UNITED WAY - Key Persons
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- President / Hamilton Parker Company
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- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Resource Development Operations Coordinator
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- Manager, Resource Development Operations
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- Donor Services Specialist
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- Chairman of the Nominating & Governance Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the Audit Committee
The Executive Committee is comprised of the Chair, the Chair-elect, the immediate past Chair, the Treasurer/Secretary, the vice chairs, a member agency representative, and a representative of organized labor. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the full Board of Trustees between meetings.
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- Manager of Volunteer United
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- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- SVP, Merchandise Planning & Allocation / Designer Brands
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- Director of Public Sector Campaigns
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- Senior Vice President, Population Health
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- Director of Community Services
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- Member of the Nominating & Governance Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Chief Financial Officer
- Finance
- Senior Vice President of Finance
- SVP
- Vice President, Finance
- Member and past Chair of the United Way Worldwide Financial Issues Committee
Cheryl Nelson is Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for the United Way of Central Ohio. In her role, Cheryl is committed to ensuring the organization maintains adherence to strict accountability and transparency standards to maintain financial integrity and donor trust.
Cheryl has been a CPA (currently inactive) since 1987 and has over 25 years of experience in public accounting, healthcare finance and non-profit financial and operational management. Prior to joining the United Way in May 2001, Cheryl was the CFO of the Jewish Community Center (a United Way member agency) for four years. Cheryl's first United Way experience was working as a Loaned Executive during the 1987 campaign.
Cheryl currently serves as an alumni member and past chair of the United Way Worldwide Financial Issues Committee. She is also a member of the Operations Council for UPIC Solutions, a national administrative services cooperative managed by local United Ways. Cheryl's other volunteer work includes serving as a mentor in the United Way Women's Leadership E3 program and a site coordinator for the TaxTime free tax preparation service.
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- Director, United Way of Union County
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- Member of the Audit Committee
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- Chairman of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Financial Director / Crane Group
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- AVP, Business and Finance / Capital University
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Nominating & Governance Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Executive Committee
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- SVP / Associate & External Relations / State Auto Insurance Companies
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- Chairman of the Public Policy Committee
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Director of Marketing / Columbus Chamber of Commerce
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Chief Operations Officer / White Castle Management Co.
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- Member of the Audit Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
- Vice President / Sr. Commercial Banker / Fifth Third Commercial Bank
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- Director, Content & Communications
Jill Geiger joined the Marketing Department at United Way of Central Ohio in January 2011 as Marketing Manager, Content Generation. As a member of the Marketing Department, she was responsible for writing and editing content for materials targeted to both internal and external audiences. She also developed and managed production of collateral materials, provided website and email content, and managed marketing projects across the organization.
Jill became the organization's Director of Marketing in 2018, leading the development and implementation of communications messages and tools. Along with her team of two, she ensured the coordination and brand consistency of communications within the organization, and managed the creation and production of digital, print and audiovisual materials. She was named the organization's Director, Content & Communications in January 2020. Her work at United Way has given her the unique opportunity to explore and share the stories of impact of many of central Ohio's nonprofits.
Jill's 30+ year career has included positions as writer/editor of a national hobby newspaper (weekly), as editor of a national bicycling magazine (monthly) and communications director for The Childhood League Center, a nonprofit center for children with special needs.
She has served on numerous committees at King Avenue United Methodist Church, where she is a member and has led the Meals-on-Wheels mission team for more than a decade. Jill holds a degree in Magazine Journalism from Ohio University and is currently enjoying an empty nest with her husband and numerous pets in Clintonville.
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- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Immediate past Chair
- Member of the Nominating & Governance Committee
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
Lisa S. Courtice is president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, one of the largest United Way organizations in the country. Under her leadership, United Way is helping to build a community in which everyone has the aspirations, resources and opportunities to reach their fullest potential.
Dr. Courtice is a Ph.D. psychologist with over thirty years of experience leading nonprofit programs and services, having served for over ten years as director of agencies directly providing services to those living in poverty in Ohio. Prior to joining United Way she served thirteen years as executive vice president and leader of community research and grants management of The Columbus Foundation, the seventh largest community foundation in the country.
Lisa currently serves on the boards of Syracuse University College of Arts & Sciences, Ohio United Way and Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio. In 2018 she was appointed by Columbus City Council to serve as a commissioner on the Commission on Black Girls. Her professional leadership has included serving as chair of the Weinland Park Collaborative and serving on the Ohio Wesleyan University and Columbus School for Girls Board of Trustees. Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University, her Master of Arts from West Virginia University and her Ph.D. from the University of Akron. For the past three years, Lisa has been recognized on the Columbus Business First Power 100 list.
