Elizabeth M. Lucas, CAE, MBA, to Step Down as Executive Director & CEO of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc.®
Resignation to end decade-long tenure at global women’s organization
June 2021
Contact: Kamali Brooks, Marketing and Communications, kamali@soroptimist.org
Philadelphia, PA — Elizabeth M. Lucas, CAE, MBA, will resign as executive director and chief executive officer of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc., effective August 31, 2021. In this role since 2011, Lucas oversaw the overall operation for the global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment; she also worked with Soroptimist’s board of directors to craft the organization’s strategic direction.
On behalf of the board of directors, President Penny Babb of Peoria, Arizona, expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to Lucas for her passion and dedication to the organization’s mission. “With her skills in teamwork, operations, and administration, we have experienced a forward movement in our strategic plan. In addition, Liz has been instrumental in helping us expand our member engagement, program impact, fundraising, and brand recognition. Her efforts have prepared us for years to come.”
Under her ten-year tenure, Lucas worked collaboratively with ten elected presidents and boards of directors. Her management and administration of strategy were central in clarifying and achieving many of the organization’s goals which define Soroptimist’s current and future direction. Those goals include the strategic big goal of increased collective impact to increase the number of women and girls Soroptimist reaches through its brand unifying Dream Programs; and the 2021-2031 big goal to invest in the dreams of half a million women and girls through access to education, expanding fundraising efforts to fuel that growth.
“I am grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and knowledge I have gained during my time with the organization. It has been my pleasure to serve the board. As I reflect on the last ten years, I am proud of all Soroptimist has accomplished. While its past has been bright, its future is brilliant,” Lucas stated.
The search for a new executive director and chief executive officer is currently in progress. Soroptimist’s board of directors has engaged Koya Partners in the search, which will be guided by Soroptimist’s core values, strategic plan, investment in the development and success of our organization, and encouragement of an extraordinary member experience. To view the application portal click here.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Soroptimist (Soroptimist.org) provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment through the work of volunteers across North America, Latin America and the Pacific Rim. Its Soroptimist Dream Programs, which include the Live Your Dream Awards® and Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls®, ensure women and girls have access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. A 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, Soroptimist also powers LiveYourDream.org®—an online community that offers volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.
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