By: Robyn Lightcap, Board Chair, Groundwork Ohio
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After nearly eight years of exemplary service as CEO, Shannon Jones will transition to a strategic advisory role within our organization. Succeeding her will be Lynanne Gutierrez, our current President, who will assume the role of President & CEO effective July 1, 2024. Shannon will remain with Groundwork Ohio as a Senior Advisor through the end of 2024 to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
Since 2017, Groundwork Ohio has made significant strides under Shannon's leadership. Her dedication and vision have been instrumental in expanding our reach and impact, making Ohio a better place for young children. Key initiatives developed under her guidance include statewide strategies to build early childhood coalitions and collaborations, a robust platform for amplifying family voices, and a comprehensive library of research and data to guide policy formation. Shannon's policy strategy expertise has significantly elevated the needs of young children and families to the forefront of policymakers' agendas.
Shannon and I have worked closely over the years, and I have seen firsthand her unwavering commitment to our mission. Her leadership has transformed Groundwork Ohio into the foremost statewide organization for early childhood policy advocacy. We are incredibly grateful for her contributions and are pleased that she will continue to support us in her new role as a strategic advisor.
Lynanne Gutierrez, who joined Groundwork Ohio shortly after Shannon became CEO, will now take the helm. An accomplished policy expert and attorney, Lynanne has demonstrated exceptional leadership as President since January of this year. Her tenure at Groundwork Ohio has been marked by her unwavering commitment to advancing policies that benefit young children and their families. I have full confidence in Lynanne's ability to lead Groundwork Ohio towards even greater achievements.
As we look towards the future, our focus remains on ensuring that babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families are a priority for Ohio's policymakers. With the upcoming biennial budget process in 2025, Groundwork Ohio, under Lynanne's leadership, will continue to actively engage families, early childhood professionals, business leaders, and policymakers to push for increased investment in young children.
Thank you for your continued support of Groundwork Ohio. Please join me in sharing your appreciation to Shannon for her unwavering commitment to and passion for our vision to ensure Ohio is the best place to be a young child.