If leadership has a secret sauce, it may well be humility...

 Syvonne Carter, is an executive leader with a rich background in non-profit organizations, federal government service and health management services.  She has dedicated her career to transforming the landscape of healthcare. Over the past twenty-five (25) years, she has collaborated with community advocates, partners, stakeholders, influencers, and thought leaders, all driven by a shared mission to enhance health equity across the nation, particularly in underserved communities.  

Syvonne is a C-Suite leader with extensive experience in setting and transforming, the direction of non-profit organizations and health management practices. As a seasoned health care administrator, she works with partners and individuals to further a heartfelt goal to improve health equity across the country, particularly in underserved communities.  

From 2022 – 2024, Ms. Carter was unanimously appointed to serve as the President and CEO of 26Health, a health and wellness center focused on providing care and services to the LGBTQ+, uninsured, and under-insured communities in Central Florida and beyond. Her expertise in shaping operational strategies and building life-changing resources led her to be handpicked as Interim CEO of an organization focused on reproductive choice, health, and access. Ms. Carter’s essential leadership was required during pivotal political turning points in gender and racial equality, such as the overturning of Roe vs. Wade and systematic discrimination highlighted by Black Lives Matter global protests. protests. 

Syvonne Carter graduated from the Third Sector Company’s Interim Executives Academy, the Effi Barry Institute’s Non-Profit Leadership Training, and the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. She studied Organizational Leadership at Marquette University and Healthcare Administration at Concordia University. As a lifelong learner, she is attending Marquette University to further her education in entrepreneurship and psychology. 

As the pioneering Director of Operations and Strategy for the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF), working closely with the Executive Director, Syvonne Carter spearheaded a groundbreaking initiative. In response to the escalating health disparities during the coronavirus pandemic, she led the development of free virtual mental health therapy programs. Under her guidance, the organization’s impact was profound, with directory memberships doubling and the ecosystem of mental health practitioners and partners expanding. Collaborations with HBCUs and public schools led to the introduction of vital education and service programs, and a million hours of free therapy were made accessible to Black communities in partnership with BET. 

Prior to BLHF, Ms. Carter served as Chief Business Operations and Health Administration Officer for the Michael J. Crecencz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, and North Florida and South Georgia VA Health System in Gainesville, FL respectively. She was concurrently serving as the Acting Associate Director (COO) of the Lake City VA Medical Center as appointed by the Medical Center Director (CEO). During her tenure, she faced the challenge of managing decentralized staff and system resources, which she overcame by implementing centralization strategies to maximize productivity and protocols, improving patient satisfaction. Her direction spurred action among critical decision-makers to create, sustain, and invest in inter-facility education across the 141 VA healthcare systems.