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Jan 3, 2012, 1:24 PM
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Shake-A-Leg Miami announces major changes in its management
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Press Release Jan 3, 2012
SHAKE-A-LEG MIAMI ANNOUNCES MAJOR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES TO BETTER SERVE SOUTH FLORIDA’S DISABLED AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES
Miami—January 3, 2012—Shake-A-Leg Miami announced major changes in its management, staffing and structure today to better serve South Florida’s disabled and disadvantaged communities, the general public, and visitors from around the world. The changes include the addition of new board members, formation of a new management team, and restructuring of the organization. All of Shake-A-Leg Miami’s current programs and activities will continue under the revised structure.
“These continue to be challenging times for many organizations,” said Board Chairman Jamie Sweeting. “Shake-A-Leg Miami is all about helping people overcome challenges. We are making changes today to ensure Shake-A-Leg Miami is in a strong position—financially and operationally—to meet the needs of the communities we serve tomorrow and beyond.”
Shake-A-Leg Miami celebrated its 20th year of serving special-needs populations last year. It meets those needs by providing sailing, boating and kayaking instruction; educational programs; and eco-tours of Biscayne Bay’s barrier islands. Approximately 8,000 children and adults participate in programs at Shake-A-Leg Miami annually.
As Chairman of the Board, Sweeting will lead a reconstituted board whose members bring diverse skills, passion for the water and community service, and strong business and entrepreneurial expertise to the nonprofit organization. New board members include Laura Sherrod, Senior Vice President of the Atlass Insurance Group; David Gogol, founder of B&D Consulting; Doug Levine, founder of Crunch Fitness; and Miles Glascock, advisor to CresaPartners. The board named Kerry Gruson, a disabled sailor and long-time board member, as Vice Chairman.
Kathy Andersen, an expert in organizational leadership and transformation, and Harry Horgan, founder of Shake-A-Leg, will co-manage the restructured organization. Andersen will assume the role of Executive Director and manage the business transformation and organizational development. Andersen has worked extensively with leading organizations in the public and private sectors to transform their visions into reality and success over the last 15 years. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. Horgan will serve as Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. He will continue to set the vision for the organization and create partnerships to drive growth and sustainability. Horgan founded Shake-A-Leg in Newport, Rhode Island in 1982, and then nine years later, co-founded Shake-A-Leg Miami.
Mark Dacy was named Chief of Staff/Operations Director on the new management team. Previously the Development Director, Dacy will manage staff and day-to-day operations and continue to advance the organization’s development initiatives. Dacy holds a juris doctorate degree and master’s degree in Taxation from the University of Florida.
The new structure streamlines operations in an effort to cut costs, achieve greater operating efficiency, and position the organization more effectively for future growth. A number of staff positions were eliminated in the reorganization.
“We are grateful to everyone in the Shake-A-Leg Miami family who see us as a source of inspiration in South Florida, and, increasingly, around the world,” said Sweeting. “We will continue to draw on their legacy and contributions as we prepare for Shake-A-Leg Miami’s future.”
“The staff at Shake-A-Leg Miami is one of the most passionate and dedicated groups of people I have ever worked with,” Andersen said. “Over the past 10 years, I have been a volunteer, consultant and program developer with this organization, and I am enormously pleased to be working with the staff again to achieve even greater success for Shake-A-Leg Miami.”
All of Shake-A-Leg Miami’s signature programs—water sports for disabled children and adults, after-school programs, and summer camp—will continue under the new structure. Sailing and kayaking opportunities for the public also will be maintained. Other activities such as volunteer and mentoring programs will be expanded to encourage broader participation, and collaborations will be further developed with local, national and international organizations and corporations.
“Shake-A-Leg Miami’s destiny—and future—is to be a global hub for disabled and special needs children and adults,” Horgan said. “The organization was founded to make the impossible possible for people with disabilities, not wait for others to make things happen for them. This new era at Shake-A-Leg Miami continues to embrace this philosophy, only now we will be better able to make the impossible possible for people of all backgrounds and abilities.”
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SHAKE-A-LEG MIAMI is a unique water sports center located on Biscayne Bay that serves the disabled and disadvantaged communities, along with the general public. The center was founded 20 years ago, in partnership with the City of Miami, to help individuals with physical and developmental challenges “shake a leg,” get out on the bay, and enjoy water sports and activities. Shake-A-Leg Miami fulfills that mission by offering boating, sailing, kayaking, and other water sports instruction, as well as eco-tours of Biscayne Bay’s barrier islands. It also provides programs for local disadvantaged youth. Approximately 8,000 children and adults participate annually in Shake-A-Leg Miami’s classes, programs and outings. As the center continues to grow and expand its services, it invites South Floridians and visitors from around the world—children, families and adults of all abilities—to join the fun at Shake-A-Leg Miami, and, in doing so, help those previously “landlocked” by their disability or circumstance get out and enjoy the bay. Shake-A-Leg Miami relies on grants; philanthropic gifts; sponsorships; and income derived from member dues, outing fees and equipment rentals to provide services in the community.
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