Patrick Jinks
Member Segment: United Way Alumni Like many others, I began my United Way career as a volunteer (loaned executive) in Shreveport, LA. Twenty years later, after two CEO roles, two interim CEO roles, a state board, two terms on the National Professional Council, and a VP role in Columbia, SC, I launched my leadership coaching business full time in 2016. I cannot adequately express how much I learned from United Way, and I am blessed to be able to continue serving the network as a coach and trainer. Today, I coach senior leaders, teams, and even boards through my company, The Leader's Perspective. I am a board-certified coach through the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) with a growing team of adjuncts and an advisory board who all help me deliver value for nonprofits. Recently, I launched a CCE-accredited training program to help certify other coaches, and I am building an in-person corporate version that will be delivered by independent consultants around the world, soon! When I am not coaching, there’s a good chance I am riding one of my motorcycles or scoping out cemeteries for ancestry research. I have a collection of Taylor guitars I love to play, and I am absolutely nuts over my five-year-old grandson Jude. We like to watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball together! I am also an award-winning professional photographer. Though I laid it down for a while, I am now trying to pick it back up to photograph headshots and storyboards for nonprofits on the side. I am excited to get more engaged with UW NEXT. I love that it gives me an opportunity to stay connected and give something back to the network. |
Cynthia Round
Member Segment: United Way Alumni My decades-long relationship with United Way is a bit like the Eagles’ Hotel California: “you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.” My introduction to United Way was the workplace campaign in my job as a brand manager at P&G, where I became a loyal annual contributor. A decade later at Ogilvy Worldwide advertising agency, I led the team volunteering to create advertising for United Way of Tri-State in NYC and later for United Way of America. That is when I really got hooked and decided to move full-time into marketing for the social change sector. United Way in Alexandria became one of my first clients until eventually I signed on as EVP Brand Leadership at UWW. One of the greatest privileges of my career was to help align 40 countries and 1,700 local United Ways around a single-brand identity and strategy, creating and launching LIVE UNITED as a global movement in community impact. I have such fond memories of working with colleagues across the network for my 12 years at UWW… and thankfully, many of us are still in touch from around the globe. That’s how United Way NEXT came into the picture for me, when Barbara Edmond, Ann Fox and others convened a group of United Way alumni in various stages of “post United Way life” to help broaden the mission and offerings of the United Way Retirees Association beyond retirees. I am now actively recruiting former staff and colleagues to join so we can create the kind of added-value, world-class alumni network that I enjoy as an ongoing part of my former corporate experience. Today I continue to work as an independent brand strategist and advisor to nonprofits including local United Ways and other organizations often led by United Way alumni. “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!” |
Dr. Michele Vaughn
Member Segment: United Way Current Staff A little over a year ago I began my role as Chief Executive Officer with Kishwaukee United Way in DeKalb, Illinois. I knew almost immediately that I would need a support network to better understand how to lead most efficiently in my new assignment. I then received a referral from a board member to connect with Carole Peters from United Way NEXT to provide more hands-on mentoring as I navigated my new role and to intentionally gain clarity about the United Way network from a local perspective. I recall our first Zoom call; Carole was all smiles, energetic, and informative--providing me the hope I needed in a moment when I felt the pressure of leading in a new territory for a well-known organization. Prior to accepting this new leadership position, I served eight years as the Chief Executive Officer & Founder of a grassroots nonprofit organization called the Teen & Single Mother Resource Center, Inc. located in Waukegan, Illinois. The primary mission aimed to equip, empower, and educate single mothers to become positive role models to their children through the power of advanced education and homeownership. Before the nonprofit's launch, I worked eight years in higher education at a two-year community college as the associate dean for community education. I worked tirelessly to ensure education was accessible to a population that was considered, “the least likely to succeed, but the most in need.” I did this by partnering with various Lake County community agencies to offer GED, ESL & Career Development mobile learning classrooms for adult learners. By joining United Way NEXT, I am now connected to a network of UW professionals all over the world with access to online resources that are most helpful to a new UW CEO, such as myself. I am a strong believer in intentional leadership and United Way NEXT has afforded me an opportunity to be a part of an online community of like-minded individuals who, too, desire to lead with a servant’s heart by expanding the mission of United Way in their own local communities. Over the past year, my United Way NEXT membership has helped me to take Kishwaukee United Way to a higher level with the supportive services offered through their online professional development network. So many executive leaders need help as they accept the role to become servant leaders in their local areas. I am one of those leaders and am grateful for United Way NEXT. |
Barb Wentworth
Member Segment: United Way Retiree While working at a child mental health facility, I was asked to create a volunteer program that would support the children and youth in care. Having volunteered in college and beyond, it was a great opportunity to put my belief in the healing power of volunteering into action for young people who needed additional positive role models in their world. The program thrived, and along with other volunteer administrators in the area, we were inspired to create a volunteer center for our county. The leader of the local United Way was interested and found a grant to support the fledgling operation. I was hired to create the center. This began a 30-year journey with my local United Way. Over the years, I helped shape a new business model for the organization that led to successful community impact and dove deep into establishing metrics and measuring outcomes. I learned the fine art of relationship building and resource development. I also maintained my first love of inviting volunteer engagement with our organization and for our many community partners. Ultimately, I became the President and CEO of my organization due to the great education and growth opportunities I experienced as part of the United Way network and the people that are a part of it. Over the years, I also benefitted from many mentors- individuals who saw in me qualities and skills that I might not yet have realized were there. From creating that first volunteer program to being asked to establish new programs, coalitions and collaborations to benefit our local community, mentors were key. Now as a member of United Way NEXT, I have the opportunity to mentor current United Way professionals, help shape educational offerings, and continue my personal and professional journey as a part of the broader United Way network. |
United Way NEXT’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
United Way NEXT harnesses the passion and experience of current and former United Way professionals for the betterment of each other, the United Way network, and our communities. In achieving this purpose, we aim to create member experiences that enhance a sense of value and belonging by:
Board approved – 9/11/2023 |