My Wellpoint Care Why: Board Member Andy Fickett
For Andy Fickett, President of Fickett Structural Solutions, it was a friendship that first connected him to Wellpoint Care Network. Fellow Board member Paul Riedl introduced him to the organization nearly two years ago, knowing Fickett had a personal connection to the mission.
“The story goes back 57 years now,” says Andy. “I’m adopted. It wasn’t a foster care adoption, but my birth mother was just 16 years old when she made the decision to place me for adoption. That’s always been a part of who I am.”
Years later, Andy and his wife faced significant challenges starting a family of their own.
“We lost a daughter at birth, went through failed in vitro fertilizations, and eventually decided we wanted to adopt. Foster-to-adopt was the first approach we took.”
Their son, Drew, was placed in their care in February 2005 and formally adopted about two years later. Andy says it was a very eye-opening experience.
“Drew was 20 months old when he was placed with us. He’ll be 23 next month. At the time, we thought, ‘We’re good parents, we have resources, and we’ll be able to make all the hard things he experienced go away.’ But that’s just not reality.”
That experience is why Andy feels especially connected to Wellpoint Care Network’s focus on Trauma Informed Care.
“A lot of people don’t understand the significance of trauma,” he says. “It doesn’t have to be physical abuse or growing up in a certain neighborhood. Trauma can come from long-term experiences or a single event. There are so many factors that contribute to it, and you can’t simply undo it.”
Andy hopes his lived experience brings value to the Wellpoint Care Network Board of Directors.
“I have very personal stories I can connect to situations and use to share my perspective and insight.”
That’s Andy’s “Wellpoint Care Why.”
“I want to make a difference. I want to leave every board I serve on in a better place than when I joined. I like to listen first, but when I do speak, I hope I’m offering something meaningful and valuable.”
Even for an organization that has served the community for 175 years, Andy says the work is far from finished.
“We’re just getting started,” he says. “The need isn’t going away. A football game has a start and a finish; there’s a winner and a loser. Nonprofit work isn’t like that. There’s no finish line. It’s the ongoing pursuit of making the community a better place. It’s a passion for change.”
Learn how YOU can get involved! Wellpoint Care Network serves more than 7,500 individuals across Wisconsin annually, and with your help, we can reach even more.
