“As the CEO of SOS Children’s Villages Florida, I am a passionate advocate for the often-complex needs of children in foster care; as well as the population of young adults who age out of the system. Through my work and that of our network of amazing supporters, donors, volunteers, and staff, I provide support, resources, and direction to ensure that SOS offers unparalleled programs and services to help children grow and heal from past traumas in a loving and caring environment. In my role I wear many hats to ensure the smooth operation of the Village, but I am most proud of the end result which has improved the lives of many youth, while providing hope and promise for brighter futures.”
JILLIAN SMATH, MSW
Chief Executive Officer
“l bring out the philanthropic best from individuals and organizations by tapping into the intrinsic good of most people and have a strong understanding of funding priorities, resulting in excellent fundraising income to to support our mission. I deliver epic results by constantly challenging myself, and empowering and challenging the development team to stretch themselves, their creativity, passion, and innate desire to perform in ways to achieve the highest levels of mission delivery through generating revenue. It is a great pleasure to serve our children and young adults through my work, and join forces with many others who want to impact change.”
DAWN SEAY
Chief Development Officer
“My focus is to ensure that our children are given a home to be able to heal from their trauma that led them to foster care. I do this by training and hiring great leaders to support our mission and oversee all programs in the foster care program. My key to managing the varied aspects of the Village is to give people a chance to show that they are able and willing to do what is best for the children and create an environment which allows my team to openly communicate with me. My open communication approach is not limited to staff; and it is always a heartfelt moment when any of our children come to me to share their feelings and I am able to help them navigate through a challenging situation.”
SANDRA WALLACE
Chief Operations Officer
“Provides consistent support and stability in managing all financial aspects for the organization. I can effectively break down financial reports and budgets , which some view as being complex, into “user friendly” versions. With thirteen homes at the Village and multiple departments, each having a customized budget, it can become complex at times. Through motivating others to understand the financials and being readily accessible to discuss, I create an open line of communication resulting in solid financial management.”
FRAN WEBER
Director of Finance
“Identifying, procuring, and onboarding excellent talent to be a part of the SOS Children’s Villages Florida team is one of the most gratifying aspects of what I do. It is comparable to fitting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together where having the right person , in the right place, results in cohesive departments and high performance levels. HR in some respects shapes the culture of the organization, sets standards, and helps keep morale high. Working in child welfare is very gratifying as we are all shaping the next generation to become leaders.”
