Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, October 10, 2014

Girls Inc. of Chattanooga President and CEO Bea Lurie tapped for national board




Bea Lurie, president and CEO of Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, has been elected to the national board of Girls Inc. - (Photo by David Laprad)

Bea Lurie, president and CEO of Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, has been elected to the national board of Girls Inc. Lurie will serve as a regional professional representative.

Lurie joined Girls Inc. of Chattanooga in 2007 as president and CEO. Under her leadership, the organization boasts a 100 percent success rate of high school girls going on to higher education, increased the number of girls ages 6 to 8 served by more than 30 percent, diversified funding sources, and increased annual revenue by over $250,000.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bea to our National Board as a strategic leader and passionate advocate for girls,” said Judy Vredenburgh, Girls Inc. president and CEO. “We will learn and benefit greatly from her success expanding the reach and impact of Girls Inc. in Tennessee, as well as her expertise in community relations and civic engagement.”

Lurie said she’s honored to represent the 22 affiliates in the southeast region as a member of Girls Inc.’s national board. “At Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, we impact nearly 1,000 girls from throughout Hamilton County each year with life changing curricula and opportunities. The Girls Inc. experience provides girls with a safe environment, research-based programming, and trained staff mentors to ensure they grow up healthy, educated, and independent. There is not a single girl in Hamilton County who would not benefit from the approach of Girls Inc. programming, including its focus on diversity.”

Lurie has a Master of Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Prior to joining Girls Inc., she led various community development initiatives and implemented strategies to revitalize communities, including as founding president of CRS Inc. Consulting and as a director at the New York City Housing Authority. She is also a published author on the impact of grassroots organizations on community safety.

Lurie also serves as a member of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Leadership Institute, and on the board of B’Nai Zion Synagogue.

Source: Some information provided by Girls Inc.