KEES Seeks CEO for Covenant Community Care

May 27, 2020 – Executive search and non-profit consulting firm KEES (Kistner Eddy Executive Services) has been retained by Covenant Community Care in Detroit to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. President and CEO Heather Eddy and project manager Octavia Daniels are spearheading the assignment for the search firm.

This is an exciting role for a visionary leader to further establish and build the organization, said KEES. With a primary focus on preserving and enhancing the faith-based nature of Covenant Community Care, the CEO is responsible for oversight of operations in close partnership with the chief operating officer. The individual will be expected to manage daily operations, business planning, management and financial duties.

“The next executive leader will demonstrate  generosity, humility and resourcefulness while actively participating in strategic and program planning, problem  solving, financial tracking and measurement,” said the Naperville, IL-based search firm.

The CEO will be charged with clearly articulating Covenant’s mission internally and externally as a passionate and cogent communicator, as well as maintaining a strong community presence as the face of Covenant’s mission, said the search firm. The CEO must lead with an emphasis on maintaining and enhancing impactful, equitable programming and care to all stakeholders of Covenant.

Role Responsibilities

Among other duties, the CEO will partner with the organization’s board to develop and implement strategic plans, business plans, measurable outcomes and directed strategies to encourage growth while maintaining a solid operational infrastructure.

Covenant Community Care wants a dynamic, Christ-centered, energetic, and humble leader to help propel the mission further into the community to those that most need care, said KEES. “The next CEO will bring a strong business acumen, be a strategic thinker, a catalyzer and stabilizer and continue Covenant’s work as a vibrant community partner.”

Candidates should be exceptionally knowledgeable and well informed in health care management and proven as a grower of people, programs and culture, said the search firm. The ideal candidate will have effective relationship building and interpersonal skills, prior experience in board leadership, knowledge of complex and blended funding streams including grant-making entities, and exemplify best practices in management.

Specific Requirements Include the ability to embrace and personify the mission and core values of Covenant Community Care; a capacity to develop strong external loyalty to  the mission and values of Covenant and cultivate  relationships with community partners and civic leaders in order to leverage support for the mission; and comprehensive understanding of the issues and challenges involved in directing the operations of a multi-site, multi-service health care center, including the assimilation of new sites/programs as developed.

Key Qualifications

Preferably, candidates should have experience working with or reporting directly to a board of directors, said the search firm. A track record in financial management, stewardship and developing strategies to successfully increase revenue, including knowledge of Health Resources and Services Administration requirements and relevant health care policies at both state and federal levels, is also desired. Prospects should further have demonstrated ability for working in a multi-cultural setting and promoting inclusivity of all kinds with all audiences, including health care professionals and patients.

A master’s or advanced degree preferred for this role, as is eight or more years in the management of health care organizations and/or health-related, complex organizations. Federally qualified health center (FQHC) experience is desired.

Founded in the late 1990s as a community health clinic, Covenant Community Care has operated as an FQHC since 2007. The organization serves over 20,000 people every year through medical, dental, OB-care, behavioral health and vision services. Operating with a current budget of $14 million, Covenant provides a full range of healthcare and services to the people of Detroit and the broader metropolitan region. Over 190 full and part time staff at six locations fulfill the mission and provide compassionate care and healing.

Non-Profit Recruiters

KEES, based in Naperville, IL, focuses on building transformative teams and leaders in the non-profit sector. The firm was founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search. It is women-owned and operated and provides a wide variety of services, including executive search, specialty and interim staffing, HR consulting, and leadership development.

Ms. Eddy has worked with non-profits and institutions to build capacity for more than 20 years. For the past 12 years, she has focused on strengthening executives, boards, managers and philanthropic leaders. She co-founded KEES and leads the organization’s team after serving for 17 years in multiple executive leadership roles with the Alford Group/Alford Group Executive Search, a national consulting firm that partners with non-profits and provides fundraising and organizational strategy consulting.

Ms. Daniels has experience across various sectors — including corporate, marketing and higher education — at JPMorgan Chase, WDB Marketing and Northwestern University. She specializes in presentation delivery, project and program coordination, account management, process improvement, digitization initiatives and auditing procedures.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media