounding the Bay their home. Sometimes from a ridge, one can see a red-tailed hawk circling precisely through the sky. While most sections of the Bay Area Ridge Trail are fully multi-use, users should be aware that some limit biking and equestrian activities.

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About Ken Steele

Chosen for his expertise in managed care contract negotiations and outstanding track record in the health care industry, Ken Steele became Vice President of Managed Care at Catholic Healthcare West in April of 2008. Prior to this position, Ken was the President of St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco. While he was at St. Mary’s, Ken Steele engineered a financial and strategic turnaround, resulting in a $21M improvement in operating income, over a 3 year period. A graduate of The Ohio State University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Hospital and Health Services Administration, his academic background prepared him for the challenges of the complexities of the health care delivery system. Serving Catholic Healthcare West in various managerial capacities over the years, Ken Steele went on to gather an exceptional string of achievements. Among these, Ken Steele negotiated contracts with Blue Shield of California and Health Net. These three year contracts, yielded reimbursement levels of $1.5B and $900 M respectively for 34 hospitals, numerous ambulatory surgery centers, home care services, and the CHW Medical Foundation. Ken Steele was instrumental in leading and managing multiple local and regional contract negotiations with Medi-Cal health plans, Independent Practice Associations, Medical Groups, Medicare Advantage Plans, Kaiser Permanente, and local governmental agencies. Additionally, Ken Steele has served on the Managed Care Advisory Committee for the California Hospital Association and as a Board member of the Northern California Hospital Association. Outside of the many demands of the professional world, Ken Steele fulfills a number of community and family obligations. Ken Steele has served as President, Secretary and a Board of his local Kiwanis Club. A devoted father, Ken Steele spends time his two young sons and enjoys golf, soccer, hiking and baseball. Ken Steele currently lives in San Francisco, California with his wife and sons.