CEO, PrimaryOne Health
Charleta B. Tavares is the CEO of PrimaryOne Health (2015 – present), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC/CHC) in Central Ohio. It is the oldest and largest FQHC in Central Ohio serving more than 42,000 patients in Franklin & Pickaway Counties. The $43+ million organization has grown tremendously under her leadership with twelve sites and three (soon to be four) Mobile Health Centers. She is actively involved in the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) serving on the Board and the Policy and Workforce Committees. Ms. Tavares is also a member of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and has been appointed to serve as a member of the Legislative, Subcommittee on Healthy Aging and Policy Committees. She serves on several local non-profit Boards including the Human Services Chamber, Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio, Health Impact Ohio, Lifeline of Ohio, and Rise Together Innovation Center, as well as the chair of the national WAND Education Fund Board.
Tavares is also a former elected official and served as the first: Democrat and African/Black woman in the Ohio House of Representatives (1993-1998) and Ohio Senate (2011 – 2018) from Franklin County; First -African/Black woman to serve in Leadership in the history of the Ohio General Assembly (1996); and First – Democrat woman to serve in Leadership in both the Ohio House (1996-1998 – Minority Whip) and Ohio Senate (2014-2018 – Assistant Minority Leader). She is a native of Columbus and proud alum of Columbus City Schools (Eastmoor) and attended Spelman College and the Ohio State University.