Partners for Change announces Neena LaMendola-Volk as the organization’s new Chief Operating Officer

Partners for Change, formerly Covington Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive support services such as mentoring, family involvement and out-of-school time programming to Northern Kentucky students at every stage of their educational journey, announced Neena LaMendola-Volk as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

LaMendola-Volk joins Partners for Change with an extensive background in the for-profit sector, where she held key roles in operations, marketing, communications and program management. As COO, she will be responsible for overseeing daily operations, developing and executing strategic initiatives and ensuring the organization’s mission is carried out effectively.

LaMendola-Volk will play a critical role as Partners for Change scales its programming to serve students in the Erlanger/Elsmere, Ludlow and Newport independent school districts, in addition to its current focus on the Covington Independent Public School District.

Most recently, LaMendola-Volk served as chief of staff at Nerdy, a curated live online learning platform, where she provided strategic support to the consumer division. Her career includes numerous leadership roles, including Senior Director of Program & Operations at companies such as Everything But the House, dotloop/Zillow, Duke Energy and Citi, where she honed her expertise in operations, program management and strategic communications.

In 2019, she founded her own consulting firm, where she supported national organizations such as The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Right to Start and the Home Builders Association, helping them build scalable systems to support sustainable growth.

LaMendola-Volk is no stranger to the mission of Partners for Change. She served on the organization’s Board of Directors for several years, including a term as Chair of the Board of Directors in 2014. An advocate for community empowerment, she also co-founded Whiskey and Wishes, a North American organization. Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) corporate giving circle dedicated to supporting underserved communities. She is a native of Northern Kentucky, an alumna of Thomas More University and a graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky.

“We are pleased to welcome Neena LaMendola-Volk to Partners for Change,” said Phyllis Yeager, CEO of Partners for Change. “Her operational expertise and dedication to our mission will be invaluable as we expand our programs to new districts. Neena’s leadership will enable us to support even more students and create meaningful change in our community.”

Partners for Change is committed to breaking down barriers to education and success for students and families in Northern Kentucky’s river towns. With LaMendola-Volk’s leadership, the organization is poised to increase its impact and continue to empower students on their educational journey.

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