A Letter from Groundwork Ohio's President and CEO
Dear Friends,
I recently shared with you the theme of Groundwork Ohio’s work in 2022 and our bold plans to elevate our organization to the next level, all in service to Ohio’s youngest children and those who care for them. Today, I am pleased to share with you some exciting changes coming to the Groundwork team.
First, it is my honor to announce that Lynanne Gutierrez has been promoted to Groundwork’s Chief Operating & Policy Officer. A trusted leader, respected policy expert, and proven strategist, Lynanne will help execute Groundwork's bold vision and oversee the implementation of the organization’s policy agenda and integrate its external affairs to build upon a powerful movement that prioritizes the needs of every young child in the state of Ohio. As Lynanne comes up on five years with the organization, her professional growth has both mirrored and driven the trajectory of the organization and I know she looks forward to being among the senior leadership team to execute Groundwork’s bold plans in the coming years.
I am also thrilled to share that next week, Reem Aly will join us as the Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer. In this new role, Reem will provide organizational leadership and spearhead Groundwork’s data, equity, and accountability efforts to ensure that our policy agenda reflects research and best practices. Reem will also directly oversee the implementation of our unique “centers of excellence”: the Center for Family Voice, the Center for Maternal and Young Child Health, and the Center for Early Learning. Reem brings unique policy, research, and organizational expertise coming from a decade of service to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and will be a critical part of the senior leadership as we elevate our organization’s work and profile.
Finally, I am pleased to share that Kelsey Hopkins is taking on an exciting new role within the organization and will serve as Groundwork’s Prenatal-to-Three Manager, where she will elevate our prenatal-to-3 policy priorities and provide targeted support to our engagement with stakeholders, policy research, and advocacy efforts.
I hope you will join me in congratulating Lynanne and Kelsey and welcoming Reem to Team Groundwork!
These new roles and leadership structure reflect Groundwork’s growing influence among policymakers, trusted thought leadership among stakeholders and community partners, and respected expertise in the early childhood policy and advocacy landscape in the state and across the nation. As we continue to grow our team, expand our capacity, and build our expertise, I am confident that Groundwork’s mission-driven work will not only continue to improve the lives of young children and families in our state, but be transformational to the state child advocacy infrastructure.
I am proud to share the exciting development of our team and organization and do so alongside all our stakeholders and funders who have trusted and invested in our shared vision over the past five years. As Groundwork begins this next chapter, we look forward to elevating the hopes, dreams, and needs of Ohio families and their young children so that every young child can thrive. As always, we value your expertise, advocacy, and support of this shared work.
Warm personal regards,
Shannon Jones President & CEO Groundwork Ohio
