Windy City Times received news Nov. 23 that Brad McLaughlin, a member of Howard Brown Health Center’s (HBHC’s) executive leadership team and vice president and chief development officer, has resigned. His last day at work is Nov. 30. McLaughlin confirmed the news.
McLaughlin was previously executive director at Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) and then director of development and program collaborations at the Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN).
His departure is the latest and one of the more high-level ones at an agency that has been embroiled in financial troubles since last year’s announcement that mismanagement of funds resulted in the loss of its prestigious MACS (Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study) grant. Since then, HBHC has been engaged in a vigorous and very public series of fundraising appeals, which have included various special events and consistent calls for donations.
McLaughlin replaced Chuck Benya, who also resigned early this year.
HBHC issued a statement congratulating McLaughlin “on his new role at Oral Health America. He’s been an enthusiastic team member at HBHC and we wish him well in his new endeavor.”
McLaughlin said, “It’s a bittersweet departure from Howard Brown Health Center. I’m excited about a new opportunity, but I will miss Howard Brown Health Center and my colleagues here whose professionalism and passion have always been second to none.”
WCT also received reports of a merger between HBHC and area organizations, specifically Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and/or Northstar Healthcare. When contacted, all parties denied the existence of any merger plans.