Long-time CEO Retires from Lighthouse of Pinellas

Largo, FL – The Board of Directors at Lighthouse of Pinellas (LHP) announced the retirement of Dan Mann after leading the organization as President and CEO for over 15 years. With a successful 61-year history, solid organizational stability and the strength of the Lighthouse staff and board leadership, Mann said he felt the timing was right to entrust the agency to the next generation.

“Dan has been instrumental in shaping the Lighthouse of Pinellas into the vital program it is today,” said Dennis Holthaus, Chairman of the Lighthouse of Pinellas, Inc. Board of Directors. Under Mann’s leadership, Lighthouse of Pinellas has earned a tremendous reputation in the community as well as around the State. The early 2000s came with new challenges for the non-profit, and a need for stability. Mann brought strong leadership and a clear vision for what the Lighthouse could accomplish. He reorganized the agency’s structure, hired knowledgeable and experienced staff and executed a strategic plan to take the agency to the next level.

In more recent years, Mann led the agency through one of the most challenging economic times in American history. And today, Holthaus said, Lighthouse of Pinellas is stronger than ever. While Mann has numerous accomplishments, his lasting legacy with the Lighthouse is undoubtedly his intense passion for the training and care LHP staff provides every day. He has made it his personal mission to go out into the community and share the agency’s story so more people will access programs and services.

“According to the National Eye Institute, one in three Americans over age 65 will be faced with a vision-impairing eye disease,” Holthaus said. “Although this is a staggering statistic, I believe Lighthouse of Pinellas is poised to meet this need with our new CEO. It is my great pleasure to announce the Board has selected LHP’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kimberly Church as our CEO.”

Church graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Master’s in Business Administration. She is a Certified Public Account, started her career with KPMG in Portland, Maine, and worked in public accounting for 20 years before transitioning to non-profit management. “The Lighthouse Board has worked with Kim for the past two years and is confident in her ability to lead us through the challenges of the future,” said Holthaus.

Beginning June 1^st, Church assumed the title of Chief Executive Officer and Mann is President Emeritus through December 31, 2017.

Lighthouse of Pinellas is a non-profit organization that advances the independence and quality of life for individuals in Pinellas County who are blind or visually impaired. The Largo-based agency is the only private, not-for-profit providing comprehensive vision rehabilitation services to people of all ages under one roof. For information, visit the agency’s website at www.lhpfl.org.