Speaker Profile

Newton Sanon is President and Chief Executive Officer of OIC of South Florida, where he has led the organization’s growth since its founding in 2001. Under his leadership, OIC of South Florida has expanded from a two-person operation into one of South Florida’s leading workforce development organizations, providing education, vocational training and career pathways that help individuals achieve long-term economic mobility.

Sanon is committed to creating opportunities for unemployed and underemployed residents, returning citizens and young people through workforce training, industry-recognized credentials and education. During his tenure, OIC of South Florida has helped more than 45,000 individuals secure employment while growing the organization’s annual budget from $125,000 to more than $10 million and securing more than $95 million in public and private funding.

OIC of South Florida is widely recognized for its reentry programming, which has been featured on CNN and received the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives’ Honor of Hope Award. Under Sanon’s leadership, the organization has also expanded youth programming focused on academic success, career awareness and teen pregnancy prevention.

Sanon holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and has completed executive programs at Harvard University and the Wharton School. A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., he serves in leadership roles with numerous workforce, education and criminal justice organizations and has been recognized with multiple honors for his contributions to workforce and community development.