Junior Achievement of North Florida proudly announces that two of its longest-serving board members are the first board members to achieve the director-emeritus designation.

Fred McGinnis and Mike Clements have served for decades as members of JA of North Florida’s board of directors. McGinnis was appointed to the board in 1977 and served 46 years to advance the nonprofit’s mission. Clements joined in 1991 and has spent 32 years on the board.

“The dedication that Fred and Mike have shown to Junior Achievement will likely never be surpassed,” said Shannon Italia, president of JA of North Florida. “Their commitment to the advancement of young people in North Florida through JA’s programs teaching financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness is honorable. In the last four decades, our nonprofit has grown a lot and that is in part to Fred and Mike’s guidance.”

The legacy that McGinnis and Clements leave behind will not end with a move to Director-Emeritus. The two will remain important and valued members of the board but will not be involved in motions and voting. They will receive board communications and are invited to attend all board meetings to continue to provide their wealth of knowledge and insight to continue JA of North Florida’s growth and its impact on young people’s lives.

“Fred and Mike are rare breeds, especially within a constantly changing business environment,” said Meg Rose, board chair of JA of North Florida. “Their dedication to JA is immeasurable and we thank them for their decades of service. They have positively impacted thousands upon thousands of young people through their commitment to this organization.”

Throughout the years, McGinnis and Clements worked both as volunteers and fundraisers for JA of North Florida. McGinnis was working as a CPA in 1977 when one of his clients suggested he join the board of JA of North Florida at a time when JA was available only after school hours and there was only one program for junior and senior high school students. At the time, JA only had three staff: an executive director, a project manager and a bookkeeper. Since then, the organization has grown both in the programs it offers, its staff, and the funds raised each year to deliver those programs.

To learn more about Junior Achievement of North Florida, visit www.janfl.org.