Sarasota health care provider names new CEO

Following a five month search, CenterPlace Health announced a new CEO. 

Kari Ellingstad was selected by the board of directors to fill the position, which she did officially on Sept. 2. Lisa Gonzalez-Abello, chief medical officer, and James Reid, CFO, had both stepped in as interim CEO during the transition. The primary care health services provider is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Sarasota County. Melissa Parker, the former CEO at CenterPlace Health, stepped down in April 2022.  

“It is my distinct pleasure to welcome Kari into the role of CEO,” Bill Little, board of directors chair, says in a news release. “Kari is highly experienced, successful, and well-regarded in the community. Most importantly she has a strong passion for the mission and vision of CenterPlace Health having served on the board since 2017.”

Most recently, Ellingstad was the board chair. Throughout her 20 years in the community, Ellingstad was a consultant for Health Improvement Partners and VP of I-Net Consulting. Her career also includes experience as a director of the community health improvement partnership with the Florida Department of Health. 

“After serving as a board member since 2017, it is an honor and a privilege to channel my passion for CenterPlace Health in a new role as CEO,” Ellingstad says, according to an email exchange with a spokesperson for CenterPlace Health. “I have always been impressed with the staff at CenterPlace Health and the role they play in providing vital care to our community. I look forward to working with them and our board of directors to cultivate a shared vision for the future with a focus on the patient experience.”

The health care provider has six locations in the county including sites in Sarasota, Venice and North Port.