The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida launched a new program, called “Emerging Leaders,” to identify and support emerging nonprofit leaders.
According to the center, the program, sponsored by Bank of America, is designed to identify leaders of diverse backgrounds; provide emerging nonprofit leaders a venue to network and build relationships with their peers; develop leadership skills to become a future leader in the nonprofit sector; create intergenerational mentoring opportunities; and build the Northeast Florida nonprofit sector with leadership as current leaders retire.
The 11 inaugural candidates were selected based on their career track within the nonprofit sector, their career goals and their desire to make a long-term contribution to the nonprofit sector, said the center.
More than 40 applications were received and reviewed by a selection committee consisting of nonprofit executive leaders. The candidates will receive three days of training equipping them to take on additional leadership roles in the nonprofit sector.
The first class of the 2011 Emerging Leaders program will consist of:
• Meg Balke, vice president of operations and development, Girls Inc. Balke joined Girls Inc. of Jacksonville in February 2010 as vice president of operations and development. Her primary responsibilities are financial and facility management, managing the public relations, volunteer management, fundraising and stewardship and daily organizational oversight.
• Brandy Carvalho, development manager, The Museum of Science and History. Carvalho has 10 years of experience in nonprofit work in the areas of development, volunteer management, marketing and program management.
• Jordan Crane, vice president of development, Episcopal Children’s Services. Crane has 14 years of experience in professional nonprofit management and fundraising, earning her “Certified Fund Raising Executive” credentials in 2009.
• Lauren Weedon Hopkins, associate director, Dreams Come True. Since joining the organization in September 2007, she has worked at the agency in various capacities including director of research and outreach, director of development and interim executive director.
• Timothy Jefferson, customer service specialist supervisor, ElderSource of Northeast Florida. Jefferson is a graduate of Albany State University with a degree in psychology and is working on his Master of Business Administration degree from Ashford University.
• David Ojeda, director of finance and administration, Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Northeast Florida. Ojeda joined the nonprofit sector two years ago and has chosen the nonprofit sector as his concentration for his current doctoral study work. Ojeda has had years of experience in the for-profit sector, as well operating his own business.
• Gail Patin, chief operating officer, Hubbard House Inc. Patin has more than 25 years of experience in working with families in crisis, with 20 years concentrated in top management positions. At Hubbard House, she is responsible for the total development, supervision and fiscal management of all programs providing services to survivors of domestic violence and their families.
• Aida Pantaleon Seeraj, women and families program director, Sulzbacher Center. From 1998-2006, Serraj worked for the Department of Children and Families in myriad management positions. She has been honored with several awards, including DCF Case Manager of the Year, two Secretary of the State awards for Outstanding Team Performance and three Davis Productivity Awards.
• Linsay Warren, in-house legal counsel, Family Support Services of North Florida. Inc. Warren graduated with honors from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2007 and immediately joined Family Support Services., a community-based nonprofit agency focused on child welfare. As in-house legal counsel, she provides risk management consultation and assists the organization in developing proactive measures.
• Laura Weiss, development director, Teach for America. Weiss is responsible for creating the vision and operational plan for development in the region, leading the campaign to meet the organization’s fundraising goal of $3.5 million in 2012. She also manages the development team for Teach For America – Jacksonville, striving to raise about $15 million over the next five years.
• Joshua Zmroczek, director of development, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. Zmroczek also is president of the First Coast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is responsible for managing the development staff as well as the organization’s individual, corporate and foundation relationships.
The Nonprofit Center is a 200-plus member organization that advocates for the nonprofit sector, trains and supports its leaders, and communicates its value to the public.