Social Services

Isaiah Oliver, the president of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, admits he didn’t envision the career he has now when he was in high school and college.

“I didn’t know what philanthropy was when I was in high school and college, but opportunities aligned for it to happen,” Oliver said.

Oliver joined The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida as President in July 2023. Prior to coming to Northeast Florida, he served in a similar position as the President and CEO of The Community Foundation of Greater Flint (Michigan) for nine years.

Both foundations have a mission of stimulating philanthropy to build a better community. The Jacksonville foundation serves Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker, Clay and Putnam counties through a range of charitable and civic activities, while helping individual donors achieve their philanthropic goals. Oliver oversees investments, budgets, grant-making and fundraising. He serves as a bridge, fostering partnerships between individuals and community organizations.

“I lead our organization by engaging people in philanthropy through their time, talent, treasure, and ties, to leverage making the community a better place,” Oliver said.

A Michigan native, Oliver graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and a minor in art history. As a student, he discovered his talent for simplifying and communicating complex messages. Oliver dreamed of working for an advertising agency or a newspaper, but after graduation couldn’t find a job in those fields. He began his professional career in education, and spent 10 years as an associate administrator at Mott Community College in Flint.

“I used those same skills to make it easy for others to understand complex issues and be the best I could be in my role,” Oliver said.

He gained many new skills while working in education including serving as an instructor and grant writing for workforce-related programs. Oliver joined the Community Foundation of Greater Flint as vice president of community impact and was named president and CEO in 2014. He played a pivotal role leading his community through a public health crisis involving contaminated drinking water. During his time at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Oliver gained greater understanding of the management of philanthropy and how connections and opportunities converge to move forward innovation. Community leadership and partnerships continue to be a key focus of his current position in Jacksonville.

For those interested in pursuing a career in philanthropy, relationship building and emotional intelligence are essential skills. Hiring managers seek out the individuals they want to work with daily. “Know who you are and what you bring to the table,” Oliver said. “Your ability to relate is going to be the differentiator.”

As a college student, Oliver’s sociology and art history classes offered insight and exploration of meeting people’s needs and resolving challenges. “They provide an amazing opportunity to think about how things were done and uniquely positions you to do this work,” Oliver said.

Diversifying interests and experiences offer many benefits to an individual’s career path. “Be open to life’s journey and be thoughtful where you invest your time,” Oliver said.

Dr. Natalya Bannister Roby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Episcopal Children’s Services, initially thought she wanted to pursue a career as an attorney. However, a life-changing experience changed her pathway.

While serving as a student volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club of North Central Florida, Roby was talking with a six-year-old in the program. When Roby shared she was a University of Florida student, the young girl did not believe her and asked Roby to prove it. “I didn’t think brown people went to college,” the girl said.

“It broke me when she said that,” said Roby. “UF was located just a mile away and she thought it was out of her reach. It made me realize that I wanted to be an advocate, fight for single parents and children in poverty, and impact children and the ecosystem.”

Roby joined Episcopal Children’s Services in January 2024. One of the largest youth services nonprofits in Florida, ECS helps nearly 30,000 underserved children in 14 counties in northeast and central Florida. The program offers holistic family services and builds a strong foundation for educational success. In her role, Roby leads ECS’ strategic vision and day-to-day operations, collaborating with the ECS team to craft innovative strategies to break generational cycles.

“By exposing kids to a safe, loving environment, and giving parents the tools they need, we are setting them up for success,” Roby said. “This approach can change the landscape of our community.”

Prior to joining ECS, Roby led center operations in Florida for Pace Center for Girls’ national office. She previously served as executive director of Pace Center for Girls Alachua. She began her career at the Boys & Girls Club where she interned. Roby appreciates the power of internships and volunteering to support career development, as well as the importance of mentors and mentoring, especially for women.

“I’m grateful for the mentors I’ve had,” Roby said. “I love to share my experiences with others.”

During her career, Roby has experienced numerous success stories including one that has gone full circle. The young girl at the Boys & Girls Club followed Roby to Pace and went on to college. Now a single mom, she has requested ECS services for her son.

