LSF Welcomes Three New Members to its Board of Directors
The people behind LSF’s mission extend well beyond our programs and offices across the state. Our Board of Directors plays an important role in guiding where we’re going and ensuring our mission to bring God’s healing, hope and help to people in need in the name of Jesus Christ remains at the heart of our work.
And recently, we added three new voices to the table.
We’re excited to welcome Emma Mazzeo, Dr. Leslie Judd and Chris Card to the LSF Board of Directors. While their backgrounds differ from one another, each has built a career around leadership, service and finding ways to make organizations and communities stronger.
Emma Mazzeo knows a thing or two about helping organizations think differently.
Based in Miami, Emma is an assistant vice president at Blackstone, where she works across the firm’s private equity platform on technology, data and operational initiatives.
Her work touches everything from strategy and product development to process improvement and the use of AI and emerging technology to solve complex business challenges.
Before joining Blackstone, Emma worked in business consulting at Protiviti. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from the University of Delaware Honors College.
For Emma, joining the LSF board is an opportunity to put that experience to work for a mission she believes in. Her perspective will be especially valuable as LSF continues to grow, evolve and look for new ways to better serve communities across Florida.
Dr. Leslie Judd
For Dr. Leslie Judd, supporting young people has been a common thread throughout more than 20 years in education, counseling and leadership.
Leslie serves as principal of Clark Advanced Learning Center, a collegiate charter high school in Stuart. Her work has focused on helping adolescents succeed academically while also recognizing the social, emotional and mental health needs that shape their lives outside the classroom.
That interest has followed her throughout her education as well. Leslie earned degrees in therapeutic recreation, counselor education, school counseling and educational leadership. Her doctoral research at Florida Atlantic University examined the relationship between schooling and behaviors that contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline.
Service is also a big part of Leslie’s life outside of work. She is involved with Martin Arts, Cleveland Clinic Florida Research & Innovation Center, Maltz Jupiter Theatre and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church.
Her faith is deeply connected to that commitment. Leslie chose to be baptized into the Lutheran faith at 16, and throughout her life, she has seen the role faith-based organizations can play when they put their beliefs into action and show up for people who need support.
Chris Card has spent decades working within the same systems many of our LSF teams navigate every day. In fact, he worked directly with LSF as our former chief operating officer.
A longtime leader in Florida’s child welfare system, Chris spent more than two decades as an executive director of a Community-Based Care lead agency and helped lead the transformation of Florida’s child welfare system. He has also served on statewide boards as a gubernatorial appointee.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Oakland University, a master’s degree in social work from Wayne State University and a doctorate in social work from the University of South Florida.
His career and community involvement have earned him recognition as a Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero, and he is also a graduate of Leadership Florida.
Now retired and living in Winter Garden, Chris is continuing a career defined by service through his role on the LSF board. His firsthand knowledge of Florida’s child welfare system and his tenured connection to LSF gives him a unique understanding of both the challenges facing families and the people working every day to support them.
Our Board of Directors represents different industries, professions, communities, religions and parts of Florida. We are proud of that range of experience and the strengths and specialties these three new members will add to our board.
LSF is a large and complex organization, but our purpose is straightforward: helping people build healthier, happier lives. Having board members who understand the communities we serve and truly believe in that purpose helps us continue moving that work forward.
Emma, Leslie and Chris are joining a group of leaders who give their time and experience to LSF because they believe in what our teams are accomplishing across Florida. We’re glad to have them at the table and excited for what they’ll bring to LSF.
Welcome to the board, Emma, Leslie and Chris. Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasures with LSF and the people we serve.
