Page 8 - August 2015 Life In Naples Magazine
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Naples Children & Education Foundation
appoints Maria Jimenez-Lara as Chief Executive Officer
T he Naples Children & Education Foundation Southwest Florida
(NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Board of Susan G.
Winter Wine Festival, has appointed Maria Jimenez- Komen, on which she
Lara its new Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Jimenez- currently serves.
Lara previously served as Director of Foundation Services
and Grants Director for NCEF, responsible for overseeing the Born in Puerto
charitable grant process in conjunction with the trustee-driven Rico, Ms. Jimenez-
Grant Committee. Lara grew up in
Miami and moved
“Maria is an accomplished and respected leader with a long to Naples in 1999.
track record of successfully advocating for the underserved in She earned a B.A.
our community,” said Bob Clifford, Chairman of the Board of in Psychology at
NCEF. “After an extensive national search, the Board selected Universidad de las
Maria because of her deep knowledge and experience working Americas, a B.S.
within our organization, her passion for the issues and her in Management at
critical insights into ways we can move forward in tackling our Florida International
community’s problems at their root causes.” University and a
Masters in Public
“I couldn’t be more honored to have been chosen to lead the Administration from Hodges University.
Naples Children & Education Foundation. The work of our
organization is critical in our community,” said Maria Jimenez- In arriving at its unanimous choice of Ms. Jimenez-Lara,
Lara. “NCEF has worked hard to build strategic partnerships the Search Committee noted her leadership, administrative,
and fund effective organizations that change children’s lives. and management skills, as well as her passion for NCEF’s
I look forward to working closely with the Trustees, my mission and her ability to listen to all viewpoints and create
co-workers and our extensive network of sponsors, donors, consensus. The Committee appreciated Ms. Jimenez-Lara’s
volunteers and supporters to address the very real needs of ideas on advancing NCEF’s structure, processes and excellence,
children in Collier County.” including building on the strengths of the staff and Trustees.
At NCEF, Ms. Jimenez-Lara developed a strong team and The four month search process, managed by BoardWalk
helped the Grant Committee refine the organization’s vision Consulting, attracted 30 qualified national and local candidates
and capacity to strategically impact the children of Collier from a wide variety of backgrounds, including nonprofit,
County. She is known as a leader who develops strong teams, festival, foundation, hospitality and corporate leadership roles.
and aligns people, processes and activities to achieve goals.
ABOUT THE NAPLES CHILDREN &
Prior to joining NCEF in 2012 as Grants Director, EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Ms. Jimenez-Lara spent two decades leading programs for
underserved youth. Most recently, she served as Director The Naples Children & Education Foundation, the
of Charter Schools for the Redlands Christian Migrant founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is
Association for 13 years, and was able to grow that and other committed to improving the educational, emotional and health
organizations through public and private funding sources, outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its
the latter including corporate, individual and foundation annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted
donors. Among her accomplishment at RCMA was turning over 40 of the most effective nonprofits in the community,
two failing schools into sustainably high-performing schools. providing around 200,000 children with the services and
Throughout her career, Ms. Jimenez-Lara has also dedicated resources they need to excel. For more information about
her time and expertise to board service, including the NCEF, please visit www.napleswinefestival.com.
8 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2015
