Community Health Partnership of Illinois (“CHP”) is a private 501 c 3 not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). CHP is committed to making high quality, patient-centered primary health care accessible and affordable to all, including agricultural workers and rural communities in northern and central Illinois.
Sawyers comes with a clear vision for the organization as expressed in her first global communication to the CHP staff. Her message focused on a team culture made up of shared values, beliefs, positive attitudes and respectful behaviors. She also expressed the need for execution and accountability as being very essential to the sustainability of the organization.
Eleace succeeded Susan Bauer who retired on 12/31/2019 after serving more than four decades at CHP. “Susan will be deeply missed. She will be forever a cornerstone of what the organization is today, Susan leaves a strong legacy on which to build, says Susana Castro, board president.”
It is important to mention that the only change taking place is Susan’s retirement. We anticipate no changes in management and the services we currently provide, Susana continues.
Sawyers is the third CEO in the company’s history, bringing more than 17 years of Federally Qualified Health Center industry leadership. As CEO, she will oversee an interdisciplinary staff who serve from more than seven counties in the State of Illinois.
In 2018, Sawyers was selected and granted full scholarship from the Northeast Ohio Harvard Chapter to represent Cleveland’s nonprofit CEO’s, to share knowledge and expertise with 50 international leaders at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. In 2017, she was honored by Who’s Who in Black Cleveland as a “Game Changer.” She is the proud recipient of numerous awards including the 2016 Community Development Leadership and Supporter Award (Diaspora Arts Coalition), the 2014 Florida Association of Community Health Centers Partnership Award, the 2012 South Florida’s 100 Most Accomplished Caribbean American Award and the 2017 Role Model of Excellence Award. Previously, Eleace served as , President & CEO for Care Alliance Health Center and Vice President for Corporate Affairs for Jessie Trice Community Health Center. Prior to that, she worked as an Auditor for the State of Mississippi, was a Flight Attendant for American Airlines and serves on many boards.
Eleace is a graduate of Florida International University, where she earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She also holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi. She is a certified member of the Health Care Compliance Association and a member of the American College of Health Care Executives.
The CHP board of directors strongly believes that Eleace Sawyers is the right person to lead the transition process that the organization is facing while protecting the legacy of CHP and leading the next chapter of its history. Finally, the board will work closely with Eleace to ensure a smooth, successful transition.