LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2020 – The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region announced today that Joanne Nowlin has been named the new CEO of the region, which serves more than 10 million residents in 88 cities across Los Angeles County. Nowlin, a Florida native, has been with the Red Cross for three years, previously serving as the CEO of the South Florida Region.
Nowlin brings with her a history of bold initiatives and campaigns. Her goals include advancing our outreach to vulnerable communities, incorporating more diverse campaigns and strengthening the leadership of the Red Cross in Los Angeles.
“I am honored to take the helm of this dynamic region and help guide its mission to support our diverse communities in preparing for and recovering from natural and man-made disasters,” Nowlin said. “I’m a Florida native, so I have seen the critical role the Red Cross plays in helping residents through disasters, big and small.”
Prior to joining the Red Cross in 2017, Nowlin was the director of development and the head of fundraising at Florida Atlantic University's (FAU) northern campuses. She also served as the interim CEO of the FAU Foundation, and the executive director of the Southern Florida and Puerto Rico Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She sat on the board of 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast and was a trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.
As part of its humanitarian mission, the Red Cross Los Angeles Region provides emergency relief to residents impacted by disasters and supports our service members and their families. It strives to make all local communities and cultural groups safer and more resilient through collecting lifesaving blood, installing free smoke alarms, teaching health and safety skills such as CPR, water safety, and first aid; and by empowering its neighbors with emergency preparedness skills.
As CEO for the Red Cross in Los Angeles, Nowlin will oversee all Red Cross services including leading the region as it prepares for what is said to be a busy wildfire season during COVID-19. Nowlin brings with her a strong disaster response background successfully leading the South Florida team through Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Dorian and the Parkland Shooting. The service provided by the Red Cross Los Angeles Region will continue to be at the highest level, as our new leadership is in excellent hands.
David Englin, Chief Operating Officer of the Red Cross in Los Angeles, has served as interim CEO for the Los Angeles Region as Nowlin moved to Southern California and prepared to become the CEO.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.