Columbia Valley Community Health Board of Directors announces CEO

Wenatchee- The Columbia Valley Community Health (CVCH) Board of Directors has announced Manuel Navarro as the organization’s new CEO. Navarro replaces David Olson, who retired on January 31, 2022. Navarro has been serving as Interim CEO since that time.

The search process began by soliciting input from CVCH leadership on desired characteristics for the next CEO. With this information, a national search was launched in February of this year. A total of 57 qualified candidates expressed interest in the position, with five candidates advancing to initial interviews. From this list, three candidates were selected as finalists, each of whom completed facility tours and full-day interviews with members of the Board, leadership, and management. Based on this, Navarro emerged as the top candidate.

“Ultimately, after such a comprehensive search process, the committee agreed that Manuel’s passion for CVCH and proven leadership is what the team needs at this time. He has a strong vision for CVCH that will move the organization toward advancing our mission and improve access to healthcare for all in our community. In addition, he was the only candidate to receive “Would Recommend” from every person who completed a feedback form, and he had the highest quantitative scores from all interview groups. Manuel has proven a deep understanding of our community and the CVCH culture, and we are confident that he has the ability to successfully lead the organization in the coming years,” explained Laura Leon, CVCH Board President.  

About CVCH
Established in 1972, Columbia Valley Community Health strives to provide optimal health and wellness with compassion and respect for all. With locations in Wenatchee, Chelan, and East Wenatchee, CVCH is a valued and sustainable community partner providing high quality, integrated, innovative and barrier-free healthcare.