Maybe it was the fact that he worked at White Castle before he came to SSM Health Care. Somehow, in the 21 years he’s worked for SSM, Warren Armstead has gained a reputation for thoroughly enjoying food. In fact, when he doesn’t show up at a Corporate Office food event, it seems like something’s missing! Warren had just finished a year of college in Atlanta and was driving around St. Louis with a friend on July 14, 1980. The friend suggested Warren look for a job at St. Mary’s Health Center. “I was wearing sandals,” he remembers. Nevertheless, he filled out an application and was promptly hired as a part time dishwasher. After a couple of years, he moved from dishwashing to the storeroom because managers felt his polite attitude would be helpful in dealing with the different personalities that requested items. After two years, he learned about an opening in accounting, applied for the position, and was hired. He went to school at night and worked during the day, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 1991. At St. Mary’s, he moved into a job as an accounts payable clerk. A series of promotions followed. Warren became lead accounting clerk and then transferred to the finance department. After several years, a personality conflict with his director prompted Warren to look outside of St. Mary’s. He’d actually received an offer from Nine West Shoes, when he applied for and was offered an accountant position at the Corporate Office in 1995. How does he feel about working at Corporate? “I love it. I love working with the people. It’s great getting to know how everyone feels about things.” He served on the Continuous Quality Is Promoting Differences team that created the diversity video and brochure, and he regularly attends St. Louis Diversity Forums. He volunteers with the American Cancer Society and represented the Corporate Office last fall in the National Council for Community and Justice Walkathon. He’s also getting his master’s degree in taxation at Fontbonne College in St. Louis. Warren articulates a dilemma that troubles him at times. Next year, staff in the accounting department will reapply for their jobs, and those who are selected will move to a new location in St. Louis. “Some people mean well and tell me not to worry about my job. They say I’m sure to be hired because I’m a minority. But that makes me uncomfortable. I want to be hired because I do quality work, not because I’m black.” Outside of work Warren loves to travel, party, and walk. He is the sixth of 10 children -- 8 still living -- and he recently took the day off to be with his mother on her 79th birthday: the kind of son any mother would want. And if you can’t find Warren when you visit the Corporate Office, look for his photo on the wall of photos next to the mission statement.