United Way of Metro Chicago names new CEO Sean Garrett, a career-long employee of the organization, comes here from United Way of Central Carolinas.
Reprinted from Crain Chicago Business, September 14, 2018
Published: September 15, 2018
Sean Garrett, 36, starts his new job as CEO of United Way of Metropolitan
Chicago on Sept. 26.
Photo: United Way of Metro Chicago
A career-long United Way employee, he comes to Chicago from Charlotte, N.C., where he was executive director of United Way of Central Carolinas. Garrett, 36, replaces Wendy DuBoe, who announced in March she was stepping down from the post. DuBoe, who became CEO in 2012, oversaw the organization through some turmoil, including high turnover among senior executives, layoffs and a shift in funding, away from traditional workplace giving and toward grants.
This isn't Garrett's first time in Chicago. He served as director of major gifts at United Way of Metro Chicago from May of 2005 to March of 2010; before that, he was a community fellow of United Way of Dane County, based in Madison, Wis. Garrett also worked for United Way Worldwide from January of 2013 through February of 2015, starting as director of partnerships and large market performance and ending as vice president of development. Garrett has an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Under Garrett's leadership, United Way of Central Carolinas launched a neighborhood revitalization project, a tutoring program for students in kindergarten through third grade and an initiative to provide funding for organizations focused on improving economic mobility. Here, he will lead United Way of Metro Chicago’s Neighborhood Network Initiative, which helps neighborhoods solve pressing problems through community-focused collaboration, according to a statement.
“Throughout the search process, we were impressed with Sean’s authentic leadership style, strong relationships and the partnerships he has created with corporations, foundations and donors," said Pat Canning, United Way of Metro Chicago board chairman and KPMG Chicago office managing partner, in the statement announcing Garrett's appointment. Alison Ranney, managing partner and head of the Chicago office of Koya Leadership Partners, an executive search firm, led the search.
Keywords:
CEO, United Way, United Way Neighborhood Network
Posted in Community Highlights