Guadalupe Center has welcomed three additional leaders to its 2021 Board of Trustees, a governing body whose members serve as advocates and ambassadors for students and families in Immokalee.
Newly appointed trustees include Debbie Toler, Eric Wallach and John Paro, who join 20 other individuals who help set policies and direction for the nonprofit organization. Guadalupe Center’s mission is breaking the cycle of poverty through education for the children of Immokalee. Trustees and Guadalupe Center staff oversee the nationally accredited Early Childhood Education Program, After-school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program and the college preparatory Tutor Corps Program.
“Our Board of Trustees helps guide the organization, and we’re excited to welcome these three incredibly talented individuals to our leadership team,” said Dawn Montecalvo, president of Guadalupe Center. “Each of them shares our vision and believes in our mission, and their passion and expertise will be critical as Guadalupe Center continues to create endless possibilities for students in Immokalee.”
Toler is a community leader with a passion for helping nonprofits, particularly those focused on education and youth, and spent her professional career in corporate marketing and communications. She serves on the statewide Board of Trustees for Pace Center for Girls and was vice president of marketing for SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. Toler earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and communications from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
Wallach is a retired partner with DLA Piper, a global business law firm. He previously chaired Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman’s employment practices and litigation practice. Wallach is an honorary trustee with the New-York Historical Society and a former trustee of Christina Seix Academy. Wallach, a mentor in Guadalupe Center’s Tutor Corps Program, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.
Paro is chairman and CEO of Hallstar, a specialty chemical company serving the industrial, beauty and personal care sectors. He’s worked for the company since 1986 and previously worked in marketing and sales for FMC Corporation. Paro earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Bucknell University and a Master of Business Administration in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago.
In addition to the three appointments, Guadalupe Center also announced executive leadership positions for 2021 that includes Joe Baughman (chair), Fred Hagemann (vice chair), Dr. Carl Ehmann (treasurer) and William Dempsey (secretary).
About Guadalupe Center
Guadalupe Center is a purpose-driven, nonprofit organization with proven results in creating endless possibilities for the students of Immokalee through education and fostering personal and academic success that leads to economic independence. With a focus on breaking the cycle of poverty through education, Guadalupe Center is proud of the children’s accomplishments: 95% meet or exceed kindergarten readiness measures, 100% of Tutor Corps high school seniors graduate high school and are accepted into college, and more than 94% graduate with a post-secondary degree.
