Attorney general looks into Elgin-based nonprofit as board president takes staff position
The latest leadership change at Elgin-based Open Door Health Center of Illinois has its own board president taking the new role of director of business operations while the Illinois attorney general's office looks into complaints regarding the nonprofit facility, which focuses on clients with HIV and the LGBTQ community.
Interim Executive Director Zeba Geloo said in an email to staff members Wednesday that board President LaJuan Baines resigned from her post to take the new position.
The email also stated that the positions of assistant director, held by Angie Miller, and resource and development director, held by Danise Habun, were eliminated "to create a more streamlined reporting structure which is more in line with other similar organizations." Miller and Habun declined to comment.
Geloo is the agency's medical director and was named interim executive director after the departure of Perry Maier in November.
"Under the auspices of our board of directors, Open Door has been undergoing a restructuring process over the past several months to optimize our efficiency and capacity to serve our patients and clients. We have had full disclosure to our funders," Geloo told the Daily Herald.
Baines couldn't be reached for comment, nor could other board members.
Staff members who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Daily Herald they reached out to the attorney general's office with concerns about the leadership changes and possible plans to change the agency's focus.
The attorney general's office requested several documents in a Dec. 30 letter to Open Door's board of directors, including conflict of interest policies, succession plans, grant applications and "a list of all former officer/directors who are now being paid as an employee, consultant and/or independent contractor" starting Oct. 1, 2017. Geloo said the nonprofit is addressing the attorney general's request.
Former board President Aaron Leveston was hired by the board as a consultant for a time last year, said Carolyn Fabian, who followed Leveston as board president. Leveston didn't return requests for comment.
Fabian said hiring Baines for the newly created staff position appears to be a conflict of interest. There is no sign the position was advertised publicly.
"Did they interview anybody else? And who actually interviewed her for the position? And what about her qualifications?" Fabian said.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Baines has been working since 2012 on contract as a human resources assistant and employment coordinator for the staffing agency Advanced Resources. Before that, she worked as a benefits enrollment specialist and employment coordinator/client services manager.
She has a master's degree in education and organizational leadership from National Louis University, her profile says.
Geloo declined to give information about the selection process, citing internal operations and confidentiality.
"I assure you that proper HR processes and procedures were followed," she said.
"The goal of our restructuring program is to serve our mission in a fiscally responsible manner and maximize our spend on direct care delivery," Geloo said. "It is important to note that the mission of the organization has not changed and we are here to provide the highest quality of care to medically vulnerable patients, particularly those people with HIV and who are LGBTQ."
The makeup of the nonprofit's board has changed a lot in the past year, with several members leaving and new ones appointed. The current board comprises: Kirsten Nilson, Shumeca Bonds, Jeri Dixon, Mark D. Gomez, Rey Rodriguez, Ket Herena, Glen McDade and Dave Yusuf.