JWB Interim CEO Michael G. Mikurak recently announced the promotion of Rebecca Gross Tieder from Director of Public Policy to the new role of Chief Public Awareness Officer (CPAO), effective Oct. 1, 2025.
In her new role, she will advocate for children and families through education, legislative action, and authentic relationship-building.
View the article as originally published at https://www.tampabay.com/sponsored/movers-shakers/2025/10/02/jwb-promotes-tieder-to-cpao/
More than $100 million is being invested in programs and initiatives to improve children’s futures, including significant investments to boost early learning and support Pinellas County families with young children in the formative years, birth to three.
Why it’s important: Babies’ brains are like supercomputers, absorbing and analyzing information from birth — and 80% of brain growth happens in the first 1,000 days of life.
The strategy: Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) interim CEO Michael Mikurak will steer $113 million into programs that include infant and maternal health, early childhood development, quality early learning, mental wellness, infant safe sleep, parent education and more.
The deets: Campaigns like Turbo Babies, which promotes early connections and healthy brain development through everyday activities and four easy tips, and Sleep Baby Safely, which reduced infant sleep-related suffocation deaths by 50% and expanded statewide, are proof that early investment pays off.
Programs making a difference include:
Key numbers: Last year alone, JWB invested in 98 programs across Pinellas County — reaching more than 80,000 children and families.
The impact: These investments mean fewer preventable deaths, more babies on track developmentally, more kids ready for school and stronger families who can weather life’s challenges.
Worth a mention: JWB is a special taxing district, meaning a portion of Pinellas property taxes is set aside and reinvested directly into programs that support local children and families.
The takeaway: JWB is rethinking how Pinellas supports its youngest residents by building a foundation for healthier communities and a stronger future.
Next steps: On Wednesday, Oct. 1, dozens of Tampa Bay’s top CEOs, elected officials and community leaders gathered at JWB’s Clearwater campus for the Beaches to the Bay | Bosses for Babies Breakfast.
What’s in store: Leaders unveiled two major announcements during the event:
See the difference early investment makes.
Read the article as originally published at https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/sponsored/early-learning-gets-a-big-lift-in-pinellas-county
The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County’s (JWB) Interim CEO Michael G. Mikurak recently announced the promotion of Rebecca Gross Tieder from Director of Public Policy to the new role of Chief Public Awareness Officer (CPAO), effective October 1.
As Chief Public Awareness Officer at JWB, she will advocate for children and families through education, legislative action, and authentic relationship-building.
In this role, Ms. Tieder will also serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, responsible for shaping and leading JWB’s public awareness, outreach, and education strategies, increasing JWB’s visibility, building public support, and mobilizing action.
“Becca is a passionate changemaker whose career has been defined by a deep commitment to improving lives. She brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience in advocacy and public affairs,” Mikurak said at the time of the announcement. “This promotion puts her in a position to have even greater strategic impact.”
Ms. Tieder’s influence spans both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She founded two organizations recognized globally for their work in combating sexual assault, earning accolades such as a Telly Award and keynote invitations—including the prestigious “Conference on Ethics in America” at West Point. Her expertise has reached more than 500 universities and been featured on major media outlets including FOX, ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, NPR, and in publications like Self, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan.
A dynamic speaker and educator, Ms. Tieder has inspired more than 2 million people through lectures, TEDx Youth talks, and her role in the documentary “You Are the One.” She has also advised senior White House officials and brought her wit and insight to the nationally syndicated politainment podcast “Dishonorable Mention.”
Ms. Tieder brings unwavering optimism and creative spirit to this new role, seeing challenges as opportunities and thriving on bringing diverse perspectives together to build stronger, more connected communities.
JWB in an independent special taxing district that has been committed to making children a priority for 80 years. The organization invests in programs, services, and initiatives so children are ready to learn, succeed, and thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are healthy and safe.
JWB’s new Chief Public Awareness Officer, Rebecca Gross Tieder, was featured by the St. Pete Catalyst.
View the article as originally published at https://stpetecatalyst.com/shuffle/rebecca-gross-tieder/
JWB Interim CEO Michael G. Mikurak recently announced the promotion of Rebecca Gross Tieder from Director of Public Policy to the new role of Chief Public Awareness Officer (CPAO), effective 10/1/25, where she will advocate for children and families through education, legislative action, and authentic relationship-building.
Read the original article as posted at https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/potmsearch/detail/submission/6564432/Rebecca_Gross_Tieder