Ballet Palm Beach Welcomes New Board Members

LeAnna “Lea” J. Carey

Jessica Cho

(Press Release) Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – (July 13, 2026) Celebrating 25 years of artistic excellence, Ballet Palm Beach proudly welcomes LeAnna “Lea” J. Carey and Jessica Cho to the professional ballet company’s Board of Directors.
 
“Entering our twenty-fifth season, Ballet Palm Beach is honored to welcome these outstanding professionals to our Board,” says Founding Artistic and Executive Director, Colleen Smith. “Their experience and dedication to our mission directly supports Ballet Palm Beach’s continued work serving as the county’s own professional ballet company.

​LeAnna “Lea” J. Carey is the Founder of Women Who Innovate, a company focused on providing strategic guidance to startup companies, non-profit organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. Lea has launched five companies, consults with Executive leaders within the pharmaceutical industry, and is an experienced advocate having served on both global, national, and local Board of Directors. As a result of her successful track record over the span of 25 years, Lea has chaired Start Up Company and Entrepreneur of the Year competition panels for both the World Congress and Healthcare Unbound, in Washington DC and San Francisco.
 
During her time in Washington DC, she served on the Clinton Global Initiative, led the campaign for Health 2.0 the Obama Initiative on Innovation digital strategy, launched the Growth Strategy Co. for Growth Thinking and How Stella Saved the Farm. Following her HBA global board service, she served as President of the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County. Lea is certified in both Executive Women's Leadership from Yale University, Executive Presence and Influence from the Wharton School of Executive Education, and a Certified Executive Coach from IPEC.
 
Jessica Cho is an accomplished finance professional and community leader based in Palm Beach County. She brings over a decade of Wall Street experience to her philanthropic endeavors, having previously served as a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Prior to her career in banking, Jessica worked in television and film production in Alabama.
 
A dedicated advocate for education, the arts, and community development, Jessica has held numerous parent leadership positions and actively supports multiple charitable organizations. Jessica holds a lifelong appreciation for ballet and academic excellence and enjoys field sports and outdoor activities. She graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B. in Politics.