Howard Brown Health Center's board of directors elected eight new members March 28 following a rigorous selection process and interviews conducted by a volunteer board-nominating committee that presented the slate after considering 40 interested candidates. The new members were elected during the regularly scheduled board meeting.
The eight new board members bring leadership experience involving the management of not-for-profit organizations, healthcare management, and the financial services sectors.
In continuation of Howard Brown Health Center's Responsible Transition Plan—launched in December 2010 to transition oversight of the organization to new board members by July 1, 2011—the volunteer committee chose applicants who they felt best represent Howard Brown Health Center and its vision to be the premier comprehensive health, wellness and research center for the LGBTQA community.
"The committee is very fortunate, as is Howard Brown Health Center, to have so many highly qualified individuals step forward and want to play a role in the shaping Howard Brown for the next decade," said Ron Nunziato, chair of the committee.
The latest class of board members elected includes:
—Brad Carlson, MBA, president of Brad Carlson & Associates, Ltd., which provides professional fundraising consulting assistance
—Alan Eaks, MS, CEO of Aurora Lakeshore Hospital
—Jenetta Mason, BS, senior manager of valuation services group at Grant Thornton LLP, which specializes in auditing, management consulting, corporate finance, risk management and information technology
—F. Patrick Robinson, Ph.D., RN, Chicago campus dean of the Chamberlain College of Nursing
—Brent Styles, CPA, senior vice president at the global real estate-services firm Jones Lang LaSalle
—Anthony Sullivan, Jr., BS, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families
—Jeff Todd, JD, chief operating officer at Prevent Blindness America
—Patrick Wong, Ph.D., associate professor, Northwestern University Dept. of Communication Sciences & Disorders
"On behalf of the Board of Howard Brown Health Center, I want to personally thank the committee for their diligent work to ensure that candidates of the highest caliber are elected to our board," said Board Chair Karma Israelsen. "We're excited to welcome new faces and fresh perspectives to the governance of our organization, who will bring new skills and much needed resources to Howard Brown."
"On behalf of our staff as well as the patients and clients, we are thrilled to see the Responsible Transition Plan that we've adopted is progressing as planned on the board level and, as promised, we are continuing our efforts on the staff level as well. We are grateful that so many have expressed interest in and are making commitments to the future of Howard Brown Health Center," said Jamal M. Edwards, president & CEO.
As the first round of new board members is announced, Howard Brown Health Center maintains its Responsible Transition Plan, seeking additional candidates for the next round of nomination and selection process.
The board is seeking applications for eight additional nominees, who will join the Board in June, rounding out the transitional process by establishing 16 new board members by July 1. Resumes or letters of interest can be forwarded to ronn@howardbrown.org through April. The committee will review applications and interview candidates in May through early June.
