Making Connections: Featuring 5 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 Kristi Shepard, Susan Eckert, Kerstin Rust, Tonja Couch, & Brian Tierney.
Kristi Shepard
Member Segment: United Way Staff
It is hard to believe that I just completed my 26th campaign at United Way of Dane County. Over those years, I have had the privilege of meeting dedicated loyal contributors, active volunteers and engaged business leaders. We’ve celebrated our Centennial and weathered economic, health and local crises. All the while I’ve helped our donors and other partners create a stronger community.
My United Way career started when a development colleague who knew me through the Association of Fundraising Professionals invited me to coffee. Yes, one of those coffee meetings! She was Campaign Director and told me about an upcoming position with leadership giving and the Professional Services Division of the campaign. Soon after I came on staff in 2000, the newly-launched young professionals’ group was mine—our Rosenberry Society was born. Those lead ‘Berries remain involved and have become my dear friends. We’ve grown up together.
I’ve staffed all of our annual leadership giving programs, and Tocqueville Society is a significant part of my portfolio. My greatest joy, however, comes from stewarding our United Way of Dane County Foundation. Most of the fundholders are longtime United Way givers, but endowment building is a different mindset. It continues to inspire me that donors include United Way in their estate plans, worthy of carrying on their legacy.
Evelyn Morgner, United Way Worldwide, introduced me to United Way NEXT because of the planned giving programs. The tremendous faculty keep me engaged. It’s often like a reunion with the long-tenured fundraisers whom I deeply admire. The topics touch on all aspects of being a United Way professional and caring community member. (You can find my session in the Planned Giving playlist here)
When I am not United Way-ing, you will likely find me with my husband at a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. :-)
Susan Eckert
Member Segment: United Way Retiree
My journey to United Way began through what was then called a funded agency. At the time, I was serving as Executive Director of the Lancaster (PA) YWCA.
After 25 years as a United Way CEO, I felt prepared for just about anything. I had experienced fundraising, marketing, crisis communications, strategic planning, program investment, succession planning, community assessment, coalition building, and collaboration. When I transitioned into retirement, I began a consulting practice—now with my husband—focused on supporting nonprofit organizations in Lancaster.
One aspect of consulting I didn’t anticipate, however, was the absence of colleagues. That sense of professional community had been one of the most constructive and sustaining features of United Way. I joined United Way NEXT both to support the effort and to reconnect with people who understand the unique challenges of this work. I maintain my membership because it is a network of knowledgeable, generous, and helpful colleagues.
Terry Tolan, with whom I had previously taught a class, reached out and asked if I would join the Engage and Exchange effort—and later if I would co-chair the committee. It proved the old adage: Why did you get involved? I was asked.
United Way NEXT now includes current United Way staff, alumni, and retirees, all of whom add real value to the work. Among them are people I have mentored, people who mentored me, individuals I have long respected, and others I had never met before. There are old friends—and now, new ones.
Since retiring, I’ve developed a growing interest in public health, the arts, and public media. In December, I joined the founding board of our newly reconfigured local newspaper, now a nonprofit led by David Greene of NPR fame. Local news is a critical component of a healthy community, and I want to help ensure this vital resource continues. Does it ever stop?
Is anyone else involved in efforts to save local journalism?
Kerstin Rust
Member Segment: United Way Alumni
My journey at United Way began in September 2019. I served as the Executive Director at United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties in Illinois. This was my first executive leadership experience, and it was also my first United Way experience. Talk about “drinking from the firehose!” I’m sure many can relate to the overwhelm and wonder of joining the network for the first time.
I felt like I was serving on an island, until I had an opportunity to attend the Great Rivers Conference and a United Way of Illinois meeting. Both of these meetings exposed me to so many professionals living and doing the work. I felt seen and understood. Those experiences brought so much value to me, and I don’t think I would have been able to navigate the complete upending of the pandemic without the connections I developed with other UW colleagues.
