When Steven J. Summer retires as president and CEO of the Colorado Hospital Association at the end of the year, his successor is in place.

Chris Tholen, CHA’s executive vice president, will take the job next Jan. 1, after his recent approval by the Board of Trustees. CHA represents more than 100 hospitals and health systems across the state. 

Tholen joined CHA in 2013 as the vice president of financial policy and chief financial officer, after a variety of roles at Kaiser Permanente, the association said.

Tholen also worked on reimbursement and regulatory process issues at the Mayo Clinic, as well as at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota as an auditor.

He was appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper to serve on the Colorado Commission on Affordable Healthcare and has also served on the Colorado Healthcare Financing Management Association Board and the Colorado Association of Healthcare Executives Board.

Summer has led the association since 2006 after serving previously at the West Virginia Hospital Association and the Maryland Hospital Association.

 “It has been my great honor to serve as the leader for this incredible organization for the past 13 years,” he said in a statement. “Colorado’s hospitals are committed to improving the health of their communities, and through our vast network of rural and critical access hospitals, academic centers, trauma centers, behavioral health facilities and community hospitals. I believe they have met that vision and will continue to do so well into the future.

“Chris and the team that he has helped build at CHA are well positioned to lead our state’s hospitals into a new and dynamic health care environment.”