South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA) Announces Key Leadership Promotions

New management structure will help expand the non-profit’s community reach and advocacy for South Florida’s older adults

The South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA), a non-profit that improves social and economic outcomes and provides community services to empower people as they age, announces the promotion of Cresha Reid as vice president of programs and Rachelle Faublas as director of marketing, communications and community relations.

“Rachelle and Cresha are incredibly dedicated members of the SoFIA team, with the leadership and directorial skills needed to ensure that SoFIA’s compassionate programming continues to expand, reaching older adults in need throughout our communities,” said Nikki Austin-Shipp, SoFIA president and CEO. “There has never been a more critical time to address the discrepancies and challenges many older adults are facing in terms of economic security, social empowerment, civic engagement and caregiving. These two women have the dedication and tenacity to ensure that SoFIA and those we serve, thrive.”

Cresha Reid

Cresha Reid

As vice president of programs, Reid will oversee SoFIA’s strategic and operational goals, while assisting SoFIA’s directors as they plan and deliver program objectives. Reid will also be responsible for SoFIA’s public policy plans and will work to drive continued community involvement.

Reid has more than 10 years of management and leadership experience working as a non-profit senior director, including four years successfully overseeing SoFIA’s Foster Grandparent Program. At the beginning of the pandemic, she successfully transitioned 143 older adult SoFIA volunteers to virtual teleservice volunteering and established the popular “Reading with Grandma” YouTube series, allowing underserved students and mentor grandparents to continue to benefit from their relationships through virtual connections.

Active in the community, Reid is a southeast regional alternate representative for the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network (ASPN); the former planning committee chair for the National Senior Corps Association (NSCA); and sits on the Children’s Services Council Broward AWARE committee, Broward Reads: Campaign for Grade-Level Reading committee and the Broward Early Childhood Education committee.

A resident of Miami, Reid received a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University.

Rachelle Faublas

Rachelle Faublas

In her new position as director of marketing, communications and community relations, Faublas will work to strategically promote the SoFIA brand and mission through all marketing and communications channels. With more than six years of experience working with SoFIA as a program coordinator and then manager, Faublas is experienced in community outreach and non-profit operations. A strategic thinker with exceptional recruitment and organizational skills, Faublas plays an integral role coordinating SoFIA fundraisers, writing grants and is currently building the agency’s new CRM database.

A resident of Fort Lauderdale, Faublas received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida International University and is currently working towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in marketing from Nova Southeastern University.