Staffing Update – Fall 2014

I am pleased to share this update about the Barr team.

In my last message about staffing, I noted that, in order to serve our many external partners more effectively, Barr would restructure to have a dedicated program assistant in each of our core program areas. Toward this end, in October, we welcomed Mavourneen ("Vourn") Fay to Barr as program assistant for the Climate team. A graduate of Gettysburg College, Vourn joins Barr from the law firm of Scafidi, Juliano, and Hurd, where she supported three of the firm's senior partners. At this time, we also have a search underway for a new program assistant in Arts & Culture.

In addition, as part of our efforts to more fully leverage communications to advance Barr's mission, amplify the work of our partners, and increase our impact, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Chalifour as communications project manager. In this role, Mary will drive the Foundation's emerging digital media strategy and expand the communications capacity for Barr's program teams, as well as select grantees and initiatives. Mary most recently served as senior communications analyst at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and will join us in mid-December.

I am also delighted to announce the promotion of Jaime Lopez to office manager. Nearly anyone who has visited Barr since Jaime joined us in 2008 has been warmly received by our kind, gracious, and eminently professional receptionist and office assistant, who has been the organizing force behind the scenes of so many of Barr's day-to-day operations, meetings, and events. In his new role, Jaime will continue to receive our guests at the front desk but will also work more closely with the Operations team on a variety of special projects.

We also have a search still underway for a new Director of Education, and as we continue to fill these vacancies I look forward to sharing updates with you. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating Jaime and welcoming Vourn and Mary to the Barr team. I appreciate your continuing interest in the work of the Barr Foundation.