Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) is pleased to announce that Jennifer VanSkiver has joined its leadership team in a newly created position, Chief Officer of Strategic Growth.
A strategic communicator and community development veteran, VanSkiver has three decades of experience in corporate communications, community relations, fund development and has held executive leadership roles in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She, and her daughter, who is a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, most recently served on the “Building Tomorrow’s Champions” $10M Capital Campaign Cabinet to fund the West Michigan-based Unified Sports & Inclusion Center facility – the first and only of its kind in the world.
“As SOMI looks to continue to expand the Inclusion Revolution, we are thrilled to have Jen join us at exactly the right time, bringing her considerable network, personal passion, and professional expertise. Hers is a rare combination of business development attributes well-suited to secure SOMI’s reputation as a premier cause-related partner, as well as a premier expert and resource for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Movement,” said Tim Hileman, SOMI President & CEO.
The Strategic Growth role will lead fund development efforts focusing on creating new partnership channels, optimizing the Unified Sports & Inclusion Center’s economic impact on the community, and helping articulate the long-term vision of SOMI.
“SOMI came into our lives a long time ago. Like many parents of a special needs child, we desperately sought opportunities for our daughter to find her place in the community,” said VanSkiver. “In her eight years with SOMI, she has done more than was ever thought possible. She’s become a bona fide community leader, personally demonstrating the social and economic impact of inclusion. It’s not just inspiring, it’s good business. My role is to align this important work with corporate partners seeking measurable inclusion strategies. There are tens of thousands of success stories just like hers, waiting to be celebrated.”