Diverse Community Capital

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 20, 2017 – Today, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart appointed Connie Smith as the Chair of the Florida Education Foundation, the direct support organization for the Florida Department of Education. She succeeds Stacy Carlson who has served as board chair since 2015.
“I am confident Connie will be a valuable leader in the next era of the Foundation’s growth,” said Commissioner Stewart. “As the Foundation has brought its direction into focus, the coming years will be vital to the development, as they are a valued partner to the Department of Education. I look forward to the work we can do together to continue Florida’s unparalleled progress in student achievement.”
“I am honored that Commissioner Stewart appointed me to serve as chair of the Florida Education Foundation,” Smith said. “Serving on the board since 2013 has been a tremendous experience, and I look forward to our continued work investing in high achievement for every student in our state.”
Smith serves as Wells Fargo Works for Small Business: Diverse Community Capital (DCC) Program Manager. The DCC program is distributing $75 million in capital to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that serve diverse small businesses. Prior to her current role, Connie served as Florida Community Affairs Manager. As a 21-year veteran with Wells Fargo, Connie is very active in her community. She is the past chair of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida and a member of Class XXXIIII of Leadership Florida. Connie was selected as one of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 2010 Women of Influence and holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University.