RIDGWAY — Brad Prechtl had plenty of success on the wrestling mat while wrestling at Ridgway Area High School in the early 1980s.
Prechtl has taken skills learned to build wrestling success and has transitioned that into success into the business world.
Prechtl is the CEO of the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research (FCS) Institute. Today, under Prechtl’s leadership, FCS is the nation’s largest privately owned, independent medical oncology practice with 2,000 employees, 81 locations and 170 physicians that serve around 40,00 new patients every year through Florida.
Before finding success at FCS, Prechtl was a standout wrestler at Ridgway Area High School. He was a six-time Area V wrestling champions and a two-time District 9 Class AA wrestling champion, winning titles at 105 points (1982, 32-6 record) and 112 pounds (1983, 32-7 record) while finishing second in the 98-pound weight class in 1981.
He was a two-time Central-Northwest Regional Championship, winning in 1982 at 105 pounds and 1982 at 112 pounds. He was third at 98 pounds in 1981. He was a two-time PIAA place winner finished sixth in both 1982 and 1983 and was a two-time freestyle champion. Prechtl finished with a 108-17 (.864) career varsity record. His 108 wins is tied for 15th all-time in Ridgway wrestling’s all-time wins list.
He was a two-time PJW state champion, he won in 1977 at 65 pounds in the 11- and 12-year-old age division and then won in 1979 in the 13- and 14-year-old age division at 80 pounds.
Prechtl was recruited to FCS in 2009 and since then, FCS has tripled the number of physicians in its network and expanded its footprint. Overall, the rapid expansion is part of a long-term strategy to maintain a competitive advantage so the company can continue to provide world-class cancer care in community settings.
“The first thing to understand about success is it’s not always a straight road,” said Terri Prechtl, Brad’s wife. “As a couple, we have gone in circles, back and forth, up and down.”
Brad Prechtl said it’s the people that make the difference as he was quoted during a recent interview.
“I worked in oncology prior to coming to FCS,” Brad said. “In fact, I’ve worked for our competition. The passion and overall commitment at FCS is at a level I haven’t seen before. Any accomplishments realized during my tenure are a result of a true team effort. It takes strong administrative support, buy-in from out board and leadership from our president and managing partner, Bill Harwin.”
Harwin said Prechtl has had a huge impact on FCS as the CEO.
“Brad’s impact on FCS has been extraordinary,” Harwin said. “Having him aboard as CEO has led to the biggest single reason for our growth for the last five years. He’s tireless, hardworking and extremely bright. We wanted to find a nice person who would create the right culture for the company and he is just the executive we were looking for.”
Even as the CEO, Prechtl knows everyone’s contributions is needed in order for everyone to succeed.
“At each employee orientation, I ask everyone to bring their A-game and a great attitude every day,” Brad said. “It’s a total team effort, from physicians, nurses and lab techs to financial counselors and folks in billing, everyone affects patient care.”
Prechtl travels to the 81 FCS sites approximately twice a year and are no strangers to cancer. Terri’s father died within six months of being diagnosed with leukemia last year.
“The irony is even though my husband works in cancer care 24/7, you can have a Teflon coating only so long without it impacting you personally. When someone you love has cancer, this changes the way you think. It has personalized everything for me,” Terri Prechtl said. “It’s inspiring not only how many are dealing with cancer but how many are surviving and just how far treatment has come.”
Prechtl tries to maintain a work-life balance and is active volunteering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters while chairing the FCS Foundation and serving on the board for the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation. Terri Prechtl volunteers at the local Humane Society. Both Terri and Brad are fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as the Tampa Bay Rays, Buccaneers and Lightning. They enjoy golfing, being active in their church and grilling out with family and friends. Brad and Terri have four children with ages ranging from 15 to 22.
“We are blessed and fortunate,” Terri said. “It’s because of Brad’s job that we get to enjoy many good things in life. Sure, sometimes it requires some sacrifices, but ultimately this is not just his project, his passing and his legacy. It’s ours too. We’re all in this together.”
-Ridgway Record
