Welcome, Cintia!

Here at UnidosNow we are thrilled to welcome our colleague Cintia Elenstar now as the executive director of our organization. The board could have not chosen a better leader to guide us in this new chapter for our well-established group.

The board of directors announced the promotion of Cintia Elenstar to the position of executive director this month, following the recent retirement of Luz Corcuera. Cintia joined the organization in 2019 and has been groomed for this leadership role over the past three years as part of a board-led succession plan.

“We are excited to welcome Cintia into the executive director position of UnidosNow, an ideal match given her entrepreneurial spirit and servant leadership style, evidenced in her unique care for our students and families,” says Kelly Kirschner, board chair of UnidosNow. “During her years at UnidosNow, Cintia has already shown a fierce commitment to our mission, and continues to improve our programs and processes, supporting our communities through her tireless efforts to always advance our organization. Under her leadership, UnidosNow will continue to grow in its ability to empower area Latinos to achieve their American dream,” added Kirchner.

Since joining UnidosNow, Cintia has helped us innovate and advance our mission. At the onset of the pandemic, she adapted our flagship program, the Future Leadership Academy, to a fully online format, ensuring that students’ progress toward achieving their academic dreams could continue. Cintia also spearheaded UnidosNow’s College Completion program, which supports more than 100 first-generation, low-income students each year. In addition, she formalized the organization’s mentoring program and implemented a donor management system.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead such a dedicated team, and to expand and enhance the impact of UnidosNow,” she says. “I look forward to continuing to serve and empower the fast-growing Hispanic/Latinx community in our region.”

A former business owner from Argentina, Cintia brings here entrepreneurial spirit and servant leadership expertise to her new role. She started her travel company in Argentina as a one-woman operation and quickly grew it to a team of 25 employees. Through that experience, Cintia gained insight into the importance of customer service, how to lead a team effectively, and the value of empowering others.

After arriving in southwest Florida in 2012, Cintia served as education administrator at a botanical garden, where she coordinated classes for community members and supported the volunteer management program. She also has experience teaching English as a second language to new citizens in underserved communities and working as a legal assistant supervisor in a public defender’s office.

A firm believer in life-long learning, Cintia holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, summa cum laude, in sustainability management from St. Petersburg College, as well as several certifications, including as a certified nonprofit professional. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nonprofit management and a graduate certificate in fundraising at the University of Central Florida. Cintia also serves on the board of the Florida Policy Institute.

Please join us in welcoming Cintia to this new role: ¡bienvenida, Cintia!