Michael Mikurak has been the interim CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County since June. With over 30 years of experience in business, he has focused on creating future-thinking strategies for the organization.\u00a0<\/p>\n
JWB, which was established by a special act of the Florida legislature in 1945, develops and invests in programs and initiatives that support local children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mikurak was first appointed to JWB\u2019s board in 2013. He held several positions including Board Chair, Vice Chair and Finance Committee Chair before his term expired in April.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cComing into the role with the background and knowledge I had from a board member\u2019s perspective, I was able to take that and really begin to move forward quickly in identifying areas of change and where we can enhance the value and benefit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Mikurak, the job is a passion project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Growing up in Trenton, New Jersey in a poor but loving family, he saw firsthand the impact of community. \u201cWhat was really valuable about my upbringing was the communication, collaboration and the belonging that neighbors had.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Support from family and friends allowed Mikurak to pursue a business career and he eventually became an international consulting partner at Accenture plc.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what makes JWB so important. Because we have the opportunity to really help kids become who they want to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mikurak views the organization as a \u201cretail company\u201d with customers. Those clients are the children as well as the providers and nonprofit agencies JWB supports.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn essence, we have to be flexible and understand the issues that are going on within the community, the families and the children themselves,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe have to prepare to develop programs that are supportive to create this neighborhood thought and environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Serving children throughout their adolescence is key, Mikurak said. When organizations come together to educate the young population about career fields, this can have a lasting impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For example, Mikurak argued that giving middle school students skill training in technical industries such as plumbing can ensure job security.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This should be a team effort between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, Mikurak continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy vision is to weave them together to create an environment where we can actually work closely with everyone in the community to drive economic development and high-quality lifestyles,\u201d he explained. \u201cJWB can\u2019t be the funder of everything, but we could be the integrator and thought leader.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mikurak believes JWB can also be a test ground for programs. To exemplify, he spoke about the organization\u2019s Turbo Babies initiative, which focuses on learners between the ages of zero and three.\u00a0<\/p>\n