|

|
Virginia
A. Jacko, President and CEO
Virginia A. Jacko is a blind
visionary in a sighted world, who attributes her continuing success as an
experienced executive to her vocational rehabilitation at Miami
Lighthouse, where she came as a client in 2001.
Gradual vision loss caused by
retinitis pigmentosa forced upon her the realization that to maintain her
career as a successful executive, she would need vocational
rehabilitation. After gaining her rehabilitation skills at Miami
Lighthouse, Ms. Jacko became a spokesperson for Miami Lighthouse, a member
of the Board of Directors, treasurer, and Acting President and CEO before
her permanent appointment.
Virginia told her story in a book
written in 2009 with Doug Eadie, The Blind Visionary, available from
Governance Edge Press at
www.theblindvisionary.com
Before coming to Miami, she was a
successful financial executive at Purdue University, where she served for
24 years. With the vocational rehabilitation she received at Miami
Lighthouse, Ms. Jacko has been able to apply her acumen in the financial,
managerial and fundraising arenas in her role as CEO of Miami Lighthouse.
Under her tenure, Miami Lighthouse
has achieved a coveted four-star ranking from Charity Navigator, now for
the third consecutive year. This ranking, which only 13 percent of the
nation's not-for-profits achieve for three years running, attests to the
organizations sound fiscal management, responsible use of donor dollars
and financial strength.
With Ms. Jacko's leadership, new
programs in music production, ceramics, and low vision enhancement have
been introduced to benefit clients in many ways, along with expanded
year-round programs for children learning Braille and for blind babies.
The music program in particular is nationally recognized for innovation,
inclusion and providing skills that lead to mainstream employment. Donor
contributions have more than doubled; Ms. Jacko nurtured the largest
single-donor gifts in the organization’s history, a $1.1 million matching
grant from philanthropist Gloria Martin and the $1 million Sash A Spencer
Challenge, which concluded in 2009 with an additional half million in
matching funds raised. A significant expansion to the Miami Lighthouse
facility for the Blind Babies Program, music production, and fitness was
celebrated in 2007. That same year Ms. Jacko played a leading role in a
merger with the Heiken Children's Vision Program, which enabled Miami
Lighthouse to expand its mission to help thousands of disadvantaged
children who have no other resources for vision care.
The Miami Lighthouse Board of
Directors unanimously approved the concept for the Miami Lighthouse Center
of Excellence in Low Vision Rehabilitation following Ms. Jacko's research
into the most pressing needs of Miami Lighthouse clients and blind and
visually impaired people in our community. As a Center of Excellence,
Miami Lighthouse is receiving national recognition for training, research,
eye wellness and rehabilitation.
Ms. Jacko has been a guest speaker
for local business groups, chambers of commerce and at national
conferences on issues affecting the blind and visually impaired.
Publications/Other Media:
“Mainstream Employment in Music
Production for Individuals Who Are Visually Impaired: Development of a
Model Training Program,” with Harold Cobo, Antonio Cobo, Rachelle Fleming,
and J. Elton Moore which appeared in the Journal of Visual Impairment
and Blindness, September 2010.
The Blind Visionary, with
Doug Eadie, Governance Edge Press, 2009.
"Leading and Managing Governance Change," with Miami Lighthouse Board
Chairman William R. Roy and consultant Doug Eadie, NonProfit World,
May/June 2008.
“Intervention through Art for Adults Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired,”
with Amy R. McKenzie, Ed.D., and Tatiana Palma, B.S., which appeared in
the February 2009 issue of the Journal of the Association for Education
and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, February 2009.
Webinar for snpo.org moderated with Doug Eadie: "Building a Rock-Solid
Partnership with Your Board," June 2009.
"Building a Rock-Solid Board/CEO Partnership: Talking with CEO Virginia
Jacko" by Doug Eadie appeared in the May/June 2009 issue of Nonprofit
World.
Awards:
Nancy Hughes Community Commitment
Award presented at the Miami-Dade County Days Awards Luncheon in
Tallahassee, April 2010
Business Leader Media’s Movers &
Shakers Award, 2009
South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Women of Leadership Award, 2009
Miami-Dade County Parks In the Company of Women Award, 2009
Finalist, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Health Care Heroes Award, 2009
Health Foundation of South Florida Concern Award, 2008
AXA Advisory Business Woman of the Year, Public Service/Non-Profit, 2008
Women’s Power Caucus Quiet Storm Achiever, 2008
South Florida Business Journal Business Woman of the Year, Non-Profit,
2007, American Red Cross Sarah Hopkins Woodruff Spectrum Award, 2006
Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN) Horizon Award, 2006
Guiding Eyes for the Blind Apollo Award, 2005
Service:
Trustee, Greater Miami Chamber of
Commerce
Trustee, American Printing House for the Blind
Board Director, Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB)
United Way Early Childhood Center of Excellence Advisory Committee
Rotary Club of Miami and the Miami Lions Club
Chair, Advisory Council on Disabilities, American Red Cross of Greater
Miami and the Keys
Board Director Lions for the Blind |