About Us

Kimi Ellen

Interim Executive Director
West Cook Coalition

Kimi Ellen serves as Interim Executive Director of the West Cook Coalition (WCC), a multi-sector collaborative dedicated to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes for residents across 18 communities in west Cook County, Illinois. In this role, Kimi provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for a coalition of hospitals, community-based organizations, behavioral health providers, social service agencies, and public health partners working together to address the social determinants of health that drive inequities in the region.

With more than two decades of experience spanning executive leadership, nonprofit governance, fiscal management, and cross-sector collaboration, Kimi brings a systems-level approach to coalition leadership. She is widely respected for her ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared goals, strengthen accountability structures, and translate complex initiatives into measurable community impact. Her work emphasizes sustainability, data-informed decision-making, and community-centered solutions that reflect the lived experiences of the populations served.

In addition to her role with the West Cook Coalition, Kimi is the Managing Partner of Benford Brown & Associates, LLC, a certified minority- and woman-owned CPA and advisory firm with a national reputation for serving government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare institutions, and small businesses. Her background in financial stewardship, compliance, and organizational strategy uniquely positions her to guide large-scale, grant-funded initiatives and ensure responsible governance across complex partnerships.

As Interim Executive Director, Kimi is focused on strengthening coalition infrastructure, supporting partner alignment across clinical and social care systems, and advancing WCC’s core strategies—including care coordination, behavioral health access, housing stability, food security, and community-based navigation—to ensure lasting improvements in health and well-being for west Cook County communities.