LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–At this time, CEO and Cofounder, Jake Wooden introduced that he can be stepping as much as the function of Government Chairman of the Board of Administrators of Group Rubicon on July 1, 2021. Wooden additionally proudly introduced that Artwork delaCruz, President and Chief Working Officer, can be promoted to the function of Chief Government Officer at the moment.
As Government Chairman of the Board, Wooden will preserve a concentrate on the longer-term imaginative and prescient and sustainability of the group he cofounded over a decade in the past. Regardless of 2020 being probably the most difficult yr in Group Rubicon’s historical past, Wooden led the group to the best income yr since inception and it being named one of many Nonprofit Instances’ Finest Locations to Work in 2021 for the fifth time. Understanding the well being and tradition of the group is the strongest it has ever been, led to Wooden’s resolution to go the torch. Entering into this subsequent function, Wooden will proceed to construct on the muse he helped lay at Group Rubicon from its humble beginnings, which started as a workforce of eight volunteers in Haiti to a corporation of greater than 140,000 volunteers and 180 help employees throughout the nation.
“I’m extremely happy with what we have now achieved in these 11 years. Within the midst of a worldwide pandemic and the worst financial downturn of the century, the group was capable of serve 9.7 million individuals throughout over 350 operations in a single yr. Group Rubicon couldn’t be higher positioned for the long run and as we transfer out of the pandemic and into our subsequent part of development, it’s the proper time for me to tackle the function of Government Chairman and for Artwork to guide the group into its subsequent decade. Within the coming months I stay up for finalizing and asserting what my subsequent chapter can be,” stated Wooden.
Wooden continues, “Artwork is a rare chief and an individual of unimpeachable integrity. In his 5 years at Group Rubicon he has constructed a monitor document of success, which reinforces my confidence in his means to proceed to maneuver the group ahead. As Government Chairman, I’m excited to help Artwork’s imaginative and prescient for the long run.”
A extremely embellished, retired United States Navy commander and former TOPGUN Teacher, delaCruz joined Group Rubicon 5 years in the past as COO and President to assist Wooden construct an government workforce and with the intentional plan to transition him into the function of CEO. Over the past 5 years, Wooden and delaCruz have labored in lockstep to take the group past catastrophe response to now embody catastrophe preparedness, reduction and restoration.
Within the final yr, they’ve once more redefined the way forward for catastrophe response because the group expanded to tackle wants led to by the COVID-19 pandemic. Collectively, they led the group into 300 communities throughout the nation, increasing into feeding and testing operations, and assembly group wants as quick as they may. Below Jake and Artwork’s management Group Rubicon has been rewriting its future by weaving itself into the material of communities and constructing their resilience.
“For me, taking over the function of CEO and the chance to guide Group Rubicon into this subsequent decade presents one of the best of all worlds,” stated Artwork delaCruz, COO. “I nonetheless get to work carefully with Jake as he continues his function because the Government Chairman, whereas I as soon as once more get to guide and scale a corporation with the help and experience of a best-in-class management bench.”
Over the course of Artwork’s tenure with Group Rubicon, he has been a key architect of the group’s strategic development and a visionary who kickstarted the work behind Group Rubicon’s 300 Resilient Cities, house rebuilds and DEI packages. Most just lately, Artwork orchestrated the Veterans Coalition for Vaccination, taking it from idea to execution in three brief months, to deliver main veterans’ organizations collectively to make sure the nationwide equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. These strategic alliances have helped to speed up the group’s effort to get America vaccinated and symbolize a first-of-its-kind collaboration amongst veterans’ teams
“Over the previous 11 years, Jake has carved a historic path for Group Rubicon, and he has helped change numerous lives for the higher alongside the best way. He has been tirelessly dedicated to Greyshirts out within the area and to maximizing affect within the communities we serve. I’m thrilled Jake will proceed to shepherd his imaginative and prescient as Government Chair. With Artwork taking the helm, I’m assured that we are going to proceed to construct Group Rubicon’s legacy and develop much more capability to successfully reply to disasters throughout the nation and all over the world,” stated Group Rubicon’s Chairman Adam Miller, who will stay on the board following Wooden’s transition.
