By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— Global Women’s new executive director, Stacy K. Blackmon, started her new position Sept. 15 with a trip to Texas to visit one of the organization’s key donors. Blackmon was selected from a pool of 80 applicants by the board of directors Sept. 11.

“I think that she is a very gifted individual with a variety of experiences that will enhance her ability to serve as the leader that we need,” said Trudy Johnson, associate director of Global Women. “She’s a very dynamic and charismatic person who will relate well to our constituents.”

Blackmon’s leadership role comes at a pivotal time for the Pelham-based organization. Global Women is approaching its 15^th birthday and will begin its annual board meeting the week of Sept. 21.

At the meeting, the board will select the year’s global partners and finalize plans for Global Women’s 15^th anniversary celebration. Johnson said they are also hoping to announce a new partnership in the near future.

As executive director, Blackmon’s major responsibilities will be to develop and nurture donor relationships, to represent the organization domestically and internationally, to liaise with other organizations to present and develop the mission of Global Women, to facilitate strategic planning, supervise staff and oversee the fiscal status of the organization.

Prior to joining Global Women, Stacy served as a national director and organizational strategy project director for World Vision where she helped launch and lead the implementation of a new U.S. organizational strategy.

She also led a national staff, designed strategies, built strategic partnerships and served as a public speaker to raise awareness and millions of dollars for humanitarian issues facing communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Stacy is an accomplished strategist, communicator, partnership builder, and transformational ministry leader dedicated to helping people thrive, especially women and children,” read a Sept. 11 press release.

Blackmon holds a Master of Divinity degree, a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and is currently working on a Master of Public Administration degree.

For more information about Global Women, visit Globalwomengo.org.