AHIMA on Solid Ground: A Commitment to Financial Stewardship and Transparency

As a seasoned finance and accounting executive with more than three decades of experience, I have dedicated my career to guiding organizations through complex financial landscapes. My background spans telecommunications, cable, and high-tech manufacturing, and I hold certifications as a CPA, Certified Management Accountant, and certification in production and inventory control. I now serve as CFO for AHIMA and HCPro, bringing this breadth of expertise to support our mission and members. 

My focus since joining AHIMA has been to get the organization back on solid financial footing. Last year, we undertook significant restructuring that helped turn a loss of $700,000 into a positive gain of about $1.2 million. We achieved this turnaround without drawing down our investments and, this year, have already paid down our line of credit by 60 percent. This is the lowest balance we have seen since 2022, strengthening our liquidity and giving us greater flexibility moving forward. 

We’re also improving how we manage our textbook inventory. Our partnership with the team from HCPro, alongside our accounting staff, has led to a 14 percent increase in book sales while reducing inventory by 11 percent through May. This demonstrates how focused operational changes can support financial health and efficiency. 

A big part of our work now is ensuring financial transparency for our members. We’re developing a new online resource where members can access audited financial reports dating back as far as 2018, with plans to include reports from 2023 and 2024 once those audits are completed. Our goal is to be transparent with our financial information, and this new page will offer an accessible way for members to review our financial history and understand the stewardship of AHIMA resources. 

A Commitment to Financial Stewardship and Transparency 

We are dedicated to responsible financial management, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and sustainability. This commitment allows us to use resources efficiently while maintaining quality service and fostering innovation. It’s how we support our mission, serve our members, and help advance the health information profession for the long term. 

I look forward to sharing more details about our financial results for the first half of this year in the next issue of AHIMA & You in August. In the meantime, I encourage you to explore our new Strategic Impact page on ahima.org where we have created space for timely member updates. Next week, we’re planning to post historical financial information, minutes from previous AHIMA Board and AHIMA Foundation Board meetings, and responses to frequently asked financial questions.  

Together, we are building a strong foundation for the future of AHIMA and our profession.

Tom Mehs is Chief Financial Officer for AHIMA and HCPro.