Junior Achievement of North Florida has named Shannon Italia as its next president.

Italia brings more than 25 years of experience in business development and community engagement to the position. As president, she will oversee a staff of nine, who manage the organization’s work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs that historically reach more than 60,000 K-12 students in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.

Italia most recently served as the chief business development officer at Harbor View Advisors in Ponte Vedra. She was the senior director, external relations for the University of North Florida’s Coggin College of Business, and is the founding director for the Coggin College of Business Career Center, providing best-in-class support for students and building impactful relationships with the regional business community for over 12 years. Italia also established the Mike and Shannon Italia Community Service Scholarship which was endowed in the fall of 2016 and is awarded annually to a UNF business student that excels in the classroom and leads in the community.

Italia holds an MBA from UNF and a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing from the University of Cincinnati where she graduated magna cum laude. Italia has been an active volunteer in the community for years. She served on the board of directors of the nonprofit Rethreaded and was chair from Nov. of 2015 until March of this year. Italia served on the board of the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center and was a founder and advisor for the UNF Women in Business Society.

Italia has won many awards and accolades including being named a 2013 Women of Influence by the Jacksonville Business Journal. She was a 2015 winner of UNF’s Susan B. Anthony Award which is given to an employee who actively promotes women’s growth, provides a positive role model, works to improve the position of women, and exhibits qualities of leadership on campus. Italia also received the 2017 UNF Alumni Service Award.

Italia will step into the position on Dec. 1. She will work closely with retiring president Steve St. Amand to transition into the job. St. Amand will be leaving the organization on Dec. 31.