Of Lessons and Leadership: Spotlight on Raymond Arroyo
A neighbor and Wheeler employee at the time convinced Raymond Arroyo to become involved with the organization and eventually to join the organization’s board.
“My neighbor didn’t have to ask twice, as I already knew of the reputation of Wheeler Clinic,” remembered Raymond, now chief growth officer, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA). “The role also represented an alignment for me between my work at Aetna [at the time] and the health care services Wheeler provided.”
Raymond served as a trustee from 2011 to 2015, then joined a few committees and eventually co-led the Finance Committee and was the Treasurer on the board. He also played a strong supporting role in the organization’s Evening of Wonder gala, which raised more than $400,000 over the course of four years to benefit the individuals and families served by Wheeler.
“The board and I were massively committed to Wheeler Clinic's mission, and under our board chairman, Jeff Loureiro’s strong leadership, and Susan Walkama's vision, we helped to preserve the focus on what mattered most: the community,” said Raymond. “The Evening of Wonder galas were always a big hit for me, as I loved attending and seeing the impact that we were making in the community.”
Raymond recalls the many lessons from working with Wheeler. “I learned about the lives that the Wheeler Clinic was impacting in the community. I learned about hardships with the state budget that affected what we could and couldn't do,” he said. “Most of all, I learned that the trustees cared deeply about the community and each other. I've served on many boards, but none better than this one.”