“Hope” Helps Raise Funds for Leukemia

Based in Florida, William Burns serves as chief financial officer with Cross Country Healthcare, where he delivers comprehensive, patient-focused medical solutions. Committed to giving back to his community, William Burns has served as chairperson of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Boca Raton “Light the Night” Corporate Walk since 2019.

A major impetus for his involvement has been a first-hand experience of going through approximately 120 chemotherapy treatments and 12 blood transfusions. This long-term regimen targeted a type of leukemia that is characterized as rare and aggressive. The positive news is that Mr. Burns came out of treatment in full remission from his condition. A key factor in this recovery was medications developed through the sustained support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

For 2020 Light the Night, an artist and family friend of Mr. Burns volunteered to contribute one of her original paintings toward the fundraising aspect of the event. She entitled the oil and cold wax artwork “HOPE,” which is fitting for an event that is “close to her heart.” The painting ultimately sold for $500, which went toward the society’s mission of bettering lives for leukemia patients and their families.

CFOs Discuss Workforce Priorities

 

With more than 25 years of leadership experience, William Burns serves as the chief financial officer (CFO) of Cross Country Healthcare. In addition to his work, William Burns is a member of the Florida Institute of CFOs (fiCFO).

Established in 2008, fiCFO is a professional organization that promotes the interests of finance executives in more than 190 countries around the world. In February 2021, fiCFO scheduled an online session titled The 2021 CFO Road Map: Workforce Priorities & Sustaining During the Ongoing Pandemic.

Held on Zoom, the session covered multiple topics on the workforce experience during the pandemic. Attendees explored the emerging hybrid work environment and practical approaches for the upcoming return to the office-based work model.

The session was led by a discussion panel comprising executives that included Universal Orlando’s CFO Tracey Stockwell and Regency Centers’ CFO Mike Mas. Participating CFOs shared their experiences on workforce priorities and their strategies to address compensation in the current work environment. Upon completing the session, attendees earned a total of 1.5 continuing professional education (CPE) credits.

Support for Individuals Living with Cancer

William Burns is a finance and operations management expert with an MBA from New York University who serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Cross Country Healthcare. In his role, William Burns helps the company achieve its strategic and financial goals as well as it corporate social responsibility goals. One such goal is promoting good health and supporting individuals living with cancer.

Besides making financial contributions to charitable organizations, there are a dozen other ways you can help individuals and family members dealing with cancer. Excellent medical care is of course essential, but providing emotional care can have a profound impact in helping your loved one manage and overcome this health crisis. Cancer can feel like one of the darkest and loneliest times in the life of the patient and their loved ones, so just knowing that others truly care can greatly impact the general attitude and provide a sense of comfort and optimism..

One step you can take is to brush up on your knowledge of their condition. This way, you can more easily empathize and help out where possible. It's best to avoid prying and ask questions only when they're welcome. Treat them in a manner that doesn't make them feel like their condition is getting in the way of your relationship. You can also help out with chores and provide a listening ear. Stay committed to helping out and be persistent, as many are not comfortable asking for or receiving help.

During this process, make sure you also cater to your own mental health. There are many support groups that can help you in this area. Consider joining a cancer community, as its members can provide you with the advice and support you will likely need during this challenging time. 

Major Types of Martial Arts

William Burns is the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. With over 25 years of corporate experience, he belongs to many professional associations, including the Florida Institute of CFOs. In his free time, William Burns enjoys playing tennis and golf as well as practicing martial arts.

Martial arts are traditions of combat practiced for varying reasons such as self-defense, mental and spiritual development, competition, and entertainment. One of the most popular styles of martial arts, karate focuses on kicks, punches, knee strikes, and hand and elbow strikes. Another style of martial arts is judo, which is primarily based on grappling, throwing, and pinning the contender to the floor.

Kung Fu is another famous martial art of Chinese origin that involves various acrobatic fighting styles, such as jumps, high kicks, and flips. Taekwondo is one of the oldest martial art styles. It's mainly based on kicking and joint locks, punches, throws, and hand strikes. In aikido, the contenders use lots of pushing movement and turning motions accompanied by joint locks to subdue the opponent.

Jujitsu involves grappling the opponent. It often includes strangle-type holds, throws, and pushing the opponent to the floor while the fight continues there. Krav maga is an Israeli martial art focused on hand-to-hand combat, including hand strikes, grappling, and wrestling.

Lastly, the hapkido involves kicks, throws, hand strikes, and joint locks at strategic pressure points. It also includes the use of weapons like ropes, belts, and canes. 

The SIA Executive Forum North America 2020 Virtual Experience

The chairman for the Light the Night Walk in Boca Raton in 2019, William Burns has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cross Country Healthcare for the past six years. Throughout his career, William Burns has attended industry events for executives held by groups such as the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA).

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SIA decided to launch its annual Executive Forum online as a way to bring staffing industry analysts together to respond to the opportunities and difficulties of these times. The SIA Executive Forum North America 2020 Virtual Experience launched on March 11 with a keynote address from the institute's president, Barry Asin.

In the following weeks, SIA continued to publish new sessions, including panel discussions with a diverse range of experienced executives. The panels covered topics ranging from Cash Management During Times of Crisis to Conversational AI and the Future of Recruiting.

The institute now offers all of these materials for access through its on-demand portal. Anyone who registers for the event can view the videos throughout the next year.