WELCOME TO OUR PRESIDENT & CEO COMMITTEE SEARCH UPDATES PAGE
December 2, 2025
Dear Cooperative Health Colleagues:
As you know, a Search Committee of the Board of Directors has been actively recruiting and evaluating candidates for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer over the past several months. On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the Board of Directors will meet to consider the finalists as recommended by the Search Committee. As was done in the last search, there will be both in-person and virtual opportunities for employee engagement and for feedback to the Board regarding each candidate. Candidate names, photos, and bios will be shared as soon as practical but not later than Monday, December 8.
All activities will take place at the Cooperative’s Administrative Offices at 221 Dawson Road, Columbia. If you plan to attend sessions in person, please email Ms. Liz Hundley at ehundley@cooperativehealth.org for planning purposes not later than 12:00 noon on Friday, December 5. Following are tentative details regarding the All-Staff engagement sessions with all finalist candidates:
Time Candidate Location
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. First Dawson Road/Virtual
2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Second Dawson Road/Virtual
4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Third Dawson Road/Virtual
Please note that details are still being finalized and are subject to change.
Thank you,
Thom Mayer
Chair, Ad Hoc Presidential Search Committee
Update: October 15, 2025
The presidential search at Cooperative Health will proceed over several months, aiming to select a leader who embodies the Cooperative’s values and future goals. The process will be conducted by a dedicated search committee, and key milestones will be shared as the search progresses.
| Anticipated Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| September 4, 2025 – October 4, 2025 | Applicant recruitment period conducted during this time. |
| October - November | Search Committee holds first-round virtual interviews with selected candidates. Search committee recommends finalists to Cooperative Health Board |
| November-December | Finalists participate in engagement sessions with stakeholders. Stakeholder surveys conducted. In-person finalist interviews with Cooperative Health Board. Cooperative Health Board selects new President and Chief Executive Officer |
| January-February 2026 | Target incoming president start date. |
President and CEO Search Committee Process Overview
The search for Cooperative Health’s next President and Chief Executive Officer is a critical process to ensure the Cooperative’s continued success. This page outlines key information about how the search has begun to unfold, the timeline of events, future events, and the role of the search committee.
Why is Cooperative Health conducting this Presidential search?
This presidential search follows the sudden and unexpected resignation of Dr. Jaeson Fournier due to personal family matters. We are thankful for the leadership provided by Dr. Fournier during his short tenure and for the thoughtful analysis and sound framework he developed prior to leaving which will help the organization move forward.
What is the process for selecting a new President?
The presidential search is conducted according to the Cooperative Health Board. The legal authority to appoint the president and chief executive officer of Cooperative Health is vested in the Cooperative Health Board By-laws and Constitution. The appointed Presidential Search Committee of the Board is given the responsibility for recommending a candidate or slate of candidates to the Cooperative Health Board.
Who are the search committee members and how are the chair and the search committee members selected?
The Ad Hoc Presidential Search Committee is composed in accordance with the Cooperative Health Board By-laws as follows:
Committee Members:
Thom Mayer, Chair
Karla Gilliam
Rozalynn Goodwin
How is the search conducted?
Leading this process is the Ad Hoc Presidential Search Committee of the Board who will guide the search from start to finish. They will regularly update the Cooperative Board and, by extension, employees and other stakeholders of the Cooperative on the search process and progress. Specifically, the search committee will review candidate materials and conduct first-round candidate interviews. The search committee will recommend a slate of finalists to the Cooperative Health Board. The Cooperative Health Board will approve and announce the appointment of a new president.
Presidential Search Updates
October 16, 2025
Cooperative Health Community –
I am pleased to announce that the process for identifying and selecting the next president of Cooperative Health is moving forward. The posting period for the position expired on October 4 following a 30-day posting on-line on Cooperative Health’s career page and on the National Association of Community Health Centers career page as well as other sites. Not surprisingly, we received resumes and letters of interest from 60 individuals who, we believe, are passionate about the work being done every day in the FQHC milieu and are eager to join us in our work here at Cooperative Health. The search committee is continuing its process of reviewing the qualifications of all applicants and we are confident in the timeline we have outlined for the completion of our process. I want to specifically point out under the Presidential Search Timeline that we are planning for the opportunity for all employees to participate in interactive engagement sessions with each finalist and to garner your feedback immediately following those sessions. As you might imagine, the search and selection process for any position is considered a confidential matter. As such, we will only release the names of the finalist for the position and the Board will announce the name of the new president when appropriate.
Finally, as stakeholders, I want to thank you all for your interest in this process and your patience. The role of chief executive impacts every individual in the organization and so it is to be expected that your voices be heard during this process. We are committed to ensuring that continues to happen and to identifying the individual best suited to take the Cooperative forward!
Thank you for all you do to serve our communities!
Thom
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