United Way of Central Indiana Names New Chief Community Impact Officer
Dr. Juan “Kiko” Suarez brings more than 25 years of experience in the private and non-profit sectors
United Way of Central Indiana today announced the appointment of Dr. Juan “Kiko” Suarez as Chief Community Impact Officer effective August 14, 2017. As a member of United Way’s executive team, Suarez will assume responsibility for evolving and executing United Way’s community impact activities in education, financial stability, health and basic needs. A native of Spain and a resident of the central Indiana, Suarez brings a unique blend of international experience in strategic planning and philanthropy, community relations and communications to United Way. From 2009-2016, Suarez served as lead executive for communications and innovation at Lumina Foundation. He also directed the Foundation’s work in social impact investing and evaluation. Prior to 2009, he served as a public affairs and communications executive for NextPhase Wireless and CEMEX. Suarez’s extensive background in corporate communications also includes more than a decade at DuPont, where he rose from the ranks of the information technology team to global online leader. “United Way is pleased to welcome Kiko to our team as we celebrate our 100th anniversary and renew our commitment to make transformational change happen in our community,” said Ann D. Murtlow, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana. “With Kiko’s strong leadership skills, strategic vision and focus on tangible results, I’m confident we will continue to make significant strides toward achieving United Way’s bold community impact goals.” As Chief Community Impact Officer, Suarez will lead a 24-member team and direct United Way’s community impact activities in:
Education, including early childhood education strategies, literacy programs, and the administration of the Indy Preschool Scholarship and On My Way Pre-K programs;
Financial Stability, including the expansion of the Centers for Working Families, a network of 12 sites throughout Marion County where families can access a full range of services to help them achieve long-term financial stability;
Health, including collaborations with JumpIN for Healthy Kids, Behavioral Health Court in Marion County and the Marion County Re-Entry Coalition;
Basic Needs, including the administration of state and federal assistance programs;
Agency Services, including agency certification, evaluation, capacity building and maintenance grant programs, and data integration; and
Great Families 2020, a Social Innovation Fund grant program designed to improve family stability for vulnerable children and their parents living in five Indianapolis neighborhoods.
“As I've gotten to know United Way of Central Indiana, I have been truly inspired by the mission, people and values of the organization,” said Suarez. “I'm thrilled and honored to join an already successful, committed team at the right time to spearhead our community impact strategy.” Suarez earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oviedo (Spain), where he also earned secondary degrees in management of telecommunications and new media. He earned a master's and executive MBA from Oxford International University and Theseus Business School (France), respectively. He holds a doctorate in leadership and change from Antioch University, Ohio. Among his many publications and speeches, Suarez presented “Eight dimensions of wise design that could change everything” at TEDx at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in 2014 (shown below).