Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO

An experienced leader, Virginia Jacko is a blind visionary in a sighted world. She serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Miami Lighthouse. In a professional career that includes 24 years at Purdue University, most as Director of Financial Affairs, Ms. Jacko has shown acumen in the financial, managerial and fundraising arenas.

After experiencing gradual vision loss, in 2001 Ms. Jacko relocated to Miami to receive vocational rehabilitation training at Miami Lighthouse. Following her own successful rehabilitation she became a spokesperson for Miami Lighthouse, a member of the Board of Directors, treasurer, and Acting President and CEO before her permanent appointment. Under her tenure, new programs in music production, ceramics and fitness have been introduced and contributions have more than doubled. Ms. Jacko nurtured the largest single-donor gift in the organization’s history, a $1.1 million matching grant from philanthropist Gloria Martin. Over the last two years the number of client contact hours has increased by 35% percent. A significant expansion to the facility for the Blind Babies Program, music production, and fitness was celebrated in 2007.

CEO Jacko has been recognized by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind by receiving its 2005 Apollo Award. In 2006 she was the recipient of the American Red Cross Sarah Hopkins Woodruff Spectrum Award and the Horizon Award from the Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLN) for her collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System. She was chosen as the South Florida Business Journal 2007 Business Woman of the Year in the Non-Profit Leader category. In 2008 she was named as the AXA Advisory Business Woman of the Year in the Public Service/Non-Profit category, selected as the Quiet Storm Achiever Award recipient in the category of Not-for-Profit at the 2008 Women’s Power Caucus, and most recently in 2009 was a finalist for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Health Care Heroes Award in the category of Community, Government and Organizational Collaborations, recipient of the Women of Leadership Award from the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Miami-Dade County Parks, In the Company of Women Award, Outstanding Woman in Health and Human Services, and the Concern Award from Health Foundation of South Florida in the category of organizations with a greater than $1 million budget.

CEO Jacko is a trustee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and of the American Printing House for the Blind, Chair of the Advisory Council on Disabilities of the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, and a member of the board of directors for the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB), the Florida Council of the Blind, the United Way Early Childhood Center of Excellence Advisory Committee, the Rotary Club of Miami and the Miami Lions Club. 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. Achieving a successful board governance initiative at the Miami Lighthouse, she co-authored an article with Miami Lighthouse Board Chairman William R. Roy and consultant Doug Eadie on this process which appeared in the May/June 2008 issue of NonProfit World. Most recently she co-authored with Amy R. McKenzie, EdD, and Tatiana Palma, BS, “Intervention through Art for Adults Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired,” which appeared in the February, 2009 issue of the Journal of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. "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, and most recently she moderated with Doug Eadie a www.snpo.org webinar entitled "Building a Rock-Solid Partnership with Your Board," on June 10, 2009.

Ed Largaespada joined Miami Lighthouse in May 2008. He has more than 10 years experience as Chief Financial Officer at Switchboard of Miami and at Bayview Center. His responsibilities include supervision of all business operations, budgeting, reporting, and compliance.

A Certified Management Accountant, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Zamorano University, a Master of Business Administration from Incae Business School and a Master of Economics from Florida International University.

Ms. Willman is past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Miami-Dade Chapter and is involved in numerous networking and philanthropic organizations in South Florida. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Arizona.

Carol Brady-Simmons, Director of Client and Vision Enhancement Services

Carol Brady-Simmons has been with Miami Lighthouse for more then 20 years and brings vibrant energy and creativity to the many projects she undertakes. She has served in many capacities during her tenure at the Lighthouse, including Chair of Orientation and Mobility, Interim Director of Adult Services, Director of Children’s Services and the Low Vision Program and now is our Director of Client programs and Vision Enhancement Services.

Ms. Simmons received her Associate of Arts in Elementary Education from Miami-Dade College, a Bachelor of Science in Visual Disabilities, Orientation and Mobility, and a Bachelor of Science in Leisure Services and Studies from Florida State University.

Mr. Rabalais obtained his Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Louisiana.

Ms. Lopez received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico.

Jessica Joseph supports the President /CEO and Board of Directors by coordinating Board and committee meetings, overseeing and directing correspondence, and maintaining the CEO’s calendar of appointments. She joined Miami Lighthouse in 2005 and brings her experience as a supervisor from her previous position at Thyssen Krupp Elevator. Ms. Joseph is a Notary Public for the State of Florida.

Sharon Caughill joined the Lighthouse in March, 2007. Her previous positions include extensive experience as an administrative and executive assistant. At the Lighthouse she assists the President/CEO with special projects and with the day-to-day activities of the executive office. Ms. Caughill received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University, and holds an Associate of Applied Science degree from the State University of New York at Alfred.