JAMES R. HAJ

PRESIDENT & CEO, THE CHILDREN’S TRUST, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to partner with the community to plan, advocate for and fund strategic investments that improve the lives of all children and families in Miami-Dade County. It has 85 employees.

EDUCATION: Florida State University (BS), University of Miami (MBA)

FIRST JOB: My first professional role was as an educator for students with disabilities, where I had the privilege of teaching a diverse group of learners, each with their unique challenges and strengths. I also coached the Special Olympics team.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: No matter what alternate career I would be interested in, I would still select a field focused on community service and social impact, where I could actively contribute to uplifting the lives of those around me and leverage my skills and passions to create lasting change and foster a sense of empowerment within the community.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I’ve always been committed to exercise, but I only began running marathons recently. Over the past few years, I’ve completed five marathons.

PASSION PROJECT: I am passionate about the early childcare work we are doing in our community. There is a national crisis in this area, and by expanding access to quality early childcare, we can positively impact the education system, enhance children’s futures and help address the workforce challenges that businesses are currently facing.