Gov. John deJongh Jr. has nominated Philip M. Arcidi and the Rev. Dexter Skepple to sit on the Virgin Islands Government Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation District Governing Board for St. Croix, the board that governs the Juan F. Luis Memorial Hospital.
Their nominations, if approved by the Legislature, will bring to five the number of members on what is supposed to be a nine-member board, the first time the board has had a quorum since July.
Arcidi and Skepple will serve three-year terms on the board. In two separate letters dated Friday, addressed to Senator Shawn-Michael Malone, president of the 30th Legislature, de Jongh formalized the nominations and included biographical information on Arcidi and Skepple.
"I am pleased that both Mr. Arcidi and pastor Skepple have agreed to lend their experience to this very important governing board," de Jongh said. "Mr. Arcidi has extensive experience in the financial management of hospitals, nursing homes, home health care agencies and outpatient facilities and this skill set will be invaluable to the governing board, if his nomination is approved."
"Pastor Skepple is a dynamic and dedicated man of the cloth, the founder of Speak the Word Ministries International and its many outreach programs for the residents of this community. He has a way of bringing people together for the common good, another invaluable trait, something that is very much needed at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital right now. Most importantly, both men have built organizations and have the skills to sustain those organizations, and right now that discipline is needed to lead the talented men and women that are committed to the providing healthcare in our community. They are taking on a tremendous challenge and we are fortunate that they accepted my appeal," the governor said.
According to Saturday’s announcement from Government House, Arcidi has been president and treasurer of Greenleaf VI II, Inc., based on St. Croix, which provides management and consulting services to a variety of health care facilities. He is also the treasurer of Whittier Health Network of Haverhill, Mass., a position he has held since 1982. In the latter post, he is actively involved in fiscal and budget management for a group of health care facilities, and has oversight responsibility for billings, payroll processing, and auditing.
Arcidi is a 1981 graduate of Merrimack College in Andover, Mass., with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Merrimack College.
Skepple has overseen the work of the non-denominational Speak the Word Ministries International since 1998. In that time, the ministry has grown from an original eight members to more than 1,000. Over the last 15 years, his ministry has established the Potter’s House, a safe home for battered women and children; Boys to Men Group Home for troubled young men; Bridge the Gap, an after-school program; Teen Retreats; and numerous other initiatives on St. Croix and in Haiti. Born and raised on St. Croix, Skepple received his bachelor’s degree in aviation from Texas A & M University in Killeen in 1993. He received his pastor’s license and ordination from the Christian House of Prayer in Copperas Cove, Texas.