Stephan retires as president of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida President Victoria Stephan is retiring after an 11-year term of service that has resulted in 425 percent growth for the organization. Stephan’s historic career will end on Dec. 2, 2011.
“The board is very grateful for Vicki’s 11 years of dedicated service to our community and our students,” says David Hall, chair of the 2011-2012 board of directors for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida. “She has done a wonderful job in teaching the principles of JA to our students, including a strong sense of ethics and morals, fundamentals of good business and how to be an entrepreneur. We hope that she enjoys her retirement as she has worked diligently to reach this goal.”
During Stephan’s 11-year tenure with Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, student participation in its programs designed to promote work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy have grown 425 percent. These programs now serve 10,079 students in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Today, JA programs are officially part of the mandated curriculum in both Collier and Lee counties. Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida also launched its CEO Academy summer camp program for high school students under Stephan’s leadership.
The Southwest Florida office has received numerous honors from JA Worldwide because of its outstanding program growth and operating surplus. JA Worldwide awarded the office with a Bronze Summit Award in 2004 and Silver Summit Awards in 2005, 2007 and 2008. In 2009, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida received its first Gold Summit Award and a Peak Performance Award from JA Worldwide. Most recently, the organization earned the 2011 Gold Summit Award, which recognized program growth reaching an additional 1,500 students in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties during the 2010-2011 school year.
The board of directors has established a Search Committee, which is currently engaged in identifying candidates for the top position at Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida. The Committee’s goal is to have a successor in place within approximately three months to allow for a brief overlap in service with Stephan and a smooth transition of leadership.
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Inc. provides in-school and after-school programs for students in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties that focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Today, 126 individual area operations reach 4 million students in the United States, with an additional 5 million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. For more information, contact the Southwest Florida