Paratransit Driver

CVNL in the news: Marin independent journal Editorial highlights Linda Jacobs' legacy of leadership. By Marin IJ Editorial Board PUBLISHED: July 15, 2026 at 12:59 PM PDT Marin independent journal. Editorial: Linda Jacobs built legacy of leadership for nonprofits. Linda Jacobs' retirement after 25 years of remarkable leadership in Marin's nonprofit world is certainly worth well-deserved kudos. She was hired in 2002 to head what was, in its early years, the combining of Marin's volunteer bureau and the council of local nonprofit organizations. It was later renamed the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership and, under Jacob's guidance, it grew tremendously in scope and service - now supporting nonprofit organizations across four counties. The San Rafael-based organization's annual Heart of Marin luncheon is a reflection of not only the size of the county's nonprofit world, but the impressive heartfelt work of individuals and their agencies. For many years, CVNL's annual Human Race event served local nonprofits as an important fundraiser and a venue to connect with potential supporters and volunteers. Today, Marin has close to 1,700 nonprofit agencies serving a wide realm of important needs both locally and beyond. CVNL, thanks to Jacobs' strong leadership, has become a hub for these nonprofits where they can find help in strengthening their organization, governance, building partnerships and recruiting and hiring workers, including for executive positions. Her focus and impact has been on developing excellence in leadership of North Bay nonprofits, the services they provide and keeping up with evolving responsibilities and challenges. She's helped local nonprofits navigate changes, including expansion, management responsibilities and mergers. Her strong focus on equity and creating career paths have also guided CVNL's growth. That work has deepened the roles and importance of this sector and the work of Jacobs and CVNL has been instrumental in building stronger organizations. She also has built stronger connections between the local business community and nonprofits. That strength was clear during the 2017 North Bay fires that caused mass evacuations from Sonoma County communities. Jacobs and CVNL helped organize many of the evacuation sites, among them the one that turned the Marin Center Exhibition Hall into a refuge where evacuees found a safe place to sleep, meals and assistance. Jacobs provided steady, tireless and effective leadership during this regional emergency and - for thousands, crisis - also filled a vital role in organizing community volunteers and donations. That set the stage for CVNL to grow into four counties - Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Solano. Today, CVNL's responsibilities also include Secret Santa programs, court referral programs and paratransit operations. What has motivated Jacobs over the past quarter-century? "The people I worked with who serve in the communities are all doing what they're doing with their nonprofits because it matters," she said in a recent IJ interview. Christine Paquette, chief executive of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin, praised Jacobs as "a respected teacher, a trusted ally and a devoted friend." Jacobs joined CVNL, coming from a stint as the executive director of the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce and a number of community nonprofits - Planned Parenthood Northern California, the Marin Child Care Council and Breakthrough Foundation. A testament to Jacobs' success is that recruitment for her successor drew 200 applicants. CVNL's board found a promising successor in Karen Strolia, whose resume includes serving as CEO of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, chief operations officer of St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin and a leader of the Downtown Streets Team, a program empowering the homeless. Jacobs was recently honored at a large gathering at the Jonas Center at College of Marin's Indian Valley campus in Novato. Nonprofits typically form in response to a community need. They rely on their leaders, boards of directors, staff, volunteers and a mission to make a meaningful difference. Jacobs has worked to help them build strong organizations and maintain that mission. That includes CVNL, itself. Linda Jacobs has made a difference, as a leader, a mentor and as a caring champion for a vital sector of our Marin and North Bay communities. She's been a true example of public service. Varidda Voraakom

Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership announces Karen Strolia as incoming Chief Executive Officer. 707-890-8876 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SAN RAFAEL, CA - 7/6/26 - Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) today announced the appointment of Karen Strolia as its next Chief Executive Officer. Strolia, who currently serves as President and CEO of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, will assume the role in August, 2026. She succeeds longtime CVNL CEO Linda Jacobs, who led the organization for 25 years. Strolia brings more than a decade of senior nonprofit leadership experience across Marin and Sonoma Counties, with a track record of honing organizational strategy, strengthening internal operations, invigorating staff, and building deep community partnerships. As President and CEO of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, she prepared the organization for its first strategic planning process in over a century and modernized operations across finance, HR, and membership. Under her leadership, the Chamber was recently named the 2026 Chamber of the Year by the California Chamber of Commerce. Earlier in her career, Strolia served as Chief Operating Officer of St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin and spent six years in senior leadership at Downtown Streets Team, overseeing programs across Marin and Sonoma Counties. Strolia holds a Master of Business Administration from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UC Berkeley. She is a longtime North Bay resident with deep ties to the nonprofit, civic, and business sectors, and the wider community. "The board is thrilled to welcome Karen as CVNL's next Chief Executive Officer," said Luana Vaetoe, Board Chair of CVNL. "Throughout the search process, Karen consistently demonstrated the leadership qualities, strategic mindset, and values that align with CVNL's mission and future aspirations. She brings a unique combination of nonprofit, business, and community leadership experience, along with a deep understanding of the North Bay communities we serve. What stood out most was Karen's ability to honor an organization's legacy while thoughtfully identifying opportunities for growth and innovation. As CVNL builds upon the extraordinary foundation established by Linda Jacobs, we are confident Karen will lead with both vision and purpose, strengthening our impact and expanding the ways we support nonprofits, volunteers, and community leaders throughout the region. We are excited to partner with Karen and look forward to the energy, perspective, and leadership she will bring to CVNL, our staff, our stakeholders, and our communities." Strolia said she has long admired the work and mission of CVNL, and she is eager to build on that foundation. "CVNL has been part of my professional world for years, and stepping into this role is an honor and feels like an important time to be in service to our North Bay nonprofit community," said Strolia. "I have seen firsthand what CVNL means to the organizations, leaders, and volunteers that it supports. My focus will be on earning the trust of our staff and partners, strengthening what is already working, and building an organization to lead the sector forward with clarity, cohesion, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve." CVNL has served the North Bay's nonprofit and volunteer community for over 60 years, providing leadership development, capacity-building, consulting, volunteer services, and direct community services, including paratransit and emergency disaster response. "It has been an honor to dedicate most of my career to the service of CVNL and the North Bay nonprofit community," said Linda Jacobs, outgoing CEO of CVNL. "I am incredibly proud of what we have built together, and I have confidence that Karen will carry that work forward with the same dedication and heart." The appointment follows a rigorous national search that drew significant interest from nonprofit, civic, and business leaders across the country. CVNL's board engaged Potrero Group, a strategy and leadership search firm, to lead the process. Among a highly competitive pool, Strolia distinguished herself as the candidate best positioned to build on CVNL's legacy while leading the organization into its next phase of growth and impact. "This was one of the most competitive searches that Potrero Group has led in recent years, and Karen stood out from the start," said Jena Kuznik, Senior Consultant and Search Lead at Potrero Group. "Her leadership, operational strength, care for people, and connections in the North Bay make her uniquely suited to this role, and she has the vision and skills to amplify CVNL's work." About Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership Founded in 1964, CVNL strengthens nonprofits and volunteer programs throughout the North Bay by providing leadership training, organizational consulting, volunteer services, and direct community programs across Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano Counties. Learn more at cvnl.org. About Potrero Group Potrero Group is a leadership consulting firm supporting mission-driven leaders and organizations. Learn more at potrerogroup.com. Varidda Voraakom