May 23, 2013

Profile

Virginia A. Jacko, CEO of Miami Lighthouse

She is one of the nation's few blind CEOs.

Rochelle Broder-Singer | 6/7/2011

Virginia A. Jacko with guide dog Gibney

The 80-year-old Miami Lighthouse, which serves the vision-impaired with vocational training and health services, boasts one of the United States' few blind CEOs. Virginia A. Jacko first became involved with the non-profit as a client in 2001, when she sought vocational training there as she lost her eyesight to retinitis pigmentosa. Four years later, she became the organization's CEO and since then has put to use the skills honed during more than two decades as a senior financial executive at Purdue University. Revenue has more than doubled during the past four years, reaching $6.2 million in 2009, up from $3.2 million in 2005. The non-profit has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.

Tags: Miami-Dade

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