“She wants him to have a better life with opportunities to thrive,” Roby said.

A first-generation American, Roby grew up attending private school in New York. When her parents divorced, she moved to Orlando with her mother and experienced poverty.
“I never lose sight of these experiences,” Roby said. “I understand the population I serve and the challenges they face.”

Roby earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida, and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. Her dissertation explored “Triumph over Trauma.”

“With persistence and resilience, many people have used their trauma as a catalyst for success,” Roby said.

Roby is known for her leadership philosophy, as shared in her TedxUF talk, which emphasizes “The Power of Leading with Love.” She believes her mission is to spread love through her work by ‘showing up’ for the children, families and staff she serves. As a leader, Roby is committed to fostering positive, inclusive and compassionate work environments and relationships.

“I believe it’s important to do something that’s meaningful to you,” Roby said. “It’s about taking care of people and making sure they feel valued.”

Leading with passion and purpose defines Tanya Ramos-Puig’s career pathway

Tanya Ramos-Puig is a purpose-driven leader. She is grateful for the educational and career support she received as a youth and young adult. The impact those experiences had on her life motivated her to pursue a leadership career as a social impact executive in the nonprofit sector.

“My experiences were transformational and led me to pursue opportunities that would enable me to leave the world better than I found it,” said Ramos-Puig. “It was important to me to live a life of purpose. I wanted to make a difference in the lives others.”

Ramos-Puig is Chief Executive Officer of The Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF), a Jacksonville nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Ed Burr in honor of his late wife. The foundation develops and delivers MBF Prevention Education Programs, which educate and empower youth, equipping them with strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to various challenges such as bullying, online dangers, child abuse, and exploitation/trafficking.

Ramos-Puig leads the foundation’s day-to-day operations, working alongside the MBF team, the board, and supporters to optimize the foundation’s growth and sustainability while fulfilling the foundation’s mission of protecting children. MBF has served close to 16 million youth in Florida, across the nation and around the globe through MBF Prevention Education Programs. Yet, there are many more to reach.

“It takes a group of passionate and committed individuals to fuel our work,” Ramos-Puig said. “The work we are doing is transformational and helps save lives.”

Prior to joining MBF in 2022, Ramos-Puig spent nearly 30 years working for nonprofits to improving educational opportunities and life outcomes for youth in under-resourced communities. She served as President at The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Latin Recording Academy®. As head of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, Ramos-Puig provided educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community.

“Working in the nonprofit sector has provided me with a way to invest in and support the growth, development and success of future leaders. I have learned the biggest equalizer is access to a quality education,” Ramos-Puig said.

During her career, Ramos-Puig has held numerous leadership roles – including CEO at Pencils of Promise, CRO at Education Pioneers and The Children's Aid Society. She is an alumna of Coro New York Leadership Center and INROADS and has served as an Adjunct Professor at LaGuardia Community College in New York City. Ramos-Puig believes networking and mentorship contributes to career success.

“Every job and opportunity that I have secured over the course of my career is a result of leveraging my network,” Ramos-Puig said. “I am grateful that my mentors invested in me, opened doors of opportunity for me and raised my name in rooms that I had yet to walk into.”

A life-long learner, Ramos-Puig credits her parents, who didn’t attend college, for making the sacrifices to ensure that their children did. She earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University, a master’s degree from The New School, where she received a Jacob Kaplan Fellowship, and graduated from the Executive-Level Program at the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University’s Institute for Not-for-Profit Management.

“I believe access to a quality education enabled me to thrive both personally and professionally,” Ramos-Puig said.

For those interested in pursuing a nonprofit leadership career, Ramos-Puig believes it is vital to lead with integrity, humility and gratitude. She encourages everyone to embrace technology, develop strong communication, marketing and leadership skills. Most importantly, pursue opportunities that light you up and make you feel complete. For Ramos-Puig, her true north revolves around educational equity and a commitment to opening pathways to more opportunities.

“I don’t want to be remembered for my accomplishments as so many contributed to who I am today. I believe true success is empowering others to achieve their full potential. I just want to pay it forward,” Ramos-Puig said.