MSHF names Esther Pitts as President and CEO

After an extensive search, the Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) announced that they have selected a successor to Elizabeth Ripley, the President and CEO, naming Esther Pitts to the position.

“We were looking for someone that could lead us to the next 20 years,” says Lisa Wade, the Chair of the Mat-Su Health Foundation Board of Directors. “We were looking for someone who understands the complexities of health care, understands non-profits, small businesses, and the importance of community, and Esther fits all of that.”

Pitts currently works as the Chief Community Impact Officer for the MSHF, a role she has been in since 2023, leading the Foundation’s programmatic and philanthropic work, supporting the teams responsible for grant-making, scholarships, data collection and analysis, and programs including Connect Mat-Su and R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness). She also co-leads the Foundation’s health equity initiatives in conjunction with the Chief Operations Officer.

She also brings over a decade of nonprofit hospital leadership experience to the Foundation. Her background includes risk management, patient safety, human resources, program development, and direct service operation. More recently, she served as the Executive Director of Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services Administration. She earned a master’s degree in business administration with a minor in healthcare leadership and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, both from Capella University.

“She (Esther) brings enthusiasm and she has a passion for creating sense of belonging, and brings a hopeful focus to our mission. She is really inspirational,” said Wade.

“When I was approached for my current role, my colleagues told me if I had a chance to work with Elizabeth Ripley, to jump at it,” says Pitts. “She was the hook, but it is also what the Foundation does and what it stands for that made me want to be here.” Being selected to replace Ripley is the culmination of her previous experiences.

“This really is a culmination of the mission aligned with where I want to lean into personally and professionally. This is my home, and being able to support, through personal and professional endeavors, the community as a whole, which includes my family and friends is really something,” says Pitts of her new role.

She also says that the joint venture that the MSHF shares with the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is something she is looking forward to make an impact was important to her.

“The ability to use some of my skills to strengthen and propel forward the mission we have for health and wellness in a way that we could not otherwise do as a standalone.”

The announcement comes eight months after outgoing President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley announced she was retiring from the position she has held for 16 years, leading the Foundation’s efforts to improve the health and wellness of all Alaskans living in the Mat-Su Borough.

“The Mat-Su has been lucky to have her. She has done amazing work. Her commitment has always been to the community and the relationships she has built. When I think about her legacy, I think about the collaborations, the partnerships, and the community she helped build.

The MSHF Board of Directors conducted an extensive search for the next person to fill the role, forming a search and transition committee, surveying the staff, the Board of Directors, and community stakeholders for feedback, and utilizing the Foraker Group to assist in a nationwide search. Over 70 candidates were vetted, with multiple interviews before narrowing the search and ultimately voting for Pitts.

“The process of selecting was very lengthy. There was a lot of effort by the Board to do national search,” says Wade. And while the search was exhaustive, she says there was a great pool of candidates that rose to top. “Everything spoke to the commitment to Mat-Su. It was really an amazing process.”

For her part, Pitts has been impressed with the search process and knowing that there were so many qualified candidates not just nationally, but here in the Mat-Su community as well.

“We have such robust talent here in the Mat-Su Valley. It is exciting to see the level of expertise, the education, and experience that is very much valued by the Foundation and the community. We have people in our community that can stand shoulder to shoulder to a nationwide group search like this, and I for one, am impressed.”

“I’m thrilled that we were able to fill this crucial role with a talented leader who is also a proud Mat-Su resident,” said Ripley. “Esther’s talent, experience, and passion for creating a healthier community will help take the Foundation to a new level of impact.”

Pitts will spend the next few weeks transitioning into her new role and will assume the title effective May 1. Ripley plans to continue serving in a smaller capacity on the Board of Directors and working on smaller projects.

“We're incredibly grateful that Elizabeth is leaving us legacy of commitment to Mat-Su. Very early on, working with her, one of her goals was to build a beloved community, and she really accomplished that in so many ways. More importantly, we have seen measurable progress in reaching our goal to become the healthiest borough in Alaska,” said Wade.