ROC Stars: A New Staff Development Initiative for JA Regional Operating Centers

February 25, 2025

Meet the ROC Stars, a brand-new cohort experience designed exclusively for regional operating center (ROC) staff. This initiative builds on the success and key learnings from five cohorts of the JA Worldwide Fellows Program, but with a focus on strengthening connections among the ROCs and between the ROCs and JA Worldwide headquarters.

Why ROC Stars?

JA Fellows has provided an invaluable platform for leadership growth, professional development, and global collaboration. However, ROC staff have not traditionally been eligible for the Fellows program, creating a gap in opportunities for learning, networking, and professional advancement within the JA network. ROC Stars is designed to fill that gap, providing ROC staff with a yearlong fellowship to foster community, share best practices, and gain new insights into JA’s global impact.

What to Expect

  • A Yearlong Fellowship: Just like JA Fellows, the ROC Stars will embark on a yearlong journey of learning, collaboration, and personal growth.

  • Professional Coaching & Training: Cohort members will receive extensive coaching and development opportunities to support their leadership journey.

  • Participation in GLC: ROC Stars will be actively involved in both GLC Virtual and GLC Rio, where they will engage in hands-on learning and global networking.

  • Building Community: This program is all about strengthening relationships—both among ROCs and with JA Worldwide headquarters—to drive greater impact and collaboration.

Meet the First-Ever ROC Stars Cohort

We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural ROC Stars cohort, launching in early 2025:

  • JA Americas: Jasmin Eymery, Development, Marketing, and Communications Director, and Itatí Cabral, Education and Impact Director

  • JA Africa: Akosua Essuman, Vice President, Programs and Board Liaison

  • JA Europe: Tonya Bulgakova, Senior Program Associate

  • JA Asia Pacific: Ringin Abel, Regional Development Manager 

  • Junior Achievement USA: Laura Goodman, Vice President, Resource Development and Volunteer Partnerships

  • INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA: Shahd Haswa, Chief Operating Officer

  • JA Worldwide: Jamie Stivala, Director of Technology, and Sofia Caballero, Program Manager, Global Development

This pioneering group will set the stage for future cohorts, helping shape the evolution and success of the ROC Stars program for years to come.

Looking Ahead

As ROC Stars takes off, we are excited to see how this program will enhance leadership development, foster cross-regional collaboration, and strengthen the JA network as a whole. Stay tuned for updates as our first cohort embarks on this transformative journey!

2025February, FeaturedJA Worldwide