LOUISVILLE The Basis for a Wholesome Kentucky not too long ago introduced that Ben Chandler will retire as president and CEO of the nonprofit group efficient December 31, 2024. The Board of Administrators has appointed present Chief Working Officer Allison Adams as subsequent president and CEO.
“I’m deeply honored and excited to have been chosen to take the reins of such a devoted and revered group,” Adams mentioned. “It has been a privilege to work with Ben over the previous 4 years to deal with the unmet well being wants of Kentuckians. Our state nonetheless faces many well being challenges, and I can’t waver in my dedication to making a Commonwealth the place each individual has what they should dwell a wholesome life.”
Adams, of Maysville, has expertise main efforts to enhance the well being of Kentuckians, a strategic mindset and a confirmed ardour for the group's mission, in accordance with a information launch from the group.
Beforehand, Adams was director of the Buffalo Hint District Well being Division, the place she oversaw the operation of this small, multi-county division and ensured the supply of a variety of public well being companies to 20,000 residents. She served as president of the Kentucky Well being Division Affiliation. She additionally has expertise in offering well being care as a registered nurse within the state, in accordance with the Basis for a Wholesome Kentucky.
She joined the Basis for a Wholesome Kentucky in September 2020 as Vice President of Public Coverage and was named Chief Working Officer in January 2023.
“After a really thorough course of, it was clear to all members of the Board of Administrators that Allison was the proper option to be the following chief of the group,” mentioned Marianne Smith Edge, president of the Board of Administrators. “We’re excited to see what the long run holds and know that the Basis will probably be in good fingers. Allison's expertise, strategic expertise and dedication to illness prevention will probably be necessary belongings to the group. The Board is grateful to Ben and all he has finished for the Basis over the previous eight years. Her imaginative and prescient to guide the group in coverage advocacy has resulted in lots of achievements for the well being of Kentuckians.”
An enduring legacy
Chandler, of Versailles, turned president and CEO of the Basis for a Wholesome Kentucky in 2016, bringing the nonprofit's management full circle. Whereas serving as Kentucky's lawyer basic, he filed swimsuit to get well charitable belongings from the merger of Blue Cross Blue Protect and Anthem. The $45 million settlement within the case was used to create the Basis in 2001, in accordance with the assertion.
A few of Chandler’s most notable successes throughout his time main the group have been associated to lowering tobacco use in Kentucky. He was a robust advocate for the historic cigarette tax enhance handed by the state’s Basic Meeting in 2018, in addition to the Tobacco-Free Faculty Campuses invoice in 2019 that elevated the variety of faculty districts lined by complete tobacco-free campus insurance policies.
Chandler additionally led the Basis's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below his management, the group labored to advertise vaccine confidence by numerous campaigns, occasions and analysis throughout the state, in accordance with the discharge.
“It has been an unimaginable expertise main the Basis that I helped make potential throughout my time as an elected official,” Chandler mentioned. “We have now achieved issues that many thought of unattainable. Whereas I’m very happy with what now we have achieved these previous eight years, I do know there’s nonetheless a lot to do. “I’ve the utmost confidence in the way forward for the group with Allison on the helm.”
Chandler and Adams will proceed of their present roles by the top of the yr. Adams will start his duties as CEO on January 1, 2025.