Fast forward to today, I am now serving as the Membership & Engagement Coordinator with United Way NEXT. Carole Peters is the reason I’m here. We served as neighboring local United Way CEOs in Illinois, and she was one of the first people to make me feel as if I belonged with United Way. I admire her leadership, and she’s built an incredible organization during her time with UW NEXT. The social capital of this community of current and former professionals is astounding.
In my new role, I hope to facilitate the same sense of belonging and offer a bridge to others who may be feeling as I once did - alone, unsteady, and unsure.
When I’m not working, I strive to live a more analog lifestyle away from the desk/computer. I enjoy reading, gardening, painting, and cross-stitching. I live in Illinois with my young daughter, husband, and dog.
Tonja Couch
Member Segment: United Way Alumni
My United Way journey started as a volunteer when I was a Senior in High School during our community's Day of Caring. I rolled up my sleeves and cleaned out a historic building that would one day house the United Way office. It was that event that sparked my interest in being of service, bettering my community, and impacting people's lives.
As a young newlywed, after almost two years of a three-hour round-trip commute to my dream job in college campus ministry, I decided it was time to find a new way to use my professional skills. Surveying my local community, I walked into Jackson County United Way (Seymour, Indiana) with my professional portfolio and prayed for a chance. I met the Executive Director and Campaign Director, then learned they were looking for an Administrative Assistant. I accepted the job (with a big slice of humble pie).
Over the next five years, I created new opportunities for myself becoming a Grant Writer, Long Term Recovery Program Director, and AmeriCorps Program Director. I left to become the Director of 2-1-1 with United Way of Bartholomew County and saw the benefits of working at a larger UW with more staff, but ultimately was called back to Jackson County to serve as the Executive Director. For nearly 10 years, I had the privilege of leading our transformation; that experience deepened my love for creating organizational change, developing good board governance, and implementing new strategies.
In 2024, as I was connecting with other servant-hearted professionals to learn more about how they can get clear about their financial dreams. While I was learning more from Diane Lebson; she heard my passion for changing financial family trees and encouraged me to join UW Next. Today, I partner with nonprofit CEOs and leadership teams who love a financial plan but haven't had a partner that understands the non-profit sector. I help develop an organizational blueprint customized to its unique budget needs; implement a balanced investment strategy; and educate development directors and board members on ways for their donors to give more tax efficiently.
The value of UW NEXT keeps me connected to the mission of United Way–and how it is looking out for all families across the nation. The biggest value is to be in a like-minded community; it is refreshing being in networking calls and learning sessions that represent all walks of life.
Outside of work, my four kids keep my schedule full by being involved in swim, cross country, dance, 4H, robotics, and Taekwondo. During our downtime we enjoy days at the lake and hiking in our favorite state parks. I also love exercising with my mom squad weekday mornings with 5k runs and reading books from historic fiction and thrillers. If you ever want to connect about nonprofit financial planning, donor education, or ways you are giving back, I’d love to connect.
Brian Tierney
Member Segment: United Way Alumni
I came to United Way as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader at United Way Worldwide shortly after graduating from The Catholic University of America. As I considered where I wanted to begin my career, returning to AmeriCorps through an organization like United Way felt like a natural fit. I served on an Economic Mobility project during its first grant year, helping launch the program and working alongside more than 17 United Ways across the country to build local capacity and strengthen community‑based programs.
After completing my service year, I applied for and joined United Way Worldwide’s communications team as a Senior Associate. I quickly found colleagues and mentors who supported my growth and helped shape my professional path. I stayed with United Way Worldwide for nearly five years and left feeling that I had truly launched my career.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work at Amazon, the Colorado School of Mines, and now Comcast. My ongoing relationship with my former supervisor and mentor, Neil Parekh, ultimately led me to UW NEXT. Neil has been a constant presence in my career and life, and I often saw his posts about his involvement with the community. During a recent career transition, Carole Peters also reached out and provided invaluable support, affirming everything I had heard about the organization.
I’m incredibly excited to be a member of UW NEXT and to reconnect with former colleagues while building new relationships as I continue to grow in my career. UW NEXT creates meaningful opportunities for both active and alumni members of the United Way community, offering a genuine connection to the impactful work that continues across the network.
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!