Ann Paton, vice president of Institutional Advancement at Barry University, has been selected to join the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Six Pillars Caucus System. As part of the Caucus, Paton will join other leaders from across the state in helping to craft the first-ever, statewide strategic plan. In her role, Paton will serve as a volunteer on the Talent Supply and Education Caucus.
The Six Pillars Caucus System is a qualitative research program aimed to engage the best and brightest minds in the state to develop a plan for Florida’s future economy that includes high wage jobs, global competitiveness and vibrant communities by the year 2030. The program launched last year and current members have already begun to construct the foundation for the plan. In this second year, Caucus members’ deliberations will become more focused in order to finalize the first draft.
The Six Pillars is a product of years of collaboration and more than $1 million in research by the foundation that identifies the critical factors that determine Florida’s future: Talent Supply and Education; Innovation and Economic Development; Infrastructure and Growth Leadership; Business Climate and Competitiveness; Civic and Governance Systems; and Quality of Life and Quality Places.
“I am honored to have been chosen to participate on the Talent Supply and Education Caucus,” said Paton. “As an institutional leader in private higher education with more than 20 years of experience, I look forward to contributing creatively and collaboratively in shaping solutions for the workforce and education challenges Florida will face in the next 20 years.”
Paton’s proven leadership ability and plethora of experience in higher education and fundraising made her an ideal candidate for the Caucus. Prior to joining Barry’s executive team in 2005, she spearheaded the advancement effort and directed the Foundation at Florida Atlantic University, as well as development leadership positions at Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Prior to arriving in Florida, Paton served as executive dean for Advancement for Brown Medical School, completing a $70 million dollar fundraising campaign for clinical professorships, research support and facilities enhancement.
Paton is a member of the Barry-Tel Board that oversees the operation of WXEL Public Radio and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce, with a focus on forging new synergies between the University and the village of Miami Shores.
New members of the Six Pillars Caucus were selected through a competitive process. With the development of the strategic plan becoming more focused in 2011, Paton and other volunteers were chosen with specific proficiencies that complement the collective expertise of the current members. A complete list of the Six Pillars Caucus members is available at www.FLFoundation.org/Caucus.
“The Foundation looks forward to working alongside these thought leaders to refine goals, strategies and tactics that will lead to the state’s first-ever strategic plan for prosperity,” said Dale A. Brill, president of the Florida Chamber Foundation.
Others interested in getting involved in the discussion are encouraged to join the Six Pillars Collaborative website by emailing FloridaSixPillars@FloridaFoundation.org for an invitation to the site. It is designed to foster discussions surrounding the Six Pillars and will help formulate the recommendations for the strategic plan.