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Executive Director
- Member of the Executive Committee
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- Chairman of the Resource Development Committee
- Managing Partner and CEO / Agate Creek Partners, LLC
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Assistant Treasurer, United Way of Union County / Manufacturing & Quality Team Leader
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Senior Vice President of Community Impact
- Vice President, Community Impact
Michael Wilkos is Senior Vice President of Community Impact. His team develops effective strategies to improve our community and invests in programs provided by funded partners to implement these strategies.
Prior to joining United Way, Michael was Director of Community Research at The Columbus Foundation. During his tenure at the foundation he initiated, led, and managed more than $9 million in competitive grant-making to support holistic community revitalization in Weinland Park, an effort to stabilize and revitalize a mixed-income community near The Ohio State University. Prior to joining the foundation, Michael served as Senior Impact Director and Director of Neighborhood Development at United Way of Central Ohio. In that position he managed program allocations supporting neighborhood development strategies. Among many other duties, he also directed volunteer involvement in developing and implementing strategies supporting housing and community safety programs.
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- Member of the HR Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Board Chair, United Way of Union County / AVP, Quality Audit - P & C
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Senior Vice President, Customer & Regulatory
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- Member of the Audit Committee
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- Chairman of the HR Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Nominating & Governance Committee
- Member of the Resource Development Committee
- Marketing & Communications Committee
Provides strategic direction and oversight for the financial operations of the organization including the operating budget, pledge collections and other financial matters. Reports to the United Way of Central Ohio Board of Trustees.
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- SVP & Chief Talent Acquisition Officer / Nationwide Insurance
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- Vice President, Resource Development
Stephanie W. Harris has over 20 years experience in marketing, fundraising and business development. Prior to joining United Way, she was director of development for the Ohio State Legal Services Association and its affiliates - The Legal Aid Society of Columbus, the Ohio Poverty Law Center and Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. She served as director of marketing and development for Columbus Early Learning Centers for six years before joining OSLSA in 2011.
A native of Columbus, Stephanie received her bachelors and JD from The Ohio State University. Her career has included work in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she directed the public relations department for the City of New Orleans and served as managing editor for Gambit Newspapers. In 1985 Stephanie was recruited by Gannett Newspapers to direct the marketing department for the Ft. Myers News-Press in Ft. Myers, Florida.
Stephanie returned to Columbus in 1991 and began her work with nonprofit organizations with a focus on helping social service providers develop marketing and resource development plans and programs that create brand awareness and provide the sustained support that allows organizations to expand and serve their constituencies more effectively and efficiently.
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- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Member of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Member of the Finance Committee
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- President and CEO / the Center for Healthy Families
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee
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- Chairman of the Planning and Investment Committee
- Associate Vice President, Local Relations and Community Affairs / the Ohio State University
- Chairman of Planning and Investment Committee
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- Assistant Vice President for Public Policy & Government Relations
- Vice President for Community Impact Operations
- Vice President, Community Impact
Valerie is Vice President for Community Impact Operations. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the Community Impact Department and works cross-functionally with other departments to ensure collaboration, communication and the implementation of strategies and processes that ensure maximum success.
Valerie began her career with United Way of Central Ohio in December 2007 as the organization's first full-time Public Policy Director. In that role she oversaw the development and implementation of United Way's public policy agenda and helped advance public policies that impacted early care and education, financial stability, safe and affordable housing and access to healthcare. Her efforts helped establish United Way's presence among statewide coalitions that advocate on behalf of health and human services.
In April 2016 Valerie was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Public Policy & Government Relations where she worked to ensure the integration of public policy advocacy throughout United Way's work. In September 2017 Valerie transitioned to her current role of Vice President for Community Impact Operations.
Valerie is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Columbus and a 2018 graduate of the African American Leadership Academy (Favored 14). Valerie graduated from Miami University with a degree in Communications. Prior to relocating to Columbus, Valerie served as the Public Policy Coordinator for Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. She also managed the public policy activities of the Cleveland Area Alzheimer's Association and the Ohio Council of the Alzheimer's Association. Valerie enjoys gardening, music, theatre arts, swimming, pouring into the lives of others and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Resource Development Committee
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- Member of the Public Policy Committee