RICHARD J. TAAFFE - CEO, WEST HAWAII COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

KONA, HAWAIʻI

Richard has been CEO of the West Hawaii Community Health Center since 2005.  As the first Executive, he has grown the agency from a single site with three exam rooms and six staff to five sites, 180 staff serving 15,000+ patients (70,000 visits) annually. He is a 2015 recipient of the Hawaii Community Foundation’s prestigious Hoʻokele Award for outstanding leadership in non-profits. Prior to moving to Hawaii in 2005, Richard lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he worked at La Familia Medical Center (CEO), El Centro Community Health Center, Aide to Governor of the State of New Mexico, and assistant to the President of Northern New Mexico College.