FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2025

Miami, FL — The CLEO Institute is proud to announce Yoca Arditi-Rocha as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as the organization builds on unprecedented growth and deepens its impact in climate education, advocacy, and community resilience. As CLEO enters its 15th anniversary year, this transition to a CEO-led structure reflects its evolution as a national force in climate action. With a growing budget, expanding staff, and an evolving organizational infrastructure, CLEO is positioned to scale its nonpartisan model strategically across the U.S. to help accelerate the country’s transition to a clean energy economy by meeting their Vision 2030 goals of raising $30 million in unrestricted philanthropy for the remainder of this decisive decade.

Ms. Arditi-Rocha’s leadership builds upon the visionary work of Caroline Lewis, who founded CLEO in 2010 to bridge the gap between climate science and public understanding. Since joining CLEO in 2018, Arditi-Rocha has strengthened the organization, expanding its reach and deepening its advocacy. Under her leadership, The CLEO Institute has:

• Expanded its advocacy and policy impact, positioning Florida as a leader in resilience and clean energy. CLEO has met with nearly 400 elected officials securing major wins such as: additional funding for the Miami-Dade Office of Resilience; negotiated with utilities like Duke Energy and FPL to implement safety nets that prevent power shut offs during extreme heat; secured the City of Tampa’s commitment to 100% clean energy by 2035; collaborated on the National Resilience Framework and the Inflation Reduction Act under the Biden-Harris administration.
• Grown its educational programs, training over 51,000 individuals—including students, educators, and community members—on climate science and solutions.
• Continued to position The CLEO Institute as a thought leading expert and go-to source for media inquiries in Florida earning more than 445 press mentions.
• Scaled a powerful youth movement through genCLEO, now active on 10 college campuses with over 8,000 youth members statewide, shaping the next generation of climate leaders. This year alone, genCLEO mobilized close to 400 students to the State Capitol to lobby for climate action, making it one of the largest youth-driven climate advocacy efforts in the state.
• Since 2020, CLEO has increased its revenue by over 125% and is projecting an additional 50% growth this year. This remarkable trajectory reflects the organization’s strategic leadership, successful fundraising efforts, and growing influence in shaping climate action across Florida and beyond.
• Helped unlock over $500 million in public climate investments in 2024 from the historic climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Launched the annual Race for Our Future® Earth Day 5K, creating a powerful community platform for climate advocacy, civic engagement, and fundraising—mobilizing hundreds of participants each year to champion a just and sustainable future.

Lindsey Wolfson, Board Chair: “The Board is proud to have Yoca assume the CEO role. Her unwavering dedication, deep passion for our mission, and tireless work have strengthened our organization and deepened our community impact. She has grown as a leader while driving meaningful growth for CLEO, and we are confident she will continue to lead us to new heights.”

Yoca Arditi-Rocha, The CLEO Institute, CEO: “It is an incredible honor—and a profound responsibility—to lead The CLEO Institute into this new era of impact. As we face the defining challenge of our lifetime, CLEO’s work has never been more urgent—or more full of possibility. Climate change demands bold, people-centered solutions, and that’s exactly what we will deliver with CLEO’s proven playbook.”