Making Connections: Featuring 4 United Way NEXT members
United Way NEXT is proud to connect current and former United Way professionals throughout a rich community of diverse members. In this installment of our Making Connections series, friends and former colleagues will get to read the stories and reflections from Jim Yu, Juanita Ortiz, Stephen Webster, & Dallas Mudd.
Jim Yu
Member Segment: United Way Staff
It was April 19, 1995 and I was in a crowded elevator after an all staff meeting at United Way of America (UWA). The elevator made a stop and one of our long-time colleagues stepped in and shared that there was a bombing in Oklahoma City. We were all stunned and shocked.
A day or so later, I was asked to join a small team from UWA traveling on-site to support the United Way. Alice Thacker, Phillip Walker and I were tasked to collaborate with partners to develop a technology system that tracked and coordinated services to victims and their families.
We worked tirelessly with consultants and UW staff over several weeks. PCs were donated, delivered and set-up in the community. The software system was quickly developed and our team helped to train local agencies in its use.
Tom Brown was the CEO of the United Way in Oklahoma City at the time. Whenever I saw Tom at conferences or UWRA meetings, we would hug warmly. He always remembered seeing us early each morning at the office...having slept on the floor overnight. One of my most cherished possessions is an engraved brick from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It was presented to me several years later along with a personal note from the United Way staff.
I've served at United Way Worldwide (formerly United Way of America) for 35+ years in many different capacities and roles. I've worked with and supported United Ways throughout the U.S. and around the world. I’ve had many accomplishments that I'm very proud of. As a member of United Way Next, I stay connected to, learn from and continue to work with some of the very best people…United Way alumni.
Juanita Ortiz
Member Segment: United Way Alumni
My United Way journey began around 2004 at United Way of Miami-Dade, shortly after returning from Latin America, where I worked with UNICEF supporting child rights in Indigenous and isolated communities. United Way felt like a natural continuation of that work, with the same focus on strengthening communities and improving people’s well-being. At UWMD, I managed a workplace giving portfolio with a large concentration of major donors, which ultimately connected me with Joyce Wilbur, who was leading a Tocqueville Society conference at United Way of America and exploring international expansion of the model. Joyce became a mentor and friend, and I later joined United Way International to work alongside her to pilot the major-giving approach across five continents, before taking on a variety of roles across the global network following the creation of United Way Worldwide.
What has stayed with me most about the United Way movement is the people. United Way attracts kind, intelligent, and deeply committed people who want to tackle some of society’s most pressing social challenges. I was drawn to UW NEXT because it keeps me connected to longtime colleagues and friends while introducing me to others whose experiences and perspectives I value. A highlight has been getting to know Carole Peters, whose energy, vision for UW NEXT, and commitment to the network have made being part of this community especially rewarding.
Today, my work focuses on strategy, organizational effectiveness, and systems transformation with governments, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and philanthropy—including, happily, continued work with local United Ways and State Associations. I’m always interested in connecting with others to exchange ideas, share what’s working, and learn from one another.
Stephen Webster
Member Segment: United Way Retiree
After my Army discharge, I earned an MS and MA at UW-Madison. In 1975 I started teaching at UT-Knoxville where I led national efforts to establish training programs to prepare social workers for rural practice. I organized the 1st Institute on Social Work in Rural Areas which last year had its 50th iteration and formed and coordinated for 9 years the Rural Social Work Caucus. In 1976, I was recruited by the School of Social Work UW-Madison for a new Social Planning/Policy concentration. United Way was the obvious place to volunteer. I met Leslie Ann Howard. We had immediate affinity. After several panels and needs assessments I was slotted to become the Chair of Planning and Allocation. There was a different path waiting.
In 1984 an F5 tornado tore through Barneveld, Wisconsin and I was appointed Recovery Coordinator leaving the academy behind. In 1989, the United Ways in Wisconsin were just forming United Way of Wisconsin. Leslie asked me if I was interested in being the Executive Director. I joyfully jumped and, surprisingly, retired 25 years later. My objectives: provide TA and CE, strengthen the capacity of the United Ways and, to the extent possible, see themselves as a collaborative family. One of the legacies of my tenure at UWW is the Great Rivers Conference.
Since my UWW post was 50% FTE, there was time to establish an international consulting firm in disaster management with the UN, International Red Cross/Crescent, the Swedish government, and many NGOs as clients, focusing on response coordination and risk reduction. I worked on every continent except Antarctica but concentrated in the Middle East and former Soviet Union. At 70, I retired from being paid. Roger Frick recruited me to UW NEXT. When I met Carole Peters, I was hooked. During retirement, in 2025, I was named the La Follette School of Public Affairs Alumni of Distinction.
In addition to being a grandfather, curling and going to medical appointments, I am making a documentary on establishing rural social work concentrations and publishing a children’s book on disability rights and the negative consequences of labels through the eyes of a blind cat, The Adventures of Peaches – the Sense-Able Cat.
Dallas Mudd
Member Segment: United Way Alumni
My journey with United Way began in 2016 when I stepped into the role of VP of Gift in Kind Operations for United Way of Northwest Arkansas. My path was a fast-paced one; I soon transitioned into the VP of Operations, where I focused on the operational mechanics of making a difference. However, my most defining chapter came in March 2020. Amidst the onset of the pandemic, I was tasked with building and launching a statewide 211 solution for Arkansas. Navigating that crisis reinforced my belief in the power of this network to provide a lifeline when the world feels most uncertain.
Though my professional path has led me beyond the daily UW office, my heart remains firmly rooted in our shared mission of lifting communities and helping individuals thrive. This is exactly what brought me to UW NEXT. I joined to maintain the deep-rooted connections I built with friends and peers across the country. The value of this community lies in its ability to blend professional legacy with personal support; it allows me to stay tethered to the mission-driven work that defined so much of my career while growing alongside people who share my "service-first" DNA.
Beyond the office, I am a disabled veteran and remain deeply committed to the mission of taking care of our own. When I’m not finding ways to support my fellow veterans, you can usually find me standing in a river with a fly rod in hand or playing guitar at my church. I would love to connect with anyone who shares a passion for the outdoors, music, or veteran advocacy. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with all of you!
We hope you've enjoyed reading about your fellow United Way NEXT members! If you'd like to connect with them individually, we encourage you to join our LinkedIn and Facebook groups 💙
PS. If you're interested in sharing your own story in the NEXT installment of our Making Connections series, please email Ivy Cirillo!