Healthy Start, Inc. Pittsburgh Strengthens Executive Leadership Amid Organizational Growth
November 2025 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact Info:
Lindsay Seekford
Director of Marketing & Engagement
Healthy Start, Inc., lseekford@hsipgh.org
www.healthystartpittsburgh.org
Director of Marketing & Engagement
Healthy Start, Inc., lseekford@hsipgh.org
www.healthystartpittsburgh.org
Image 1: Demia Tyler Headshot [Click image for larger view]
HEALTHY START, INC. PITTSBURGH STRENGTHENS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AMID ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH
Creation of Chief Operating Officer Role Marks Milestone in Strategy, Sustainability, and Transformation
PITTSBURGH, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — Healthy Start, Inc. Pittsburgh has completed its strategic planning process, which will guide organizational planning and operations for 2025–2028 and welcomes Chief Operating Officer, Demia Tyler, MPH, MBA. Healthy Start’s charge for the immediate future includes a focus on deepening impactful partnerships; using data and storytelling to effect systems change; strengthening and sustaining operations through diversified funding, infrastructure management, and leadership development; and strategic rebranding—as guided by a newly developed strategic plan, which was completed in partnership with Hasil Consulting out of Atlanta, GA.
As part of this process, the organization has created a Chief Operating Officer (COO) position to strengthen organizational performance, impact, and sustainability—addressing critical organizational needs during a time of strategic growth and transformation. With a $9 million budget and a staff that has tripled to more than 75 employees over the past five years, Healthy Start continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact. The new COO role complements the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and is aligned with the organization’s value of promoting from within.
“This role represents a necessary evolution of our leadership structure,” said Jada Shirriel, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Start, Inc. “As we grow, it’s essential that our internal systems and strategies evolve with us. I’ve relied heavily on Demia’s leadership over the past few years and am confident that her experience, perspective, and commitment make her the right person to help lead Healthy Start into its next chapter.”
Tyler has served Healthy Start for more than seven years, most recently as Director of Strategic Initiatives, where she led systems-level improvements, strategic collaborations, and process innovations that enhanced organizational efficiency and equity. A skilled project and program management professional, Tyler holds dual master’s degrees, a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a Certificate in Program Evaluation and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Certificate in Project Management. She is also a certified doula and childbirth educator, bringing both professional expertise and personal passion to her work in maternal and child health.
Healthy Start, Inc. Pittsburgh works to improve maternal and child health and reduce poor birth outcomes and infant mortality in the region. Rooted in equity and cultural responsiveness, Healthy Start provides direct services, education, advocacy, and systems level change to ensure that all families, especially Black women and babies, have the opportunity to thrive.
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