Newly-appointed LACF executive director Steve Laurent and outgoing executive director Rachel Kizielewicz. Courtesy photo
LACF NEWS RELEASE
Steve Laurent has been named the new executive director of the Los Alamos Community Foundation. Laurent replaces Rachel Kizielewicz who, after four years as executive director, announced her departure due to family relocation to Virginia earlier this year.
“We are very excited to welcome Steve to the LACF family, as well as back to the Los Alamos community,” said David Izraelevitz, LACF Board President. “He will bring a fresh perspective and energy, informed by his legal background and experience leading organizations that received support from community foundations. It is a moment of growth for LACF, and we couldn’t be more fortunate to have Steve leading us through this new chapter.”
Laurent commented that Rachel and the Board have done an excellent of job increasing the impact of the Foundation, especially during difficult times.
“I am grateful for what they have established, and I look forward to working with our Board on what lies ahead,” said Laurent. “I’m excited to start connecting with our nonprofit leaders and their supporters to ensure that the Foundation serves as a valued resource, trusted partner and effective supporter of their important efforts.”
Laurent returned to Los Alamos after six years in Park City, Utah where he served most recently as managing director of Mountainlands Community Housing Trust, a nonprofit that develops, owns, and manages a variety of affordable housing opportunities and assists working households to secure housing.
From 2008-2015, Steve and his family resided in Los Alamos where he spent his professional life as an attorney at Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe
County and LA Mesa Law Firm. He was also able to squeeze in a summer of doing historic preservation work at Bandelier National Monument. Prior to moving to Los Alamos, Steve practiced real estate law in Grand Rapids, Michigan and worked in historic preservation and grants management for Arizona State Parks.
Laurent lives in Los Alamos with his wife Anne. Their children, Frances and Maxim, are graduates of Los Alamos High School and are currently attending college at the University of Utah and the University of New Mexico. Outside of work, Laurent has a love for history and architecture.
Laurent holds a law degree from Michigan State University, a master’s in history from Arizona State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College.
“Rachel Kizielewicz did an incredible job as our very first Executive Director,” Izraelevitz said. “She helped us mature as an organization and develop a path for how LACF supports our community. She continues to work with Steve to assure a smooth transition, and we all wish her the best in her future endeavors,” Izraelevitz added.
Laurent’s unanimously approved appointment by the LACF Board of Directors concludes an extensive national search encompassing numerous candidates. His first official day as executive director is July 11.
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of LACF is to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. LACF currently stewards 14 local endowed funds and has total assets of more than $975,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.