After a seven-year tenure as SMDF’s first Managing Director, Keith Franca bid farewell to the Fund in December 2019.

With over thirty-five years of Senior Management experience, Keith Franca purposefully lead SMDF since his appointment in 2012. In his first months as Managing Director, Mr. Franca prioritized SMDF’s proper structuring, sought to ensure that SMDF had the information, resources and infrastructure necessary to efficiently and effectively serve St. Maarten’s NGO community. During SMDF’s startup, Mr. Franca was also instrumental in assisting the board with the establishment of the Fund’s internal processes and procedures as well as setting up of the SMDF’s offices.

With his commitment to improving the quality of life of the elderly, Mr. Franca also facilitated the expansion of elderly transportation with SMDF purchasing four passenger buses for transportation service Helping Hands Foundation.

During his tenure as Managing Director, Mr. Franca led the organization’s staff steadfastly. He encouraged an open-door policy and customer service mentality that came from his decades in the hospitality sector, calling each NGO that received funds from SMDF a ‘client’ to be served. Internally, he instilled a sense of duty amongst SMDF’s staff.

He meticulously oversaw the foundation’s operating, funding and project expenses. He served as internal administrator and accountant, ensuring that every guilder spent served its intended purpose. No task was too large or too small for his attention to detail and after seven years of service to SMDF, he has left the organization, having passed on his extensive knowledge to his successor SMDF’s new Managing Director Ms. Makhicia Brooks.