Junior Achievement of North Florida Adds New Members to its Board of Directors

Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 22, 2023 – Junior Achievement of North Florida has named seven new members to its board of directors. Matthew Ceballos, Jim Deats, Courtney Harris, Chris Haley, Kevin Holbrooks, Elaine Johnson and Josh Johnson have joined the board.

“These seven individuals will be a wonderful asset to our organization, and we welcome them to our board,” said Shannon Italia, president of JA of North Florida. “I look forward to working closely with them as we continue to deliver and grow our programs that provide a path to economic success for our younger generation and future community leaders.”

The seven new board members come from a variety of professional backgrounds, but each has a passion for helping to prepare young people for the future. Matthew Ceballos is a manager at Fidelity Investments which has helped teach young people how to generate wealth, effectively manage it, plan for the future, and improve their communities. Jim Deats is a managing director for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. He believes strongly in JA’s mission to positively impact young people. Courtney Harris is a regional director for Florida Blue and says JA’s work in building thriving communities aligns with his personal priorities along with those of his employer.

Chris Haley, general partner with FINTOP Capital, said he is excited for the opportunity to serve on the JA Board and said his passion and interests mirror those of the mission of JA. JEA Director Kevin Holbrooks is a firm believer in JA’s mission. He said investing in youth makes the community a better place for everyone to live.

Excelan Advisors Founder Elaine Johnson says her passion for education and workforce development has driven her volunteer activities throughout her professional life. She is looking forward to committing her time to JA of North Florida and doing all she can to help students enter the workforce with the knowledge, skills, and insights to be meaningful contributors to the economic development of our region and their own financial independence. And Josh Johnson, senior manager for Johnson & Johnson Vision, is a longtime JA classroom volunteer and an active supporter and participant in JANFL’s annual North Florida Golf Classic.

“These new board members have the passion and interest that we are looking for to help us impact even more young people throughout Northeast Florida,” said Meg Rose, JA of North Florida board chair. “We continue to grow our strategic initiatives and are excited to have these seven join us. I look forward to the work we will do together in the coming year that will help impact the lives of students.”

The seven members are now part of a board made up of 39 community leaders who volunteer their time to help promote and enhance the mission of JA of North Florida.

About Junior Achievement of North Florida

We envision a world where young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Our volunteers, educators and supporters inspire and prepare students to succeed through learning experiences that focus on three sets of critical life skills that are not always taught in schools. Since 1963, Junior Achievement of North Florida has been delivering JA learning experiences that help young people reach their potential. To learn more about Junior Achievement of North Florida, visit www.janfl.org.