2015 40 Under 40 Honoree: Aaron Little

As a managing director at BKD LLP, Aaron Little is a born leader.

Little’s primary role is to lead the firm’s health care revenue cycle services practice, which he says “is a specialized team of more than 20 local professionals responsible for the revenue cycle operations of more than 100 national health care clients.”

This service allows health care organizations to focus their business attentions on patient care and mission fulfillment, and Little’s team can focus on making sure their services are paid accurately and timely by Medicare, Medicaid and other sources.

Little also helps lead BKD’s national Home Care & Hospice Center for Excellence, responsible for direct client service and supporting partners, directors and other personnel throughout the firm with industry matters.

Its knowledge Little seeks to pass on. He formally coaches five team members and routinely assists in planning and facilitating professional education for BKD’s more than 50 consultants.

“In the past year, five members of my team received promotions, including two for whom I serve as coach,” he says.

His leadership doesn’t just stop at the office door. Little also takes his talents on the road, speaking at numerous national, regional and state industry events.

“In 2014, I presented educational programs to approximately 1,200 professionals nationally through 12 different industry organizations,” he says.

In 2011, at the age of 35, Little was the youngest person appointed to the workgroup of the Home Care & Hospice Financial Managers Association. Using his young age to his advantage, Little was founding chair of HHFMA’s Young Financial Professionals Committee, a new committee that was designed to mentor and develop industry professionals under the age of 40.

“As a chair of the YFPC, I have successfully engaged over 30 young professionals nationally in HHFMA activities and initiatives, served as a mentor as these professionals seek to grow their careers,” he says.

Community leadership also is important to Little. He is a lifetime member of the College of the Ozarks Beulah I. Winfrey Business Alumni Association and a former member of the Enactus Business Advisory Board at the school. He also is an active member of Leadership Springfield Class 30.

“This is providing me a great opportunity to meet other community leaders and gain a footing for future civic and community leadership opportunities,” he says.

He’s also a leader at home. Little and wife Amy are licensed by the state of Missouri to provide child foster and respite care, as well as adoption.

“By providing respite care we are instrumental in leading foster children to improved living situations,” he says.[[In-content Ad]]