FOCUS Welcomes New Executive Director

April 13, 2010

The Steering Committee (Board of Directors) of the Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS), a PICO affiliate in Florida, is pleased to announce the hiring of our new Executive Director, Elizabeth (Liz) Buckley. This took effect on January 1, 2010.

Ms. Buckley has been employed with FOCUS since 2003 and has served in many capacities including Development Director, Community Organizer, and Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. Her most recent position with FOCUS has been Development Director where she was responsible for raising the annual operating budget for the organization of nearly $500,000.00

Liz has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Boston College, where she finished Summa Cum Laude and a Masters degree from the University of Notre Dame in International Peace studies.

Liz brings to FOCUS continuity in fundraising experience and a drive to leave no stone unturned with her abilities to organize and develop leaders who are affected by community problems. She has extensive nonprofit and community organizing experience, including working with the Farmworker Association of Florida, the Carter Center, and with inner city youth and families in Atlanta.

A nationwide search among PICO affiliates and other community organizations was conducted that required the Executive Committee of the Steering Committee to review dozens of qualified applicants, including members of our own FOCUS organization. After several rounds of interviews, the final candidates were given the opportunity to conduct one-to-one visits with all members of the Steering Committee. The one-to-one is the basic framework of the PICO brand of community organizing. At the conclusion of the visits, the Steering Committee voted on their selection as FOCUS's new Executive Director.

Peter Phillips, our founding director, is venturing into a new area of community organizing for Florida. He is now positioned as the organizer/director for a new state-wide organization that will coordinate the efforts of PICO statewide. We at FOCUS wish Peter well on his new venture and we are excited about the new possibilities with our new director!