Helen Hicks has been named CEO of the Michigan AIDS Coalition, Ferndale, MI. She was formerly the executive director of The Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan and executive director of the Detroit-based advocacy nonprofit Citizens for Better Care.
Hicks, who started her new position officially July 15, stated in an on-line report of the Council of Michigan Foundations, that her initial goal is to be a “healing force” for both the staff and board as they continue to work through the merger transition. Her “next goal is to begin spreading the word that there is this great new organization and we want to get out more information to everyone about what we do as well as disseminate the important information and data about HIV/AIDS,” she was quoted.
“My third goal is to help bring new dollars to the organization so we can continue our work. More foundations and others need to learn about the Michigan AIDS Coalition and they need to support this effort.”
Craig Covey, who was the acting CEO following the merger of the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project and Michigan AIDS Fund in February, now assumes the role of chief operating officer for MAC. Former MAF Executive Director David Coulter, after working together with Covey and the two agency Boards to get through the merger, decided to retire from his new MAC position as Policy Director in order to focus his attention on his position as Oakland County Commissioner.
