Dawn S. Reese,

Chief Executive Officer at the Wooden Floor

@DawnSReese

Dawn S. Reese, CFRE is the Chief Executive Officer of The Wooden Floor. She is a social innovator who leverages her unique blend of experience in business, technology, education, and the arts to propel young people forward. During Dawn’s nearly 15-year tenure, the organization’s budget has grown from $2.1M to $3.7M and she has led growth efforts to scale its impact, both locally and nationally. The Wooden Floor’s mission is to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education. Since 2005, 100% of the students who graduate from The Wooden Floor immediately enroll in higher education.

Dawn has been honored with the following awards: 2023 Empowering Lives Award by Templo Calvario, 2023 Sam Estes Award for Community Leadership by the Santa Ana Task Force, 2022 Orange County Visionary by the Los Angeles Times Orange County, 2020 Women of Distinction Award from 34th CA Senate District, 2019 Women Breaking Barriers Award from Connected Women of Influence, the 2016 Center for Leadership Award for Innovation from California State University Fullerton, among others. Dawn currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Passkeys Foundation as Board Chair, OneOC as Audit Chair as well as Advisors in Philanthropy Orange County, Orange County Music and Dance, OC Forum, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce. She is on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Leadership – College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton. Dawn founded the OC Nonprofit CEO Forum and Chairs the Youth Mental Health Sub-Committee for the Santa Ana Task Force.