(June 3, 2021 – New York, NY) – NAF announced today that its CEO, JD Hoye, whose tenure at the helm of the education and workforce development non-profit has been defined by a period of dramatic growth and a deep expansion of its reach and capabilities, will leave that role June 30 and join NAF’s Board of Directors. Lisa Dughi, who has served as President of NAF since 2017, will assume the role of CEO effective July 1.
During Hoye’s 14 years at NAF, the number of students in non-profit’s network of career academies more than doubled. She focused on deepening relationships and increasing resources for NAF’s national network of educators, administrators, and employers, and on raising the quality of NAF’s 600-plus academies. Hoye was instrumental in launching NAF’s Academies of Engineering and Health Sciences and building pipelines to corporate partners who have significantly invested in education and workforce development beginning in high schools.
Hoye previously served in the Clinton Administration as Director of the National School-to-Work office and in multiple leadership roles in local and state government in Oregon.
“My work at NAF really represents the culmination of all that I have loved and believed in for the last 40 years”, Hoye noted. “When I talk to young people now, I am struck by the level of urgency they have to be part of changing the world for the better. I am glad that NAF has been part of the changes that are already taking place, and I believe that it has an especially important role to play now in expanding educational and economic opportunities for all students – especially those in underserved communities. I am hopeful for the future, and I am excited to continue working towards racial and economic justice in my new role.”
NAF’s President, Lisa Dughi, will transition to the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2021. Working closely together with JD, Dughi came to NAF in 2012 and applied her business and consulting background to the nonprofit space, appointed first as a consultant for the organization’s corporate network development work before joining NAF as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, helping to lead NAF’s rebrand in 2015. From there, she became NAF’s Chief Operating Officer, overseeing NAF’s daily operations – including Marketing & Communications, Strategy, Finance, Research & Technology, Human Resources, and Administrative functions. As CEO, she will spearhead the organization’s work implementing its new strategic plan, which will re-envision the world students will step into post-pandemic and beyond – one that will prioritize every type of learner and workforce member.
“Building on the example Lisa has set in her leadership, experiences, relationships, and the organizational trust that she has gained and developed over her more than 8 years at NAF, and previous years of work experience in both for- and non-profit spaces, we are confident this transition will be seamless and supportive of our overall goal of reaching more students and generating better outcomes for them,” said Sandy Weill, NAF Founder and Board Chair.
“We were able to observe firsthand how Lisa performs. She’s the right person to transition into the role of CEO and build on the leadership of JD and the whole NAF organization,” said Ken Chenault, Vice Chairman of NAF’s Board of Directors.
“It is with deep gratitude that I take this next step to lead NAF through what is undoubtedly a critical moment in history. Equity, access, and inclusion in both education and the workforce are at the center of the conversation and NAF is well positioned to play a leadership role in realizing the great potential to pave the way for prosperous futures for our students and communities,” said Dughi.
About NAF
NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure that high school students are college, career, and future ready.
NAF works with high need communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry-specific curricula, work-based learning experiences, and relationships with business professionals, culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems, allowing NAF to become an integral part of a plan for higher achievement at a low cost. NAF academies focus on one of five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. For more information, please visit: https://naf.org/