Boca Raton, FL (November 8, 2023) Soroptimist International Woman on Distinction 2023 winner, Barbara Cambia was recently appointed as new Board President for HabCenter Boca Raton. HabCenter has served individuals with developmental differences and mental health challenges for over 45 years. The Center’s prides itself on its core values: educate, empower, engage and enhance—and Cambia has been instrumental in demonstrating these values and assisting the Center in advancing its mission. Cambia succeeds, former Board President, Stephen Pollart who served the organization from 2019 to 2023. Cambia congratulated Pollart on his exceptional leadership through some challenging years, and reassured the Board and Leadership that she will lead with vigor and determination as HabCenter continues into a new season and future successes.
Cambia has dedicated her time and talents to HabCenter Boca Raton for almost two decades. Under her leadership, HabCenter has experienced significant growth and success. She initiated HabCenter’s first fundraiser The Great Bloom Fest sponsored by Whole Foods. She has secured contributing board members, and solicited and secured Plant Nursery clients including but not limited to the City of Weston, FL as well as Lynn University yielding over $100,000.00. She is a constant advocate for the Center making introductions to potential corporate partners such as Valley Forge, Brandstar, and SunTrust, yielding resources, and advocating for the clients. She was responsible for securing a profile story in Boca Magazine.
“It is a privilege to be part of the Board at HabCenter Boca Raton.” said Barbara Cambia. “My lifelong dedication to enhancing our community’s quality of life, be it through work, leisure, or residence, drives me to stand alongside HabCenter. I believe in the Center’s mission and look forward to continuing my efforts to support their cause of providing essential support to individuals with developmental differences and mental health challenges in our community.”
Cambia is a Connecticut native who relocated to Florida, enrolling at Lynn University where she received her Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts and then completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Florida Atlantic University. Upon graduation she worked in the hospitality industry in sales & marketing opening the Park Place Suite Hotel aka Embassy Suites followed by the opening of the Radisson Suite Hotel aka Boca Raton Hilton. Cambia spent almost 20 years working for Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club in Miami, where she worked her way from Director of Marketing to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. During her time in Miami she served as the Co-Chair for Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s annual fundraiser, Hall of Champions. In January 2006, Cambia opened her own boutique public relations and marketing agency, The Public Relations People, representing clients such as the Miami Dolphins, Alonzo Mourning Charities and AVEDA. Cambia found herself back at Lynn University in November 2011 when she was hired as the Community Relations Director and fundraiser for the third and final Presidential Debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. Cambia now serves as the Executive Director of the Hannifan Center for Career & Alumni Connections where she focuses on engaging alumni to support Lynn University’s mission as well as connecting students to potential job and internship opportunities while assisting them in their overall professional development. Under Cambia’s leadership, internship participation has increased by more than 250% and freshmen engagement by more than 100%. She partnered with the Boca Raton Chamber to create Future Leaders of Tomorrow, F.L.O.T., a 3 week student Leadership Boca program.
About the HabCenter:
HabCenter Boca Raton is a nonprofit organization that opened its doors in 1978 to equip adults with special needs with the knowledge, skills, and behavior needed to lead useful and productive lives with dignity, respect, and independence. HabCenter provides a safe, enriching environment to empower the spirit of those individuals it serves and encourage their unlimited potential. Essential programs the HabCenter offers are Social Services, and mental-wellness counseling, Developmental Training, Programs in Education, Art and Recreation (P.E.A.R.), and Vocational Training within HabCo Manufacturing and the HabCenter Plant Nursery that provide horticultural training. HabCenter also offers local businesses and universities partnership opportunities through HabCo Manufacturing, the Nursery and counseling, special education and occupational therapy internship programs. HabCenter also has a Supported Employment program, which provides competitive integrated employment (CIE) opportunities for clients who can work in the community by preparing them with the knowledge, skills and behaviors they need to be successful. To learn more, visit habcenter.org.