Dear Friends and Partners of Girls Inc. of Jacksonville:
It is with sadness and gratitude that we must announce Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darlene Vaughn M.ED., MPA has tendered her resignation with Girls Inc. of Jacksonville.
Darlene joined Girls Inc. of Jacksonville in 2021. Since then, she has helped refine programming for the affiliate, identified new partners and possible income streams, strengthened our strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, and helped improve organizational processes.
Darlene leaves Girls Inc. of Jacksonville in a strong position for future growth and we sincerely thank her for her contributions and leadership during her time as CEO. The Board of Directors wishes her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
Although her resignation was unexpected, the board has acted swiftly to determine the next steps. Alexis Howard, M.ED., deputy executive director of Girls Inc. of Jacksonville, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of Girls Inc. of Jacksonville. In addition to having a master’s in education, Alexis has served in youth education and the nonprofit sector for 25 years. She brings with her a wealth of experience to ensure that Girls Inc. of Jacksonville maintains a strong presence in our community.
Alexis has been involved with Girls Inc. of Jacksonville since 2015. Starting as a Girls Inc. program facilitator, moving upward to Director of Programs, until finally becoming the Girls Inc. of Jacksonville deputy executive director and now the Interim Chief Executive Officer. Notably, Alexis demonstrated exemplary leadership of the program team, particularly during the early days of the pandemic when the staff was able to quickly pivot to virtual programming to ensure that the girls continued to receive the highest quality programming possible. This made Girls Inc. of Jacksonville the first Girls Inc. affiliate in Florida to transition to virtual programming during the pandemic.
At this time, a decision to begin the process of recruiting a successor has not been made. The board stands confident that Alexis is in an excellent position to continue to lead Girls Inc. of Jacksonville on its continued growth journey.
During this transitional time, Girls Inc. of Jacksonville is working closely with the Girls Inc national office. Deb Hopkins, Associate Director of Affiliate Services, would also be available to answer any questions you might have. She can be reached at dhopkins@girlsinc.org
If you have any questions about the transition at Girls Inc. of Jacksonville, do not hesitate to reach out to Alexis Howard at AHoward@girlsincjax.org
We are so excited to see what the future holds for Girls Inc. of Jacksonville!
