Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona has named Luis Vega its new president and CEO after a nationwide search. Vega succeeds Laura Capello, who served the organization in various roles for over 20 years.
Vega brings an impressive background in the military and nonprofit sectors. In his most recent role as senior vice president of international operations at Allied Extract, Vega led crucial humanitarian missions in Ukraine, successfully evacuating severely injured children from war zones.
“Throughout the national search process, we were impressed with Luis’ successful track record of developing community-driven, bottom-up strategies and building alliances across multiple sectors,” said Jenny Holsman Tetreault, chair of the board of directors for BBBSAZ. “His advocacy for youth empowerment and ability to raise significant funds to transform lives in each of the communities where he’s worked is remarkable. The board looks forward to working with him to best serve families in our community who want to participate in the life-changing mentoring programs our organization provides.”
Vega, an Arizona native, earned his degree in political science from the University of Arizona. Following 9/11, he joined the U.S. Army, served in Afghanistan, and received a Bronze Star Medal. In his post-military career, Vega has focused on nonprofit management, emphasizing veterans, families, and youth empowerment.
“It is an honor and privilege to lead this incredible organization and to serve Arizona’s youth and community, which has given me so much. I am unwavering in my devotion to ignite the spark within our youth, helping them reach their full potential and realize their unique purpose in life,” said Vega.
“I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of Laura Capello for her exemplary leadership and incredible strides made during her tenure,” Vega added. “Her accomplishments set a high standard, and I am committed to honoring Laura’s legacy by building upon the foundation she laid. I look forward to working with her over the next several weeks to ensure a seamless transition.”
In his new role, Vega will work to expand the organization’s relationships with mentors, donors, companies, and other partners to increase its capacity to serve more youth.
This past weekend, Luis had the unique opportunity to sit down with Little Sister and aspiring news correspondent, Journie. In this fun and insightful interview, Journie asks the questions that will help you get to know Luis better. Check out the video below and join us in welcoming Luis to the BBBS family!
