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7/5/09: Starfinder Announces New Leadership
New Leadership for the Starfinder Foundation
"I am pleased to announce that, effective June 29th, Stephen H. Baumann will be our new President and Chief Executive Officer," said Walter Buckley, Chairman of the Board of the Starfinder Foundation.
Since 2007, Mr. Baumann has served as the President and COO of The National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York. He previously served as Executive Director of Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, California, Vice President of Education and Programs with Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey and as the Director of Educational Technology Programs at The Franklin Institute Science Museum here in Philadelphia.
Steve received a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Science Education from the University of Virginia. From 1977 to 1987, prior to entering the museum field, Mr. Baumann was a public school educator. He held a variety of teaching positions in the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia and was an adjunct instructor in science education and educational technology at George Mason University in Virginia and Rosemont College in Pennsylvania.
"What is unique about Steve," said Chairman Buckley, "is that, not only does he have the broad-based non-profit management and education experience that we were seeking, but he also has a rich background in soccer. He played at the University of Pennsylvania before going on to play with the Miami Toros in the North American Soccer League from 1974 to 1977. Steve also had a ten-year high school and club-coaching career in Northern Virginia and returned to Penn as head soccer coach from 1987-1993. These unique experiences give us great confidence that he will lead the Starfinder Foundation to new levels of excellence and accomplishment."
"I am delighted with this opportunity," said Baumann. "I look forward to the new challenges presented by this position. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that allows me to couple my non-profit career with my lifelong passion for soccer, and I cannot wait to get started."
Joining Baumann in leading Starfinder, Heidi Warren will take on the role of Deputy Director. Warren has served as interim Executive Director since the departure of Dr. Leigh Byron in February, providing continuity throughout the transition period. "We're thrilled to have someone of Heidi's caliber as Deputy Director," said Buckley. "I've had the good fortune to work with Heidi over the past five years, and her integrity, talent and experience will continue to be a huge asset to Starfinder. We feel fortunate to have her as part of the team."
Warren is already well acquainted with Starfinder's operations and programming, having served as its Chief Operating Officer and Financial Controller. Warren has seventeen years of experience in organizational management, fundraising, visioning, and planning. She was the Managing Director of the Village of Arts and Humanities for many years, and, more recently, provided organizational development consulting services to numerous Philadelphia-based nonprofit organizations.
Warren is excited to take on her new role at Starfinder. "I am truly impressed by the talent and commitment of the staff and the Board. Starfinder has enormous potential to become a best practice for youth programming locally, regionally, and nationally."
The talented Starfinder team also includes: Dominic Rossi, Development Coordinator; Nick Chrisanthon, Co-Director of Programs; Jeanette Hibbs, Co-Director of Programs; Herb Kandeh, Director of Youth Leadership Programs; Stephen Jackson, Programs and Operations Manager; and Robert Kozlowski, Soccer Public Relations.
Starfinder's mission is to enhance the personal growth of underserved youth through soccer with learning experiences that engage, inspire, and motivate. Starfinder achieves its mission through afterschool, weekend, and summer programs for young people ages 6 to 18 in Philadelphia, Chester, and Allentown.
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