Ann Smith-Palenchar

Believing people and organizations should have the opportunity to be the best they can be, Ann is committed to improving the world we live in. Serving as the Founding Director of Development, she will continue to influence others’ success by identifying needs, encouraging initiative and improvement, and promoting learning and growth.

As a former corporate trainer and college instructor, Ann wholeheartedly believes and knows how education transforms people’s lives and needs to encompass the whole person, which is what Catholic education does.

Having built her varied work history on one guiding principle: Empower others to succeed, Ann is thrilled to bring her uniquely qualified diverse career background to the mission of Cristo Rey Orlando. Having experience in corporate training, business development, education, entrepreneurship, and most recently nonprofit development, Ann uses her communication and project management skills to create partnerships between people and ideas.

Before relocating to Orlando, FL in 2022, Ann served as the Director of Donor Relations for Catholic Charities of Oregon. There, she developed strategies to expand the organization’s individual donor philanthropy, raised funds, hired and managed the donor relations team, as well as planned and executed events.

Graduating from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Ann earned a B.A. in Organizational Communication and later returned to school to receive an A.A.S in Interior Design. Residing in Oviedo, Ann and her husband Tom continue to experience all that Florida has to offer, especially visits to the Walt Disney World Parks with their son who works for Disney.

“When the knowledge of a Cristo Rey High School coming to Orlando was divinely placed on my heart, I could not wait to get involved. While working at Jesuit High School in Portland, OR I experienced firsthand the power of students becoming men and women for others and encountering God’s love. Imagining the same experience will happen for our future CRO students, I am filled with joy and blessed to watch it happen.” – Ann Smith-Palenchar