Syracuse, New York (PRWEB) March 26, 2014
ProLiteracy, the largest adult literacy organization in the nation, announces appointment of new Board Officers to its Executive Committee. John H. Ward of Sarasota, Florida, was named Chair; Nikki Zollar of Chicago, Illinois, was named Vice Chair; and Seetha Srinivasan of Jackson, Mississippi, was named Board Secretary. Tom Fiscoe of Syracuse, New York, will continue to serve as Treasurer.
ProLiteracy represents community-based volunteer and adult basic education affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. ProLiteracy supports them with technical assistance, tutoring materials, programs and professional development services. ProLiteracy serves as an advocate for issues related to adult literacy and lifelong learning.
“The Executive Committee looks forward to working closely with new ProLiteracy president and CEO Kevin Morgan, our talented staff, and the dedicated managers and volunteers across the country to raise awareness and address the literacy crisis we face in the United States,” says Ward. “An estimated 36 million people over the age of 16 are currently reading no better than the average elementary school child. Without literacy skills—the ability to read, write and do simple math to solve problems—today’s adults will struggle in reaching their potential as parents, employees, and fully-participating community members in this digital economy.”
The following provides biographical information for ProLiteracy’s Executive Committee. Additional information is available by visiting the ProLiteracy website. For more information, please contact Amy Schmitz, director of marketing and communications, at aschmitz(at)proliteracy(dot)org or (315) 214-2580.
CHAIR—John H. Ward is a senior corporate executive with extensive experience leading business services and logistics companies to improved results. John’s career has been distinguished by a consistent track record of delivering financial growth, building profitable businesses, driving operational turnarounds, leading organizational change and developing high performance executive teams. As Vice President, and General Manager at RR Donnelley Logistics, his responsibilities included international distribution, domestic mailing services, and completion of two acquisitions. In three years he grew revenues from $60mm to over $450mm. Prior to joining RR Donnelley; he was president of Pitney Bowes Global Mail Services Group, operating a global distribution network of 40 processing centers with 4,200 employees. Before joining Pitney Bowes, he had a successful career at the U.S. Postal Service where he held senior officer positions such as vice president marketing, vice president of pricing and business development, and vice president finance and controller. He has also served as a Board of Governor for MIT’s Sloan School of Management. He holds a master's of science degree in management from MIT and bachelor's and MBA degrees from Pace University.
VICE CHAIR—Nikki Zollar is president and CEO of Triad Consulting Services. Previously, she was senior vice president and general counsel at Gemini Electronics. Her prior work experience also includes acting as director with the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and chairperson with the Chicago Board of Elections. Nikki sits on the boards of the Black Women’s Exposition, the Black Women Lawyers Association, and the Illinois Literacy Foundation, where she is also board vice president. She formerly sat on the board of the American Heart Association. She is the recipient of the Boys and Girls Club of America’s Martin Luther King Legacy Award for dedicated leadership, the Chicago Urban Professionals’ Outstanding Young Professional Award, and one of the Revlon Corporation/Kizzy Scholarship Fund’s Kizzy Awards for America’s Highest Black Women Achievers. Dollars and Sense magazine chose her as one of 100 Outstanding Black Business and Professional Women in the United States. Nikki holds a bachelor’s degree from The John Hopkins University and a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.
SECRETARY—Seetha Srinivasan is director emerita, former associate director, and former editor-in-chief of the University Press of Mississippi. From 2003 to 2004, she was president of the Association of American University Presses. She was an external reviewer for the Indiana Historical Society Press, the University of Tennessee Press, and the Texas Christian University Press. She is a current member of the board of directors of the Women’s Fund of Mississippi and a former member of the board of trustees of Leadership Jackson. In 2002, Seetha received the Association of American Presses (AAUP) Constituency Award for Outstanding Service to the University Press Community. In 1998, she received the Jim Livesay Service Award from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Seetha holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Poona in India, a master’s degree from Mills College, and a master’s degree from the University of Florida.
TREASURER—Tom Fiscoe is managing partner and CPA at Dannible & McKee. He is a board member and past treasurer of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Central New York, and he is the treasurer and a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of Huntington Family Centers. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the NYS Society of Certified Public Accountants. Tom also served as treasurer and a board member of Literacy Volunteers of America. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from LeMoyne College.