Neidorff welcomed as National Urban League chair

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial welcomed the new chairman of the National Urban League’s Board of Directors, Michael F. Neidorff, at the National Urban League’s 58th Annual Equal Opportunity Dinner on November 12 in New York City.

Neidorff is chairman, president and CEO of St. Louis-based Centene Corporation.

“Michael Neidorff has been a committed, passionate and valuable member of the board over the past four years, and we could not be more excited for him to now take the helm and usher in a new era of leadership for the National Urban League,” said Morial.

“We appreciate and applaud our outgoing chair, John Hofmeister, for his tireless efforts to ensure that the Urban League reached new heights during his tenure – and I am ever confident that Michael’s dedication to the community and to the people we serve will build upon these accomplishments to continue making an extraordinary impact on the lives of millions of Americans.”

Neidorff, who will immediately begin his term as the 21st National Urban League chairman, has served as chairman, president and CEO of Centene Corporation since 1996. Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals.

In Centene’s 2013 annual report, the most recent available on the company’s website, Neidorff reported that Centene grew premium and service revenues from continuing operations by 37 percent from 2012 to $10.5 billion. He reported that earnings from continuing operations increased to $277.4 million, or 157 percent, over 2012. At that time, he reported, the company coordinated care for more than 2.7 million at-risk managed care members in 20 states.

“We must be diligent and we must be resourceful in tackling the issues that confront our communities and our nation,” Neidorff said of his new responsibilities for the Urban League. “If we are successful – and we will succeed – our communities and our families benefit, our children benefit; and we create a stronger America for generations to come.”

Neidorff has also served as a trustee of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and as a member of the boards of trustees for Webster University, the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the St. Louis Science Center, Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and the National Children's Cancer Society.

The National Urban League is dedicated to economic empowerment in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, it operates direct service programs that are implemented locally by 95 Urban League affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The organization also conducts public policy research and advocacy activities from its D.C.-based Washington bureau. A BBB-accredited organization, it has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, placing it in the top 10 percent of all U.S. charities for adhering to good governance, fiscal responsibility and other best practices.