COLORADO
SPRINGS, Colo., May 16, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- It was announced today that on June 30, 2024, Jack E. Kosakowski will
retire as President & CEO of Junior Achievement USA (JA) after a 50-year career at JA. He will
be succeeded by Jack Harris, current
President & CEO of 3DE National, on July
1, 2024.
Starting as a student in the Junior Achievement program in
Toledo, Ohio, Kosakowski attended
the University of Toledo on a Junior
Achievement scholarship. Over the years, he served as President of
JA in Toledo, President of JA of
Wisconsin, and in several
leadership positions at JA Worldwide, Junior Achievement's global
parent. He was named President and CEO of Junior Achievement
USA in 2007.
During Jack Kosakowski's tenure
with Junior Achievement USA, the
organization engaged approximately 3.5 million volunteers in
delivering JA learning experiences to nearly 70 million students.
Some of his accomplishments include the digital transformation of
JA's learning experiences, strategic organizational and financial
changes that strengthened the entire Junior Achievement
organization, and his leadership through one of the most
challenging times in JA's history during the pandemic. Junior
Achievement is in the strongest position it's been in its 105-year
history as a result of Jack
Kosakowski's leadership.
"Throughout my five decades with Junior Achievement, I've
witnessed the transformational power of equipping young people with
the skills and confidence to shape their own futures," said
Jack Kosakowski. "This organization
has been a beacon of hope, helping students around the world unlock
their potential, pursue their dreams, and contribute meaningfully
to society. As I step into retirement, I am deeply proud of the
impact we've had and the countless lives we've touched. I look
forward to seeing Junior Achievement continue to inspire and
empower generations to come. Having worked with Jack Harris for over twenty years, I am
confident that he will lead the organization to achieve even bigger
and better results."
Jack Harris established 3DE
Schools in 2019 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Junior Achievement
USA. Before this, Harris served as
President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Georgia for 10 years. His Junior Achievement
career began in 2002 when he joined JA Worldwide as its Director of
International Operations. He holds a degree in Politics and a
certificate in Political Economy from Princeton University and spent parts of his early
career in both education and business. Harris will assume the
combined roles of CEO of JA USA
and 3DE National with the planned consolidation of leadership
between 3DE National and JA USA on
July 1, 2024
"Junior Achievement has unparalleled scope and scale for
delivering comprehensive education solutions that accelerate
economic opportunity and mobility for young people. Jack Kosakowski has set a tremendous legacy of
leadership, and we are fortunate to be able to build on that
momentum," said Jack
Harris. "I'm excited for the opportunities ahead of us,
and thankful for the many incredible team members, partners, and
stakeholders who join with JA daily to drive meaningful impact and
differentiated value in communities across the country."
About 3DE
3DE is focused on systemically reengineering
high school education to significantly expand economic opportunity
for all students. Through integrated public-private partnerships,
3DE uses case methodology to redesign learning and create academic
environments that are more relevant, experiential, and
authentically connected to life beyond the classroom walls.
About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)
Junior Achievement
is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young
people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic
success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and
economic choices. JA learning experiences are delivered by
corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on
experiences that give students from kindergarten through high
school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness,
and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Junior Achievement is expanding
its reach to 18-to-25-year-olds to provide young adults with
critical life skills, as well as to pre-K youth to ensure children
get a solid head start. Today, JA reaches more than 4.4 million
students per year in 102 markets across the United States as part of 12.5 million
students served by operations in more than 100 other countries
worldwide. Junior Achievement USA
is a member of JA Worldwide. For more information,
visit www.ja.org.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jack-e-kosakowski-retiring-as-ceo-of-junior-achievement-usa-after-50-year-career-jack-harris-named-incoming-ceo-302147177.html
SOURCE Junior Achievement USA