Planned Parenthood Great Plains President & CEO Announces Departure

Overland Park, KS (June 8, 2017) — Jackie Johnson, Chair of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP), announced today that PPGP’s President and CEO, Laura McQuade, will step into a new role as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC) in September, and Aaron Samulcek, PPGP’s Chief Operating Officer, will take the helm as the Interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.

Johnson said, “Under Laura’s expert leadership over the past three years, PPGP has flourished into a $16M, multi-state organization providing quality health care in 12 health centers across Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, in addition to offering education and training programs in the community, and serving as the leading advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights in the four state region.”

McQuade said, “It has been my honor to represent Planned Parenthood in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. It has been a privilege to serve PPGP’s patients and to have been supported in that work by the best Board, Staff, Donors, and Volunteers that any CEO could want. Representing Planned Parenthood is not a career but a calling, and I will always carry PPGP and our supporters with me as I continue to advocate for the sexual and reproductive health and rights we all deserve.”

Laura brought an unsurpassed passion and commitment to her work at PPGP and continues to inspire and empower others to stand up for sexual and reproductive health and rights by being a visible presence for Planned Parenthood in all four states. She came to PPGP with a proven track record of transforming organizations across the world, and within three years she successfully grew PPGP into a four-state affiliate and led the organization through a five-year strategic planning effort, a significant expansion of health and education services, a deepening of fundraising and communications capacity, and an elevation of the importance of sexual and reproductive health care in our state legislatures and in our public discourse. Along with her team, she put in place the critical infrastructure necessary to take the organization to the next level.

Laura was joined in these efforts over the last three years by PPGP’s Chief Operating Officer, Aaron Samulcek, who will now lead the organization as the Interim President and CEO while the Board of Directors conducts an extensive national search to identify PPGP’s next leader.

“We are thrilled that Aaron will be stepping into the Interim President and CEO position during this time of transition, and look forward to the leadership and continuity he will bring to PPGP as the Board conducts its search,” stated Johnson.

Prior to joining PPGP in late 2014, Aaron held several positions including Senior Director of Finance at Planned Parenthood Federation of America where he partnered with the executive team to develop financial plans aligned with the Federation’s strategic initiatives, managed a $200M budget, and served as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors on finance, audit, and investment issues. Earlier in his career, he was the Director of Finance and Administration at New York University Langone Medical Center with responsibilities in the areas of business operations, financial management, human resources, and information technology. In this leadership position, he had the opportunity to develop and execute strategic goals for the organization and oversee its $50M financial operations.

Aaron graduated from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and holds an M.A. in Public Administration from New York University, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Johnson stated, “Laura’s vision took Planned Parenthood Great Plains to new heights and we wish her success in her new role. We applaud her remarkable efforts in establishing a much broader and deeper organizational footprint in this region ensuring that PPGP will maintain its course and flourish under Aaron’s skillful leadership.”

_{About Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP):}

^{PPGP operates twelve health centers in four states, serving more than 75,000 women, men, and teens each year. PPGP provides community education in its major population centers and has an active public policy program in all four states.}

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Copyright The Gayly - 6/8/2017 @ 12:48 p.m. CST