Pensacola, FL : Laura P. Gilliam, of Huntington, West Virginia, has been named President and CEO of the United Way of Escambia County, Northwest Florida’s most comprehensive health and human services charity and largest provider of funds to the region’s most critical programs. Gilliam will assume the helm on January 8, 2018.
“We conducted a thorough national search to find the best person to build upon United Way’s long history of creating measurable, lasting change in our community,” said Yvette McLellan, United Way of Escambia County’s Board Chair and Search Committee Chair.
“Of the more than 300 applicants from across the country, Laura stood out in terms of her leadership, experience, professionalism and history of working effectively with community partners, donors and volunteers. She also truly understands metrics and measurable impacts that drive the goals of the United Way of Escambia County.”
Gilliam has over 21 years’ experience in non-profit work, advocacy and United Way leadership. Since 2005, Gilliam has performed as the executive director for the United Way of the River Cities in Huntington, West Virginia that serves four counties in WV and one in Ohio. She successfully established 2-1-1 for Lawrence County, Ohio and transitioned the United Way of the River Cities from a traditional United Way to a community impact organization. Gilliam is a graduate of the University of North Carolina earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
“I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with the United Way of Escambia County team and continue to build upon all of their tremendous success,” said Gilliam. “I’m also excited to get to know the community and all of the great people who are a part of it.”
A committed community advocate, Gilliam has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations in the Huntington, West Virginia community throughout her career. In addition to being a founding member of the Women 2 Women Committee with the Huntington Area Chamber of Commerce, she also serves as Board Member for the Ohio United Way State Association as well as a member of their 2-1-1 Committee. She is a Past President of the Huntington Rotary Club and was selected as the 2011 Herald-Dispatch Citizen of the Year Award winner as well as a recipient of Mayoral Proclamation establishing November 7, 2015 as Laura P. Gilliam Day in Huntington, West Virginia. Gilliam has presented at more than 13 state and national workshops on topics including diversifying fundraising strategies, program sustainability; meeting community needs, coalition building; leadership; transitioning to a Community Impact Model and dropout prevention.
Following a nearly four-month search, Gilliam was selected by a search committee formed from a combination of previous and current United Way of Escambia County Board of Directors as well as community and business leaders. LandrumHR assisted with the search. Gilliam succeeds Andrea Krieger, who accepted a position as executive director of the Pensacola State College Foundation.