FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 11, 2003
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Corporation for National and Community Service
Contact Sandy Scott
202 606 5000 x255
sscott@cns.gov |
New Leaders to Head National Service Agency in Ongoing Strengthening and Comprehensive Reform |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the White House Office of the Press
Secretary announced President Bush’s intention to nominate David Eisner to be
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community
Service, replacing Leslie Lenkowsky who has announced his decision to leave the
agency on August 15 to return to academia. The Corporation, which directs the
national service programs that are a fundamental part of President Bush’s agenda
for engaging Americans in service to their communities, also announced that
James F. Manning has been selected to serve as its Chief Operating Officer,
effective immediately.
Manning will join the Corporation’s senior leadership team that
is guiding the agency through a comprehensive reform effort. If confirmed by the
United States Senate, Eisner will lead this team in its initiatives to
strengthen and expand the capacity of the Corporation’s programs to meet needs
for education, public safety, homeland security, environmental protection, and
other human services in America’s communities.
“The President has selected leaders for this agency who have
extensive management experience in the government and private and nonprofit
sectors,” said Stephen Goldsmith, Chair of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
“David and Jim will work with senior leadership and a dedicated and professional
staff to carry out an aggressive management agenda that will strengthen the
organization and help cement the role of national service programs in supporting
America’s communities.”
Eisner is currently a consultant for Network for Good, having
recently departed AOL Time Warner in June 2003 where he was Vice President of
Corporate Relations at AOL Time Warner and Senior Vice President of the AOL Time
Warner Foundation. From May 1997 until January 2001, Eisner served as Senior
Vice President of the AOL Foundation and as Vice President of Corporate
Communications at America Online, Inc. Previously, he served as Senior Vice
President of Fleischman-Hillard International Communications, Washington, D.C.
from February 1993 until May 1997. Eisner was Director of Field Communications
of Legal Services Corporation from January 1990 until February 1993. Earlier in
his career, he was the Press Secretary for Congressman Mac Sweeney, Congressman
Bill McCollum and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. Eisner is a Board Member of the
Independent Sector, Advisory Board Member of America 's Promise, Founder and
Board Member of Network for Good, and Board Member and Trustee of the National
4-H Council. He earned his B.A. at Stanford University and has a Prospective
J.D. from Georgetown University Law School. He and his wife Lori live in
Bethesda, Maryland with their four children.
Goldsmith applauded the President’s selection: “If confirmed,
David will bring to the Corporation the skills of an accomplished leader within
the private sector and vast expertise engaging the business community and the
American people in supporting national service and community volunteering.”
As the Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer, Manning will be
responsible for overseeing the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve
programs that engage millions of Americans in service to their communities, as
well as the Corporation’s state offices across the country. He will manage the
Corporation’s grant-making process and oversee its Office of Development and
Leadership Training, which provides assistance to Corporation grantees.
Formerly Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Education,
Manning also served as Acting Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of
Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid, overseeing the office’s 1,200
employees and annual budget of nearly $65 billion. He was a key player in the
Department’s successful effort to obtain a first clean opinion from its outside
financial auditors. Manning has been a leader in the nonprofit sector, as
National Director of the Congressional Award Foundation, and Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Catholic Alliance. He is also a former Director
of International Events for the National Basketball Association. Manning’s
previous government service includes the Departments of Education and State, and
service as Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan and Director of Projects
for the First Lady. A graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Manning and
his wife Ann have four children and live in Virginia.
“Jim has a demonstrated track record as an effective manager of
a government agency,” Goldsmith said. “He will bring that vital experience to
the Corporation’s programs, as well as his experience working with America’s
community and faith-based organizations and institutions.”
Current Chief Executive Leslie Lenkowsky has previously shared
with the Corporation’s staff and grantees his intention to depart the agency and
return to a college or university community. Today he formally submitted his
resignation and announced his plans to leave on August 15. “Les has been a
dedicated leader of the Corporation and has worked tirelessly to advance the
President’s volunteer service agenda and lay the foundation for improvements at
the agency,” said Goldsmith. “We thank him for his time and commitment in
service to the Corporation, both as CEO and as a longtime Board member.”
Through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America,
the Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country.
The Corporation and its programs are part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House
initiative to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility, and
to help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. For more
information, visit
www.nationalservice.org.
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