Foundation announces promotions of four employees

The Rhode Island Foundation has promoted four of its employees. Neil Steinberg, president and CEO, announced on behalf of the organization and its Board of Directors.

“These promotions recognize the hard work and dedication of four outstanding employees. Each of them has excelled in their area of expertise, demonstrating creativity, commitment, and a passion for Rhode Island and the Foundation’s core mission, to be a leader dedicated to meeting the needs of the people of Rhode Island,” said Steinberg.

Melanie Coon has been promoted to Senior Vice President for Communications and Marketing. Coon joined the Foundation in January 2007. She has more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit and corporate strategic planning, communications, and management. Coon, who also serves as assistant secretary to the Foundation’s board of directors, previously served as a strategic planning and management consultant to colleges, universities, and other nonprofit organizations. Until 2004, she held various leadership positions within alumni relations and public affairs and university relations at Brown University. A resident of Providence, Coon is a member of the Leadership Rhode Island Beta II class of 2006.

Jessica David has been promoted from Director to Vice President for Strategy, Planning and Special Projects. David joined the Foundation in 2006 as a special projects officer after having worked in various capacities at HousingWorksRI. David has co-led the Foundation’s strategic planning process and implementation, as well as its strategic human capital plan. David received a BA from The American University in Washington, DC and last year received her MBA from Bryant University. She volunteers her time with Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island and the Providence Ronald McDonald House, and was chosen as a winner of The Providence Business News 2011 40-Under-Forty competition. David is a resident of Providence.

Kathleen Malin has been promoted to Vice President for Technology and Operations. Responsible for all technology operations at the Foundation, Malin has worked as a network administrator and technology director at a number of public and private schools in New York and Rhode Island. She works frequently with nonprofits to help them develop social media and web strategies. Her certifications include CompTIA A+, Net+, Security+, Project + and Strata Green IT. She also recently completed EC-Council’s certified e-Business Professional Wireless 5 and Certified Security Specialist and CIW’s Security Essentials, Network Technology Associate, and Web Security Professional. In 2009, Malin organized the 501 Tech Club Rhode Island to create a support network for IT and communications professionals at nonprofits in the state. Malin is a resident of Cumberland.

Jill Pfitzenmayer, Ph.D., Director of the Foundation’s Initiative for Nonprofit Excellence (INE), has been promoted to Vice President. INE works to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations so they can better achieve their missions. Pfitzenmayer joined the Foundation in 2008 when the Initiative first launched. Since then, more than 1,500 local nonprofit leaders and board members have participated in INE programs. Pfitzenmayer previously served as Senior Vice President at Child and Family Services of Newport County. A licensed psychologist with more than 25 years in the social services field, she has also taught research design to graduate students in early childhood education. Pfitzenmayer is a resident of Portsmouth.