AKRON, Ohio — Akron native and Summa Health executive Tracy Carter has been named the inaugural CEO of the new nonprofit Trailhead Community Health Foundation of Greater Akron.
Carter is currently system director of government affairs and health policy at Summa Health, where she leads strategy and engagement on public policy and funding issues affecting healthcare access, services and community well-being.
She plans to leave Summa to take up her new role at the foundation on Jan. 1, Trailhead said.
Trailhead was established with proceeds from the sale of Summa Health to the for-profit Health Assurance Transformation Corporation (HATCo). Its mission is to advance health and wellness across Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties.
The charitable foundation will focus on developing partnerships, awarding grants, fundraising, and supporting programs to foster lasting improvements in community health across the Greater Akron region, the foundation said in a recent news release.
The final amount of funds that the foundation will receive from the sale of Summa Health has not been determined, the foundation’s board said.
Carter expressed gratitude for being selected as Trailhead’s inaugural CEO.
“I am committed to leveraging my expertise, passion, and relationships to build and manage an organization that will bring additional investment to nonprofit entities focused on helping individuals lead healthier lives,” Carter said.
She served as president of an Akron Community Foundation affiliate fund advisory board from 2009 to 2013. In 2023, she co-founded a new affiliate fund and is serving as president of its inaugural advisory board.
Marty Hauser, retired CEO of SummaCare, is the foundation’s inaugural board chairman. SummaCare is the health insurance plan that is part of the Summa Health system.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tracy to Trailhead,” Hauser said. “Her leadership, experience, and deep commitment to community health make her the ideal candidate to steer this new and valuable asset for our region. We look forward to working with her to create a lasting impact on the well-being of the residents we serve.”
Trailhead’s inaugural officers also include vice chair Lashawrida L. Fellows, deputy director of human resources at the city of Akron; Treasurer Naomi D. Ganoe, managing director and private client services practice leader at CBIZ; secretary Steven Cox, attorney and shareholder at the law firm Roetzel & Andress.
CBIZ, headquartered in Independence, is an accounting, insurance brokerage, financial and advisory services firm. Roetzel & Andress has offices in Akron and other Ohio and U.S. cities.
Other board members are:
Julia Rea Bianch, former chair of the Summa Foundation board of directors from 2023-25. That foundation no longer exists.
Brenda Cummins, director of philanthropic services at the Cleveland Foundation.
Mary Jo Goss, retired registered nurse at Barberton Citizens Hospital (currently Summa Health-Barberton Campus) and Summa Health.
Wakita Johnson, regional vice president and Ohio Medicaid chief operations officer at Humana health insurance company.
Allen E. Loomis, retired executive vice president at National City Bank.
Steven P. Schmidt, professor of graduate studies and retired vice president for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown.
Dr. Demond Scott, medical director at Axess Family Services, which provides primary health care with social services in communities across Northeast Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania and Michigan.