I am excited to announce that after a comprehensive and methodical executive search process, we have selected Mary Jo Cook as our next President and C.E.O. We are grateful for the wonderful legacy that Beth Sirull leaves behind which includes nearly 4,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses that have created and maintained 25,000 jobs for the residents of lower income communities. I’m confident that under Mary Jo’s leadership this tradition of accomplishment will continue.
Mary Jo is passionate about using business as a force for good. She has over twenty-five years of leadership experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Most recently, Mary Jo was Chief Impact Officer at Fair Trade USA, where she led the organization in engaging farmers, businesses, and consumers to create more sustainable global supply chains and improve the lives of farming communities. Prior to Fair Trade, Mary Jo was a Vice President at the Clorox Company, where she held senior management roles in innovation, sustainability, strategy, and marketing.
Under Beth’s leadership, PCV has launched our small business loan fund, a unique debt fund that successfully adapts the venture capital model—providing capital alongside ongoing, customized expertise—to create jobs and economic opportunity in low-income communities. We’ve launched BusinessAdvising.org to scale our successful business advising program nationally. At the same time, our thought leadership work in impact investing has been welcomed at the state house, the White House, and even internationally, at the G8 Summit. Through this work, PCV has had an outsized impact on public policy and investor education which drives more capital and resources to our neediest communities.
Thanks to the entire PCV team — and to supporters like you — Pacific Community Ventures’ impact has grown steadily and the organization is poised to scale both nationally and internationally. We are at an exciting inflection point with an effective and proven platform now in place on which the organization can build exponentially. We’ve brought on Mary Jo Cook to lead us in this next exciting phase.
Please join me in thanking Beth for her tremendous years of service and in welcoming Mary Jo to our organization. Mary Jo and Beth will work together to ensure a smooth transition for our dedicated team and a seamless shift for our small business owners, advisors, funders, clients and other stakeholders. Beginning September 14th, you can reach Mary Jo at mjcook@pcvmail.org.
Together we are creating good jobs and changing lives in low income communities. Thank you for your continued support.
Ralph Clark
Board Chair, Pacific Community Ventures