1.12.2012
George Manalo-LeClair has been selected as CFPA’s new executive director. After a special meeting of the CFPA Board of Directors on Wednesday, January 11, Board President Sam Karp announced, “On behalf of the Board of Directors I am pleased to name George Manalo-LeClair as CFPA’s new executive director. We are excited about all the greatthings that are in store for CFPA!”
In response to the announcement, George reflected, “I am very honored to have been selected to lead the organization I so love. Thanks to Ken Hecht’s leadership, CFPA has experienced incredible success over the past 20 years. I look forward to further advancing the organization’s efforts to create a healthier, hunger-free California.”
Ken Hecht, outgoing executive director shared the following statement. “It is wonderful to turn CFPA’s leadership over to someone who knows CFPA and its policy priorities so well, who has been responsible for so much that CFPA has accomplished, and who has the confidence and respect of our advocacy colleagues as well as decision-makers at every level. I know I speak on behalf of all the staff in praising the Board’s selection process and its outcome.”
George has been with CFPA since 1999. Most recently he has served as CFPA’s senior director of legislation, a role in which he has led the development and management of CFPA’s state legislative agenda. George also heads CFPA’s CalFresh team, championing efforts to remove barriers to participation at the state and local levels. Prior to joining CFPA, he was the legislative director for the Children’s Alliance in Washington state. George has a master’s degree in social work and more than two decades of experience in advocacy, dating back to his time with the Jesuit Volunteer Corp.
