Columbia, SC – The Lions Vision Services Board of Directors has appointed Daniel Prohaska as President and Chief Executive Officer, the fifth and youngest CEO in the organization’s 51-year history, effective January 1, 2021. Former CEO, Winn Fitzgerald, has stepped into the newly defined role of Executive Vice President in an exciting restructuring of LVS which will better harness the unique leadership skills of Senior Management.
Prohaska previously served as Director of Development for LVS beginning in February 2020. With Prohaska’s leadership the organization has seen meaningful growth including the launch of a new statewide collaborative initiative, the Palmetto Vision Alliance, amidst unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his eight years as a Lions Club member, Prohaska also served on the LVS Board of Directors, including as Chairman, prior to being hired as staff. He holds a Masters Degree in Philanthropy and Development and the CFRE credential.
Fitzgerald has been with the organization since 2011 when she was hired as a Programs Assistant. Rising through the ranks, Fitzgerald was eventually appointed Interim Executive Director in 2016 following a sudden leadership transition and was named President and CEO in 2018. Her leadership has provided invaluable stability during a transitional time for LVS and her new senior role in the organization will preserve her tenure and increase her impact on clients and programs, which remains a primary focus in her career.
In their new roles Prohaska will set and implement the strategic vision for the organization, along with the Board, and lead the organization’s fundraising and external affairs, while Fitzgerald will lead the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the organization with a focus on client services and programs. The new structure is championed by all as a stronger alignment between the staff’s personal strengths and the organization’s strategic direction.
***
About Lions Vision Services
Lions Vision Services (LVS) was created by the Lions Clubs of South Carolina in 1969 and exists today to empower the under-served blind and visually impaired in South Carolina to live safe, meaningful, and fulfilling lives. LVS offers a range of programs and services to low income South Carolina residents who apply for need-based financial assistance with obtaining affordable eye surgeries, low vision equipment, health screenings, and hearing aids. To learn more about LVS’s services, visit www.lionsvisionservices.org.