Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation (Valley Cities) Board has chosen Kenneth C. Taylor to be its new CEO.
Board Chairman Brian Wilson said the selection was enthusiastic and unanimous.
“We are very pleased to have a seasoned, experienced executive leader join the Valley Cities team,” said Wilson. “Ken has the experience as well as the heart needed to lead this great, recovery-oriented community mental health agency.”
Iwen Wang, Valley Cities’ board member and treasurer, said the board had reviewed many well-qualified applicants for the CEO position.
“Ken stood out for his passion for community health care, commitment to quality improvement, collaborative approach in achieving strategic goals, and his ability to lead and develop top performing teams. The board is very excited to have him as our next CEO, to build upon the progress we have made in the past four years, and to lead us to achieve sustained success,” said Wang.
Taylor succeeds former CEO Faith Richie, who accepted a position in California.
In his most recent position, Taylor served as director of health services for Washington State’s Department of Corrections, managing primary and mental health services for 24,000 patients and 800 staff. Before that, he managed the Pierce County transition from a county-based system to a state-managed care system, ensuring no disruption in services for consumers or in payments to providers.
Taylor has a master’s in social work from the University of Denver and more than 25 years of administrative and executive leadership experience at the state and local levels.
He has led successful teams focused on child and family services as well as adult services.
“One project I’m most proud of leading was the effort to create a domestic violence shelter in Chandler, Ariz. Because of our early success, talented staff, and partnership with the community, My Sister’s Place continues to provide shelter and safety to thousands of people for the past 20 years,” Taylor said.
“I am thrilled to be part of Valley Cities and its commitment to healthy communities. The agency is well known for its quality of care and fiscal responsibility,” Taylor said.
Former staff and colleagues call his style “transparent,” “collaborative,” “straight forward,” and “respectful.”
There will be many opportunities for the community to get to know Valley Cities’ new CEO, who officially starts March 1, including at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 25 at the annual Community Awards and Auction Dinner at Emerald Downs in Auburn.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.valleycities.org.
Valley Cities is a community mental health center serving adults, children, youth, families and veterans. The people of South King County established it in 1965, and today it operates comprehensive outpatient clinics in Auburn, Federal Way, Kent and Renton.
