Where the Road Led Us in 2025 – A Reflection from LSF CEO Mike Carrol
As many of you probably know, there are certain stretches of highway in Florida that I know better than the back of my own hand. From Alligator Alley to the coastal backroads heading towards Tallahassee, to the Chick-fil-A’s I stop at along my routes for breakfast. I spend a lot of time in the car, moving between our programs, visiting teams and answering calls from folks who catch me somewhere between Point A and Point B. Those miles give me a lot of time to think. As another year comes to an end, I’ve found myself reflecting on what 2025 meant for LSF and for the people we serve. Like the roads I so often travel, there have been plenty of unexpected turns and even more opportunities to put our foot on the pedal and push forward.
Early this year, LSF was confronted with false claims about our work from individuals with large platforms. These claims did not reflect who we are or the hard work we do daily. Most importantly, those claims sought to diminish the impact our programs have across Florida.
We chose to remain grounded in the truth and to let our work speak louder than the misinformation. The families we serve deserved nothing less. I believe that how we responded revealed who LSF is at its best: professional, transparent and deeply anchored to the people behind our mission.
This was also a significant year of transition for LSF. After 17 years of leadership, our former CEO, Sam Sipes, retired. Sam guided this organization through tremendous growth and built the strong foundation that supports our work today. I remain grateful for his legacy and for the stability he brought to LSF over nearly two decades of service. Stepping into this role after Sam has been an honor. My aim has been to build on the strength he left us while preparing LSF for the challenges and opportunities on the road ahead.
Despite the challenges of the national landscape and the noise around us, 2025 was an extraordinary year of accomplishment for LSF and we have quite a few achievements I’m proud to highlight. We welcomed Okaloosa Head Start into our network, expanding access to high-quality early learning for families in Northwest Florida and growing our footprint in the Florida Panhandle.
This year also brought the opening of Bridge and Beyond, our Circuit 20 emergency shelter, a place designed to be exactly what its name suggests—a bridge for children who have had to leave their homes and need a safe, steady place to land while the next right step is being worked out. The remodeled boy’s dormitory at Miami Bridge opened and now provides a safe and dignified space for youth who need shelter and a chance to reset. In Leesburg, we celebrated the opening of Together at HOME, a group home designed specifically to keep siblings in foster care together. For me, that project speaks to the heart of what child welfare should be. Figuring out we have gaps in care and meeting those needs head on.
In Jacksonville, the Circle of Hope School opened its doors to young people after the city expressed a need for tuition-based early education. Its creation reflects the power of partnership and community collaboration. We also expanded our reach in maternal and infant health through the Hillsborough County Healthy Start Coalition.
This addition strengthens the continuum of care available to families beginning before birth and continuing through early childhood. Our SNAP program continued to receive statewide recognition for its impact on elementary-aged children who are learning how to regulate big emotions and make safe, healthy choices.
Each of these accomplishments illustrates the breadth of LSF’s work and the depth of commitment our teams bring to their communities. It also serves as an explanation for why I spend so much time behind the wheel, we continue growing to cover additional parts of the state at LSF.
Some of the most important reminders of why we do this work don’t come from a conference room; they come somewhere between county lines, when you’ve just left a shelter, or a Head Start center, or a partner meeting, and you’re carrying those stories with you.
As we grew and continued to strive for excellence, our staff was also tasked with displaying that excellence. I am incredibly proud of how our teams rose to meet major operational responsibilities this year, including the Council on Accreditation review. COA years require months of preparation, documentation and honest reflection about where we excel and where we must strengthen our systems. For us, this is more than the checking of a box.
Our programs and administrative teams put in long hours to ensure our work was represented accurately and thoroughly, and they did so with professionalism and pride. At the same time, LSF Health Systems underwent a comprehensive audit and handled it with grace, discipline and a commitment to transparency. These efforts speak to an organization that takes its responsibilities seriously and understands that excellence is built through incremental steps that lead to positive outcomes.
Throughout the fall, our Executive and Senior Leadership Teams have been deeply engaged in developing our strategic plan for 2026. This work has been thorough and focused on how we can strengthen our systems, sharpen our priorities and prepare for the opportunities and pressures we will inevitably face. Strategic planning is not a paperwork exercise. It is a responsibility. It requires us to look honestly at our performance, to listen to the voices of our program teams and partners and to ensure that every decision supports our mission and the people who rely on us. I believe the plan we are building will set LSF up for one of its strongest and most focused years yet.
As I look back on 2025, I am proud of how this organization carried itself. The true measure of a mission-driven agency is not how it performs when the road is smooth. It is whether it keeps its bearings when conditions are tough. This year, LSF stayed rooted in the values that always guide us. We expanded services, opened new programs and continued to show up for Floridians during some of their hardest moments and some of ours. We did not allow misinformation to distract us from the work. We continued asking ourselves what it means to be the provider of choice.
As we prepare for 2026, I am optimistic about the road ahead. We are entering the new year with purpose and pride. Our teams across the state continue to bring compassion and professionalism to their work every day. Our partnerships remain strong. Most importantly, the people we serve continue to remind us why this work matters. Every trip I make across Florida brings me back to that truth.
I am grateful for the trust placed in our organization and for the opportunity to lead LSF at such a pivotal moment. We look forward to another year of extending a hand up to the folks who need it most.
Mike Carroll
Chief Executive Officer
Lutheran Services Florida
