The Board of Directors of Covenant Community Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides a full range of healthcare services to the people of Detroit and the broader metropolitan region, has unanimously approved the hire of Covenant team member Joslyn Pettway as its next Chief Executive Officer.

Joslyn Pettway began her career in 2008 as Director of Primary Care Initiatives at Detroit Wayne County Health Authority and served as Executive Director of the Southeast Region of the Michigan Area Health Education Center from 2011-2013 before joining the Covenant Community Care team.

Pettway started at Covenant in 2013 as a Program Director/Grant Writer before becoming Chief Program Officer in 2015 and then Chief Operating Officer in 2018. In addition to her role as COO, Pettway has also been acting Chief Executive Officer of Covenant since September 2019, when former CEO Paul Propson stepped down after 12 years of leadership.

Born and raised in Flint, MI, a large part of Pettway’s passion for working at Covenant stems from growing up in a community like those Covenant serves. She believes deeply in the mission of Covenant Community Care and is particularly fond of FQHCs because of the unique governance structure that ensures patients have a voice in their care. When Pettway isn’t actively advocating for Covenant, she is making connections through professional associations and volunteer activities. She is a member of the University of Michigan School of Public Health – Health Management & Policy Alumni Network and serves locally as a member of Triumph Church.

Pettway holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan. She received her Community Health Center Executive Fellowship (CHCEF) certification from the University of Kansas, Medical Center.

“Seven years ago, I was drawn to Covenant Community Care because of its mission. The opening of our mission statement, ‘to show and share the love of God,’ serves as the foundation for all that we do at Covenant. It is the standard by which we measure our strategic decisions, operational expectations, and day-to-day interactions. It has always resonated with me that Covenant’s mission clearly defines the type of care we want to provide to those we serve, and I look forward to advancing that mission throughout our community for years to come.”

-Joslyn Pettway, CEO, Covenant Community Care

Pettway has led Covenant Community Care as acting CEO during the last few months of COVID-19, overseeing the organization’s shift in April 2020 from 100% in-person care to offering telehealth visits at all locations. Covenant began re-opening on a limited basis for in-person medical, dental, and behavioral health visits in June 2020, with new social distancing safety procedures and protocols in place. Pettway’s first 90 days as CEO will be spent evaluating and assessing the ever-evolving needs of the community during this pandemic, guiding both short-term decisions and longer-term initiatives. Covenant provides regular COVID information and updates on their website at https://covenantcommunitycare.org/covid-19-response/.

Covenant Community Care’s Board of Directors retained KEES as its executive search partner in December 2019. A comprehensive search was launched, attracting a large number of candidates from across the United States. The Search Committee, led by Board Chair Dotti Sharp, ultimately selected Joslyn Pettway from an exemplary group of top finalists.

“The search for a new CEO was a rigorous national process, and Joslyn quickly rose to the top of the pool. Her experience as a Covenant team member for the last seven years only enhances her commitment to the organization and ability to lead it effectively. The Board of Directors is sure that under Joslyn’s great leadership, wisdom and guidance, Covenant will strive to much greater heights and achievements.”

-Dotti Sharp, Board Chair, Covenant Community Care

KEES is a national executive search firm that builds transformative teams and leaders in the nonprofit sector. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners with nonprofit organizations to provide an array of executive search, leadership development, interim staffing and HR services and support.

“It was a pleasure to meet Joslyn from day 1. Her passion for those served, as well as her perspective on the future, instantly set her apart from other candidates. Joslyn Pettway is an emerging leader who will take Covenant in the right direction. The Board and Search Committee of Covenant Community Care have been excellent partners, and we see a strong, flourishing future for Covenant in the years ahead.”

-Heather Eddy, President and CEO, KEES

Covenant Community Care’s mission is to show and share the love of God, as seen in the good news of Jesus Christ, by providing integrated affordable and quality health care to those who need it most. Covenant is a Community Health Center that proudly cares for 20,000 people every year through medical, dental, OB-care, and behavioral health services. For more information, please visit www.covenantcommunitycare.org.