Hospice of Santa Barbara begins its 40th anniversary year by saying goodbye to its most recent leader Steve Jacobsen who resigned earlier this month. Jacobsen made significant contributions over the length of his 5 ½ years as Executive Director.

Stepping into the leadership role of one of the most prestigious and highly regarded nonprofits in Santa Barbara, even on a temporary basis, is not for the faint of heart; Tina Fanucchi-Frontado did just that. It was no fluke that she was asked to take on the position of Interim Executive Director; she has been asked to do it before for other local organizations and did so quite successfully.

“Vast experience and the emotional maturity to handle the myriad of pressures and responsibilities that will come her way makes Tina the perfect choice to keep the work of Hospice of Santa Barbara on track,” said Sam Capra, incoming Board President of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “We have a very large and active volunteer corps, a talented and passionate staff of 30, two boards: Santa Barbara Hospice Foundation Board of Trustees and Hospice of Santa Barbara Board of Directors, clients and patients, all who feel strongly about the organization.”

“What also makes Tina ideally suited for this role is that she combines a no-nonsense calm and open demeanor,” added Capra. “She makes no assumptions and she listens. With a touch of humor and laser like focus she cuts to the chase. Tina has amassed such a wealth of knowledge and experience in the nonprofit and business sectors that there is virtually no area that she can’t speak to with confidence or at least knows the right questions to ask,” said Capra.

Fanucchi-Frontado holds a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in Organizational and Strategic Management. Fanucchi-Frontado brings more than 25 years of nonprofit management and has coached several organizations through the process of transition. Fanucchi-Frontado is the founder and President of SB Philanthropy, a consulting firm which assists family foundations, individuals, corporations and nonprofits to achieve smart giving practices.

“Hospice of Santa Barbara is a truly remarkable organization,” said Fanucchi-Frontado, Interim Executive Director of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “My goal, during my tenure here, is to make this leadership transition as smooth as possible, while keeping all programmatic wheels turning effectively. I will also listen to stakeholders (from volunteers, staff, board members and clients) to evaluate and make decisions, if needed. My goal is to leave Hospice of Santa Barbara an even stronger organization, and I am honored to take on this role.”

Hospice of Santa Barbara “volunteers” its free professional counseling and care management services to more than 700 children and adults every month who are experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness, or grieving the death of a loved one. Hospice of Santa Barbara is also present on 11 local middle and high school campuses to work with children and teens who are grieving the loss of a loved one. For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call (805) 563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org. Find Hospice of Santa Barbara on Facebook and Twitter.

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