IRCF Team Member Since: 2015

When he is not surfing, Jeffrey R. Pickering is President and CEO of Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida.  Mr. Pickering has more than 25 years of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership and fundraising, including five years as President and CEO of Kern Community Foundation in Bakersfield, California, and four years as Vice President at the Community Foundation of Central Florida.  Prior to entering the community foundation field, Mr. Pickering served for 10 years in leadership roles at two nonprofit respite centers in Chicago, Illinois and Orlando, Florida that provided residential medical recovery for ill and injured homeless adults discharged from area hospitals. 

Mr. Pickering holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from the University of South Florida, a master’s degree in leadership studies from the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego, a certificate in business administration from the Roy E. Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and attended Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (“d.school”).  Mr. Pickering is an alumnus of the Vincentian Service Corps, where he served for one year after graduation from college as a lay missioner working among homeless men and women in New York City.  In 2016, Mr. Pickering was honored to be selected for the CFLeads Executive Leadership Institute for Community Foundation CEOs, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Indian River Estate Planning Council and is Chairman of the Community Foundations of Florida.

Mr. Pickering is married to Stephanie Brooks Pickering of Palm Springs, California. The Pickerings have three children, Colin, Olivia and Grant.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2015

Yamilet Cendejas is the Director of Philanthropy at Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida. Previously, Ms. Cendejas’ experience includes fine dining server at Oak Harbor Country Club and customer service representative in her family’s business, Yami’s Ice Cream Shop. Ms. Cendejas holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Indian River State College. She is a member of the international honor society Sigma Beta Delta.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2015

Jaci Ruppert is the Accountant for the Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida.  Jaci has over 30 years of experience in accounting, both nonprofit and for profit.  Her nonprofit experience was with Maryland Environmental Service and the University of Maryland Department of Radiation Oncology.  Her local work history has been with Piper Aircraft and CDC Publishing.  She graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Jaci is married to Joseph Ruppert and they have one child, Joe. 

IRCF Team Member Since: 2019

Chiaka J. Nwosu is Director of Philanthropy at Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida.  Chiaka is a Vero Beach native, beginning at Beachland Elementary School and graduating from Sebastian River High School’s International Baccalaureate Program.  She has extensive sales and technical user experience, specializing in data and information. Chiaka previously attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Web Design & Development from Champlain College in Burlington, VT.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2021

Brooke Sauserman is the Foundation Coordinator of Grants and Nonprofit Services at Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida. Brooke is originally from Maryland but recently moved to Vero Beach with her husband, Hunter Sauserman. Brooke’s previous experience includes special education and office administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Development from Liberty University.