CHICAGO — Howard Brown Health’s longtime president and CEO is stepping down from his role at the LGBTQ+-affirming health organization.
David Ernesto Munar’s last day will be Feb. 29, according to a statement from Mike Mazzeo, chair of Howard Brown Health’s board of directors.
“The board celebrates David’s work to expand and support equitable access to affirming care for the Chicago LGBTQ+ community,” Mazzeo said. “The board of directors and the organization overall are grateful for his leadership and vision this past decade.”
Munar leaves the nonprofit amid negotiations with its union, which formed in 2022 and has gone on strike twice, accusing Howard Brown Health of bad-faith bargaining, including laying off 61 employees without negotiations.
The National Labor Relations Board ruled in July that Howard Brown Health must offer their jobs back and give them back pay. Derrick Alexander, a Howard Brown Health employee, said Friday those laid off workers haven’t received that compensation.
Alexander said in a statement the union is “disappointed” Munar is leaving without seeing contract negotiations through.
“It is our hope that his departure will create an opportunity for new management to negotiate in good faith and settle a fair contract with their unionized workforce,” Alexander said. “We need a CEO that prioritizes workers’ material conditions, a fair contract and the needs of patients.”
Mazzeo’s announcement did not mention Munar’s relationship with the union, instead highlighting accomplishments like building Howard Brown Health into a $200 million organization and expanding its reach to the South and Northwest sides.
Munar also led Howard Brown Health through the COVID-19 pandemic, giving out thousands of vaccines and even more COVID tests. Under his leadership, Howard Brown Health also became recognized as a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Recent projects have included relocating the Broadway Youth Center to a permanent home, opening a new central health center in Northalsted and transitioning the organization to an electronic health record system.
“It has been the honor of my life to lead an organization that has meant so much to me, my family and the LGBTQ+ community, especially those affected by HIV,” Munar said in a statement. “I am proud to have played a part in shepherding Howard Brown’s growth to combat stigma, discrimination, and health inequities across Chicago.”
Howard Brown Health’s board has started the process of finding Munar’s replacement and will seek input from internal stakeholders and the broader community, Mazzeo said.
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