United Way of the Mid-South is led by our Board of Directors. Board members live in our local eight-county area and serve as unpaid volunteers.

Mike Edwards

Mike Edwards is our volunteer General Campaign Chairman, leading our resource development efforts across the Mid-South. Edwards is President and Chief Operating Officer of Paragon Bank.

Jerry Collins, Jr.

Jerry Collins, Jr. is the Immediate Past Chairman of the United Way of the Mid-South Board of Directors and serves as our Nominating Committee Chairman. Collins is President and CEO of MLGW.

SEE OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Jerry Collins, Immediate Past Chair & Nominating Chair, Memphis Light, Gas & Water

R. Scott Barber, Horseshoe Casino and Hotel

Shannon A. Brown, FedEx Express

Mike Edwards, Paragon Bank

Irvin Calliste, Labor Participation Chair, Memphis AFL-CIO Labor Council

Darrell Cobbins, Universal Commercial LLC

Cathy Culnane, AutoZone

Shea Flinn, Greater Memphis Chamber

Scott Fountain, Chair, Baptist Memorial Health Care

Greg Gibson, International Paper

J.W. Gibson, Gibson Companies

Jeffery Greer, Human Relations Chair, FedEx Freight

Dr. Alisa Haushalter, Shelby County Health Department

Tim Haynes, American Home Shield

Mary Ann Jackson, Secretary/Counsel, Baker, Donelson Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz

Rev. Virzola Law, Public Policy Chair, Lindenwood Christian Church

Sean Lee, Porter-Leath

Scott Barber, Corporate and Community Engagement Chair

Ari Litvin, Wells Fargo

Ursula Madden, Marketing & Communications Chair, City of Memphis

Bill Martin, Express Scripts / Accredo

David May, Investment Committee Chair, Regions Bank

Jean M. Morton, Chair-Elect & Community Impact Chair, SunTrust Bank

John Pettey, III, Tocqueville Society Chair, Raymond James

Nataline Purdy, Communities In Schools

Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D., United Way of the Mid-South

Paul Shaffer, IBEW, Local 474

Manoucheka Thermitus, St. Francis Hospital

Charles Thomas, AT&T

Chris VanSteenberg, First Tennessee

Craig L. Weiss, Catalyst Fund Chair, Tower Ventures

Richard Wright, Treasurer and Finance Chair, Ernst & Young, LLP

OUR ORGANIZATION’S STAFF IS LED BY THE C-SUITE

Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D.

President / CEO

Lori Spicer-Robertson

Chief Communications and Engagement Officer

Gia Stokes

Chief Financial Officer

Our United Way staff is a strong and diverse mix of seasoned professionals and fresh talent who are committed to the battle against poverty.
COMMUNICATION & ENGAGEMENT
Our Communications and Engagement team
  • Connects volunteers and nonprofits to increase the impact of both
  • Helps you tell United Way’s story
  • Keeps you informed of United Way news through numerous channels

Laura Russell

Director, Communications & Marketing

Letitia Robertson, MBA

Manager, Corporate & Community Engagement

Keshia Merritt

Manager, Creative Services

Tawanda Jones

Graphic Designer

Kirstin Cheers

Communications Specialist

Lindsay Larson

Associate, Volunteer Engagement

Shamikia Adkins

Project and Event Associate

Lori Evans

Associate, Corporate & Community Engagement

COMMUNITY IMPACT
Our Community Impact team
  • Examines the front lines of care where United Way partner agencies impact lives
  • Provides operational support to United Way led programs and initiatives
  • Manages our volunteer-led allocations process which reviews programs and needs to make wise funding decisions

Angelia Allen

Vice President, Strategic Development

Diana Bedwell

Director, Community Impact

Phyllis Fickling

Director, Community Impact

Yvonne Howard

Senior Associate, Community Impact

Janet Haas

Administrative Assistant, Community Impact

Tehrian Martin

Senior Associate, Data & Operations

Cecelia Johnson-Powell

Director, Driving The Dream

Twana Whitlock

Senior Agency Relationship Manager, Driving The Dream

Elizabeth Poole

Administrative Support Associate, Driving The Dream

Eric Burden

Manager, Data & Quality Improvement, Driving The Dream

LaShondra Hill

Data Analyst, Driving The Dream

FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Our Finance & Operation team
  • Ensures gifts to United Way are collected and recorded safely and accurately
  • Sees your support is managed, tracked, and delivered to programs impacting people’s lives
  • Keeps United Way transparent and accountable with published audits and 990 reports

Brian Fiorino

Senior Associate, Finance

Dynnice Perry

Senior Associate, Finance

Stacey Reinke

Director, Finance

Uretha Smith

Associate, Finance

Donna Owens

Administrative Associate, Process, Finance

S. Lynn Jackson

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO/Office Manager

Denise Peete

Associate, Human Resources, Notary

Helen Lemons

Administrative Associate, Process, Finance

Matt King

Manager, Information Services

Phyllis Hunt

Security, Coordinator

RESOURCE & DEVELOPMENT
Our Resource Development team
  • Raises vital resources to energize our network of care
  • Engages with workplace volunteers across the region to encourage support for United Way
  • Provides expert guidance about individual giving, corporate donations, and other investments

Mary Sexton

Vice President, RD

Stephanie Brockway

Director, Major Gifts, RD

Jennifer Besing

Director, RD

Nichole Epson

Manager, RD

Al Edwards

Manager, RD

Rhonnie Brewer

Labor Liaison, RD

Annette Knox

Manager, Annual Giving, RD

Stephanie Douglas

Manager, RD

Regina Holland

Associate, RD

Cheryll Vaughn

Administrative Analyst, RD

Steven Jones

Logistics, Coordinator

Campaign Representatives

During the peak of United Way’s resource development season, the organization receives support from a team of Campaign Representatives.

United Way’s enhanced Campaign Representative program (previously known as the Loaned Executive program) is vital to the success of our resource development campaign. Campaign Representatives are employees who are “loaned” to United Way for roughly 13 weeks, from mid-August 21 through mid-November. Many local companies either lend a key member of their team to United Way, or they provide us with a Campaign Representative position through a sponsorship gift that provides us with either full-time or part-time help. While they’re only here a short time, they become part of our team’s family, working alongside our staff and Mid-South companies to develop United Way workplace giving programs.
We’re committed to keeping our expenses low and being efficient, and frankly we could not raise the millions of dollars to impact local programs without the help of Campaign Representatives. When an employee serves as a Campaign Representative, they receive:
  • Professional training and practice in sales, presentation skills, leadership, and negotiation
  • Valuable contacts in the business community
  • Involvement in solving community issues
  • Opportunities for self-development resulting in a more polished, experienced and confident employee
If you’re interested in sponsoring a representative, or if you’d like to become a representative yourself, contact Annette Knox or call 901.433.4370.