The Moline Foundation Appoints New Program Director for Workforce Development

The Moline Foundation announces the hiring of Susan Zelnio as the Program Director, Workforce Development for The Moline Foundation. Her primary responsibility will be to administer the nine-year old regional career exploration program, “Career Cruising Quad Cities.”

Joy Boruff, President/CEO, The Moline Foundation commented, “Susan Zelnio’s professional background is a perfect fit for The Moline Foundation and Career Cruising Quad Cities. We are looking forward to having her help us grow the Career Cruising Network in the Quad Cities.

Susan holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and she is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Working in workforce development for 12 years, Ms. Zelnio handled projects with the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, Regional Office of Education in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer and Stark Counties as well as United Way, local area agencies and workforce development boards. She has also worked in private industry primarily in Human Resources.

About Career Cruising Quad Cities

In 2009, The Moline Foundation established and has always funded Career Cruising Quad Cities – an online career exploration program for middle, high school, and post-secondary students. Career exploration with online skills assessment partnered with active career coaches (mentors) assists in preparing students for further education/training. The program has grown from a small operation serving one high school to a recognized model program in Illinois and Iowa. It serves 61 schools in six counties, benefits over 36,000 middle and grade- school students and connects over 200 business partners with students by hosting career coaching and work-based learning activities. Student log-ins to the career exploration website total between 10,000-11,000 weekly during the school year. For more information, please contact Susan Zelnio at szelnio@molinefoundation.org or call (309)736-3800.

About The Moline Foundation

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides funding to health and human services, education, community development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts for all citizens in a seven-county region including Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson and McDonough in Illinois and Scott County in Iowa.