Lake County Community Foundation names executive director
The Lake County Community Foundation has named Jon H. Teeuwissen as its new executive director.
Teeuwissen joins the foundation with expansive leadership and management experience, and a strong commitment to the Lake County community. During his 35-plus years in the nonprofit sector, he has held senior management positions with such prestigious organizations as American Ballet Theatre (New York) and the Dance Theater of Harlem.
He is widely credited for three financial turnarounds: the New Orleans Ballet Association, Chicago's Joffrey Ballet, and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. A significant piece of his strategy for success has been a commitment to community engagement and the creation of task forces to engage and empower specific demographics.
As executive director of the New Orleans Ballet Association, Teeuwissen launched a partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Department that offers free dance training to inner-city youth. As executive director of The Joffrey from 2001-08, Teeuwissen significantly expanded education outreach efforts and after-school programs.
Most recently, as president and CEO of the California Center for the Arts (North San Diego County), he created new partnerships and collaborations with a particular focus on community involvement and outreach to the local Hispanic population.
"Jon has a proven track record of adapting and enhancing programs to meet the needs of diverse communities, and we look forward to his leadership in Lake County," said Anne W. Reusché, chair of The Lake County Community Foundation Board.
"His history of moving organizations from good to great truly makes him the leader who meets the foundation's aspirations for the future."
Teeuwissen said he looks forward to connecting with the Foundation's many grant recipients, donors and partners, and collaborating to make the region stronger.
"Lake County is where I live - it's my community, where I'm invested," he said.
Since its founding in 2003, The Lake County Community Foundation, an affiliate of The Chicago Community Trust, has contributed more than $2.5 million to 80 nonprofit organizations that support basic human needs, community development, education and health throughout the county.
Teeuwissen will provide critical oversight and strategy as the Foundation addresses its top priority to build its asset base for accelerated grant making.
Teeuwissen, a resident of Highland Park, received both a Master of Science in Management and a Certificate in Public Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and his Board of Regent's degree from West Virginia State University. His civic engagements include serving on the Vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church in Highland Park.