Help from our companions consists of:
“Below Jake Wooden’s management, Group Rubicon has constantly confirmed itself to be a corporation that thinks in a different way and isn’t afraid to innovate because the catastrophe panorama adjustments. For this reason we’re proud to be considered one of Group Rubicon’s longest working companions,” says Heather Prill, Senior Supervisor of Packages and Strategic Partnerships, The Dwelling Depot Basis. “At The Dwelling Depot, we imagine in ‘doing the proper factor’, and with Artwork delaCruz moving into the function, we stay up for persevering with to drive this affect throughout the nation.”
“One of the best factor about Jake’s transfer to Government Chairman is that his dedication to Group Rubicon doesn’t finish together with his time as CEO. It’s a testomony to the core values of the group that Jake constructed a succession plan and labored with Artwork to arrange him for this new function,” says Matt Kress, Starbucks Neighborhood Affect Group. “True management is the partnership that Jake and Artwork have and the respect they’ve for the mission, the volunteers and the communities they serve. We stay up for the continued partnership below Artwork’s management.”
“Mtn Dew is proud to gasoline the mission of Group Rubicon. Our collective model values clearly align and far of that stems from the tradition Jake has fostered since founding TR,” says Nicole Portwood, Vice President of Advertising and marketing, Mtn Dew. “Mtn Dew is worked up by Artwork taking the helm and for the great affect TR could have on catastrophe affected communities within the a long time to return.”
“When Jake Wooden first approached Farmers Insurance coverage about an funding, Group Rubicon was nonetheless a brand new group and we had been nonetheless rising our Company Social Accountability efforts,” says Jeff Dailey, CEO, Farmers Insurance coverage. “We took an opportunity on one another and I’m so happy with the work we have now carried out collectively since. Now we have been capable of actively take part in serving to deliver to life Jake’s imaginative and prescient for the group and are excited to proceed to see this imaginative and prescient develop and develop with Artwork on the helm.”
“Jake is a visionary who noticed the worth of highly-skilled veterans and the affect they may make in their very own hometowns and constructed a complete group round them. Via his entrepreneurial spirit, we have now had the privilege of watching the group scale and supporting Group Rubicon’s development,” says Tony Ambroza, Carhartt’s Chief Model Officer. “It is the tenacious drive that units Group Rubicon aside and empowers them at each alternative to affect marginalized communities within the wake of catastrophe. We’re excited to proceed to see our partnership develop as we outfit increasingly more of their Greyshirts in Carhartt.”
“Jake has been a relentless supply of encouragement, optimism, and help since inception,” says Bryan Riddell, CEO of Group Rubicon’s affiliate, Group Rubicon Canada. “His management and stewardship of Group Rubicon has set the usual for catastrophe response efforts. We’re thrilled to proceed our collaboration with Artwork on the helm of Group Rubicon, and we all know the long run is brilliant for the communities we serve.”
Meet Artwork delaCruz:
Artwork is a proud veteran that served for 22 years as a Naval Officer after graduating from the US Naval Academy. He commanded a Navy strike-fighter squadron, served as a TOPGUN teacher, and made six deployments. Different notable excursions included choice as a Secretary of Protection Company Fellow (served at McKinsey & Co), and as a technique lead on the US Particular Operations Command. He maintains a honed “fast response” functionality by making an attempt to maintain up together with his veteran spouse, 4 children, Labrador retriever, and Labrador retriever pet.
About Group Rubicon:
Group Rubicon serves communities by mobilizing veterans to proceed their service by leveraging their expertise and expertise to assist individuals put together, reply, and get well from disasters and humanitarian crises. Based following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the group has grown to over 140,000 volunteers throughout the US and has launched over 800 operations each domestically and internationally. Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Group Rubicon has not solely pivoted to have the ability to proceed to ship catastrophe response and rebuild providers in core mission areas however has additionally expanded their scope of missions to fulfill group wants led to by COVID. Go to www.teamrubiconusa.org for extra info.
