MOLINE, ILLINOIS (June 17, 2026) — Junior Achievement of the Heartland is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Barth as Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFO/COO). She will join the organization on June 22, bringing extensive experience in financial leadership, operations, and strategic planning.

As CFO/COO, Barth will oversee financial management, operational effectiveness, human resources, and long-term sustainability initiatives. Her leadership will help strengthen the organization's infrastructure as Junior Achievement continues to expand its impact across the region through its Education for What's Next strategic direction.

Junior Achievement prepares young people with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to achieve economic mobility and own their futures. Barth's expertise will help ensure the organization remains well-positioned to serve more students, volunteers, schools, and communities throughout its 24-county service area.

"We are excited to welcome Amy to the Junior Achievement of the Heartland family," said Lysa Hegland, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Heartland.

"As we celebrate our seventieth anniversary and look toward the future, Amy's experience, leadership, and commitment to excellence will help strengthen our organization and expand our ability to prepare young people for what's next. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue creating pathways to economic mobility for students across the Heartland."

With more than thirteen years of non-profit experience, Barth brings expertise in financial management and reporting, human resources, employee benefits administration, and organizational operations. She has successfully managed diverse leadership responsibilities and is known for her reliability, adaptability, efficiency, and strong organizational skills. Her collaborative leadership style helps teams and boards achieve goals while keeping mission-driven outcomes at the forefront.

About Junior Achievement of the Heartland

Junior Achievement is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner working in collaboration with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow.

As a leader in experiential learning operating on a national scale with over a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly-changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.6 million students annually across nearly 100 US markets, and is part of JA Worldwide, which serves over 19.9 million students in more than 100 countries. Learn more at ja.org.

Locally, Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Visit heartland.ja.org for more information.

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