Month: May 2026

JWB Governing Board Relaunches CEO Search, Names COO Karen Boggess Interim Leader

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JWB staff portrait for COO Karen Boggess

The 11-member Governing Board for the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) voted today to relaunch its search for the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer through an executive search firm.

Interim CEO Michael Mikurak’s contract will conclude on June 1, 2026. To ensure continuity of leadership and operations, the Board appointed Chief Operating Officer Karen Boggess to serve as Interim CEO while the search process moves forward.

The Board also directed JWB staff to present options for executive search firms at the next Governing Board meeting in June, with the goal of launching a comprehensive recruitment effort to identify the organization’s next permanent leader.

“The Board is committed to conducting a thoughtful and thorough search process while ensuring continuity for the organization, our partners, and the children and families we serve,” said Lealman Fire Division Chief Jim Millican, JWB Board Chair. “Karen Boggess brings extensive experience, deep institutional knowledge, and longstanding community relationships that will provide steady leadership during this transition.”

The Board also expressed appreciation for Mikurak’s leadership and service to the organization over the past decade, including his time serving as Interim CEO during a period of transition.

Boggess has served as JWB’s Chief Operating Officer, overseeing funded programs and services, strategic initiatives, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships across Pinellas County. She leads oversight of programmatic investments connected to JWB’s annual budget and strategic priorities while working closely with funded agencies and community stakeholders to strengthen outcomes for children and families.

A respected leader with more than 25 years of experience in human services — including 20 years with JWB — Boggess has played a key role in advancing initiatives focused on early learning, community partnerships, and systems improvement. Most notably, she championed efforts to develop JWB’s Quality Early Learning Initiative, expanding access to high-quality early education opportunities in underserved communities.

“JWB’s mission and the children and families we serve remain the priority,” said Boggess. “I am honored to support the organization during this transition and continue working alongside our staff, community partners, and Governing Board to strengthen outcomes for Pinellas County.”

The Juvenile Welfare Board oversees an annual impact budget of more than $128 million and invests in 51 community partner organizations providing services to more than 83,000 children and families across Pinellas County each year. Programs funded by JWB support early childhood development, school readiness, academic success, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and broader family and community well-being.

“I live in this community. I’m a parent. I’m a taxpayer. I love the work that we get to do here,” Boggess added. “The staff has been through so much, and I am honored to help provide stability for this organization while we continue delivering on our mission for children and families.”

Additional details regarding the executive search process and timeline will be announced following the June Governing Board meeting.

Pinellas Organization Works with Local Libraries to Support Early Childhood Learning

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A local Pinellas organization, JWB, is partnering with libraries across the county to provide development and learning resources to families. Their Turbo Babies Pit Crew bags are available for free at 14 Pinellas County libraries. 

Turbo Babies was created to foster early connections, nurture babies’ drive to learn, and support parents. Recently, one of the resources they began offering are Pit Crew bags–a free bag with a book, a toy, and teaching tips for parents. 

Elicia Hinson, the Associate Manager of Marketing for Turbo Babies, says parents are a child’s first teacher. 

“80% of brain growth happens in the first three years of life, and so we want parents to know it’s a really crucial time for that baby’s learning and development,” said Hinson. “We want parents to have those connections with that child, so the child has a trusted caregiver. That makes such a big difference in how a child’s brain forms.”

Peggy Matthes, an assistant youth services librarian at the Barbara S Ponce Library, says these bags have been a huge help for parents. 

“For us, it kind of is a physical resource that we pass on to the parents and then the parents have something that they can kind of go through and get ideas from because everybody’s just like, ‘oh, let’s have the babies; let’s start a family,’ but they don’t come with any instructions,” said Matthes. 

Where you can get a bag

  • Clearwater Main Library – 100 N Osceola Ave, Clearwater, FL 33755
  • Dunedin Public Library – 223 Douglas Ave, Dunedin, FL 34698
  • East Lake Community Library – 4125 E Lake Rd S, Palm Harbor, FL 34685
  • Gulf Beaches Public Library – 200 Municipal Dr, Madeira Beach, FL 33708
  • Gulfport Public Library – 5501 28th Ave S, Gulfport, FL 33707
  • Largo Public Library – 120 Central Park Dr, Largo, FL 33771
  • Oldsmar Public Library – 400 St Petersburg Dr E, Oldsmar, FL 34677
  • Palm Harbor Public Library – 2330 Nebraska Ave, Palm Harbor, FL 34683
  • Pinellas Park Barbara S. Ponce Library – 7770 52nd St N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
  • Safety Harbor Public Library – 101 2nd St N, Safety Harbor, FL 34695
  • Seminole Community Library – 9200 113th St N, Seminole, FL 33772
  • St. Petersburg President Barack Obama Main Library – 3745 9th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
  • St. Pete Beach Public Library – 365 73rd Ave, St Pete Beach, FL 33706
  • Tarpon Springs Public Library – 138 E Lemon Street, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

For more information on Turbo Babies, visit turbobabies.com.

View the article and listen to the segment as originally published at https://www.wmnf.org/pinellas-organization-turbo-babies-offers-free-learning-bags/.

JWB’s First-Ever Turbo Babies Baby Day Dash Draws Hundreds of Families

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On Saturday, May 2, 2026, JWB hosted the first-ever Turbo Babies Baby Day Dash.

Hundreds of families with babies and toddlers came together for a hands-on experience highlighting the first three years of life and why they matter so much. In celebration of National Baby Day, the one-of-a-kind event paired play with practical, life-changing and life-saving information for parents.

Families explored the museum and visited interactive stations tackling some of the most urgent and preventable risks facing young children today. From safe sleep practices to drowning prevention, a leading cause of death for toddlers and a focus during Water Safety Awareness Month, parents learned tips they can use right away.

“JWB remains dedicated to investing in the healthy development of children from birth to three,” said JWB Interim CEO Michael Mikurak. “Our first-ever Baby Day event is all about giving parents educational tools to help their little ones sleep safe, splash smart, and start strong. By supporting families during these critical early years, we are building a stronger future for our entire community.”

The event also connected families directly with experts and resources, including early brain development guidance, as well as a free Turbo Babies Pit Crew brain-building bag filled with materials and activities to support learning and growth at home.

Parents also accessed information about VPK registration and signed up for Parent ProTech, an expert-backed video library focused on keeping children safe in a digital world.

The Turbo Babies Baby Day Dash is part of JWB’s commitment to promoting early childhood well-being and supporting parents and caregivers as their child’s first and best teachers. The first three years of life are a time of rapid brain development, and when children are most vulnerable to unsafe sleep environments, water hazards, and missed developmental milestones. Events like the Baby Day Dash help families put critical tips into everyday practice.

Enjoy these photos and check out a few more of the photos we’ll share from this family-favorite event!

Juvenile Welfare Board to Host Turbo Babies Event Saturday

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The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County will host the inaugural Turbo Babies Baby Day Dash Saturday at the Great Explorations Children’s Museum (at 1925 4th Street N. in St. Petersburg) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Over 500 families with children between the ages of 0 to 3 have pre-registered for the event. Participants will receive free admission to the museum and be able to participate in hands-on learning experiences focused on helping their babies thrive. While the event has reached full capacity, families can join a waitlist. For more information, visit this link. 

Read the article as originally published at https://stpetecatalyst.com/zaps/juvenile-welfare-board-to-host-turbo-babies-event-saturday/.