United Ways of Tennessee (UWT), which provides member support services to 38 United Way organizations across the state, recently restructured its Board of Trustees to more accurately reflect the changing face of United Way supporters.

"We always need to be willing to adapt and grow. With the changes in our economy some may say 'now more than ever.' Our internal representative board decided it was time to make a change in how we assemble leadership to take United Ways into a new era," said UWT Board Chair Bryce Haugsdahl.

"With our new board structure, we gain valuable knowledge and insight from leaders across our state and within our communities," said Haugsdahl, Executive Vice President and C.O.O. of United Way of the Mid South in Memphis. "Simply put, we know it's important to have state leaders outside our own United Way organizations to more accurately reflect the ideas being formed in communities, our business partner organizations and other teams of supporters," Haugsdahl said. 

Williamson County United Way President and UWT Nominating Committee Chair Ann Buchanan announced the new members. Executive Committee Officers include Chairman Bryce Haugsdahl; Past Chairman Rick Morrow; Chairman-Elect Alan Turner; Treasurer Gary Bowman; Secretary Wendy Peay; Nominating Committee Chair Ann Buchanan; and filling the newest post is At-Large Representative Mary Freeman, Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority.

Additional Board members include: Eric Dewey, President United Way of Metro Nashville; Dawn Holley, Director of United Way of Bedford County; Eva Dillard, President of United Way of Greater Chattanooga; Ben Landers, President of United Way of  Greater Knoxville; CeeGee McCord from Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport; Linda O'Neal, Director for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth; Jimmy Stone, Deputy Director for Facilities and Operations for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Tim Webb, State Commissioner of the Department of Education; and Don Witherspoon, a retired executive from Pfizer Inc.

 "Last year alone, United Way organizations across the state distributed nearly $100 million in funding to over 1,300 nonprofit agencies and programs," UWT President Mary Graham reports. "United Way is the driving force behind many initiatives that address the state's most critical needs including literacy programs, early childhood intervention programs, family resource centers, initiatives creating economic opportunity and more. Our work is impacting education, income and health across Tennessee every day," Graham said.