Letter from

Exec Dir A Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends and Supporters of the IIA,

I'd like to take a moment to let you know how excited I am by the opportunity the IIA Board has presented to me with my appointment as Executive Director.

My association with the IIA began in 2004, as a volunteer English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor. What a fantastic experience I had meeting students from around the world and helping them learn English, as well as learn about Akron and American culture. I hope they learned as much from me as I did from them.

My affiliation with the IIA strengthened in 2006, when I joined the Board of Directors and began working with the Development Committee. When Maxine Floreani announced her retirement after a distinguished term as ED, I jumped at the chance for an interview!

There are several reasons why I am excited by this opportunity. 1) I believe strongly in the mission of the IIA which delivers needed services to people eager to fully participate in the civic life of our community and to become U.S. citizens. We all benefit by their success. 2) The IIA is very fortunate to have a bright and dedicated staff, and I am impressed by their creativity, tenacity and compassion for our clients. 3) The Board and staff have worked diligently over the past eight months to refine our strategic plan and develop innovative ideas on how we can enhance our programs and services, and to develop new opportunities to serve our community.

We have a lot of work to do, but our future is bright. I hope you will join us in our efforts.

Sincerely,

Lee D. Williams

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