Management Team
Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO
An experienced leader, Virginia Jacko is a blind visionary in a sighted
world. She serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Miami
Lighthouse. In a professional career that includes 24 years at Purdue
University, most as Director of Financial Affairs, Ms. Jacko has shown
acumen in the financial, managerial and fundraising arenas.
After experiencing gradual vision loss, in 2001 Ms. Jacko relocated to
Miami to receive vocational rehabilitation training at Miami Lighthouse.
Following her own successful rehabilitation she became a spokesperson for
Miami Lighthouse, a member of the Board of Directors, treasurer, and
Acting President and CEO before her permanent appointment. Under her
tenure, new programs in music production, ceramics and fitness have been
introduced and contributions have more than doubled. Ms. Jacko nurtured
the largest single-donor gift in the organization’s history, a $1.1
million matching grant from philanthropist Gloria Martin. Over the last
two years the number of client contact hours has increased by 35% percent.
A significant expansion to the facility for the Blind Babies Program,
music production, and fitness was celebrated on May 30th.
Ms. Jacko has been recognized by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind by
receiving its 2005 Apollo Award. In 2006 she was the recipient of the
American Red Cross Sara Hopkins Woodruff Spectrum Award and the Horizon
Award from the Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN) for
her collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System. She was
chosen as the South Florida Business Journal 2007 Business Woman of the
Year in the Non-Profit Leader category and was named as the AXA Advisors
2008 Business Woman of the Year in the Public Service/Non-Profit category.
Most recently she was selected as the 2008 Quiet Storm Achiever Award
recipient in the category of Not-For-Profit at the 2008 Women’s Power
Caucus.
Ms. Jacko is a member of the board of directors for the Florida
Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB), as well as a member of
the Florida Council of the Blind, the Rotary Club of Miami and the Miami
Lions Club. She is a frequent lecturer on ADA law, accessible design for
the disabled, and effective CEO/board partnerships. Ms. Jacko received her
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Loyola University in
Chicago and her Master of Science degree from Purdue University in West
Lafayette, Indiana.
Ed Largaespada, Chief Financial Officer
Ed Largaespada joined Miami Lighthouse in May 2008. He has more than 10
years experience as Chief Financial Officer at Switchboard of Miami and at
Bayview Center. His responsibilities include supervision of all business
operations, budgeting, reporting, and compliance.
A Certified Management Accountant, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree
from Zamorano University, a Master of Business Administration from Incae
Business School and a Master of Economics from Florida International
University.
Dena Willman, Senior Development Officer
Dena Willman joined Miami Lighthouse in July 2008 after working at Family
Resource Center of South Florida, Inc as Director of Development. Prior to
that, she spent seven years raising money for Mount Sinai Medical Center
Foundation, first as Director of Young Presidents and in her last two
years as Director of Founders. At the Lighthouse she is responsible for
all major gift initiatives.
Ms. Willman is past president of the Association of Fundraising
Professionals (AFP) Miami-Dade Chapter and is involved in numerous
networking and philanthropic organizations in South Florida. She received
her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Arizona.
Carol Brady-Simmons, Director of Children’s Programs & Vision Services
Carol Brady-Simmons has been with Miami Lighthouse for more then 18 years
and brings vibrant energy and creativity to the many projects she
undertakes. She has served in many capacities during her tenure at the
Lighthouse, including Chair of Orientation and Mobility, Interim Director
of Adult Services; and now serves as the Director of Children’s Services
and the Low Vision Program.
Ms. Simmons received her Associate of Arts in Elementary Education from
Miami-Dade College, a Bachelor of Science in Visual Disabilities,
Orientation and Mobility, and a Bachelor of Science in Leisure Services
and Studies from Florida State University.
Tatiana Palma, Associate Director of Rehabilitation
Tatiana Palma joined the Lighthouse in 2005. From 1984 to 2005 she was
employed by Miami-Dade Public Schools as a Teacher of the Visually
Impaired. Ms. Palma is responsible for the teenage Transition Program,
Social Group Activities for Adults, and Orientation and Mobility.
Ms. Palma received her Bachelor of Science in Visual Disabilities,
Orientation and Mobility, and TVI, from Florida State University and holds
a Professional Educator’s Certificate for the Visually Impaired (Grades
K-12) from the State of Florida.
Jeff Rabalais, Facilities and Transportation Manager
Jeff Rabalais brings to the Lighthouse academic training in architecture
and extensive experience in facilities management, space planning, project
management, events and food service.
The skills and knowledge he has obtained throughout his career allow him
to manage a broad range of services that span client transportation,
building maintenance, janitorial needs, in-house catering, disaster
preparation and building compliance to maintain a safe, clean, secure
environment for our clients, employees and visitors.
Mr. Rabalais obtained his Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the
University of Louisiana. .
Mabel Lopez, Human Resources Manager
Mabel Lopez joined Miami Lighthouse in January 2007 and brings more than
10 years of experience. Her knowledge of human resources includes employee
relations, recruitment, benefits administration, HRIS, policies and
procedures, and workers’ compensation.
Ms. Lopez received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the
University of Puerto Rico.
Jessica Joseph, Executive Assistant
Jessica Joseph supports the President /CEO and Board of Directors by
coordinating Board and committee meetings, overseeing and directing
correspondence, and maintaining the CEO’s calendar of appointments. She
joined Miami Lighthouse in 2005 and brings her experience as a supervisor
from her previous position at Thyssen Krupp Elevator. Ms. Joseph is a
Notary Public for the State of Florida.
Sharon Caughill-Special Projects Liaison
Sharon Caughill joined the Lighthouse in March, 2007. Her previous
positions include extensive experience as an administrative and executive
assistant. At the Lighthouse she assists the President/CEO with special
projects and with the day-to-day activities of the executive office. Ms.
Caughill received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University, and
holds an Associate of Applied Science degree from the State University of
New York at Alfred.
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