Ron Best has a reputation for being the guy you don’t have to worry about. Give him a difficult contract, a tricky personnel issue, or a situation that needs untangling and Ron’s gift is to find a way through.
He stays calm, understands the problem and quietly, methodically works his way to a solution. It’s one of the reasons he has been promoted to Regional Director for the National Capital Region.
Hana’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer Andrew Dash describes Ron as one of Hana’s strongest and most well-rounded managers. “He does a great job managing customer relationships, working with the unions, and handling employee matters,” Andrew said.
That independence has mattered, especially over the past year as management roles across the NCR shifted and Ron was repeatedly called upon to step in to fill gaps. Andrew says Ron became the person Hana could count on for the most challenging situations. “In the most difficult and trying situations, he always finds a way to an agreeable solution,” Andrew said.
Gerald Nichels, Hana’s Executive Director of Operations, has seen another side of Ron’s leadership: his ability to communicate in a way that gets people to listen. Ron brings 25 years of experience as a Maryland State Trooper to the role. His law-enforcement background also helps explain one of the qualities his colleagues value most: his ability to read people and stay composed when situations get difficult.
Gerald says Ron has a way of holding people accountable without creating unnecessary friction.
“He just has his way of getting his point across,” Gerald said. Ron’s ability to read people, explain the facts, and move toward a positive result has made him a trusted resource.
It is also one of the reasons Gerald believes Ron is the right person to lead the NCR. “He’s got the experience and the smarts to handle any situation,” Gerald said. “He makes everybody better.”
Andrew points to something deeper. “Ron’s personal values align very well with Hana’s values,” he said. “He’ll do the right thing when no one is looking, take care of his people, and put his best foot forward with whatever is thrown his way.”
That may be the best way to understand Ron’s promotion. He has become someone Hana trusts with the difficult situations, the ones that require experience and the ability to work through competing demands without adding more noise to the problem. As Regional Director for the National Capital Region, Ron now has a role that matches the way he has been leading for years.