Tag: spotlight

Spotlight: Ed Rosentel

Join us in welcoming Ed Rosentel to the UWATX team as the Vice President of Finance! Ed sat down with us to give us a bit of his background and share what he hopes to accomplish in his new role with United Way. What is your background, both in the community and professionally, prior to working with United Way? I am a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Texas non-profits over the past 20 years. While most of these non-profits have been Health and Welfare agencies, I have also tenured with a Community Foundation. In hindsight, I have been an instrumental part of the movement to merge smaller agencies for efficiencies and greater community outreach over this period; creating new organizations developing the accounting, payroll, treasury, human resource, information technology, facilities management and administration departments. What drew you to UWATX and made you feel that it was the right fit for you? I have always worked with the United Way; but as the steward of the community investment dollars provided to the recipient non-profit agency. An opportunity to be part of the United Way legacy and community impact is a natural progression. As for UWATX, the timing was right for my skills and for the agency’s need at this time. The level of commitment, skill and intelligence of the staff, particularly the senior management, is what makes this feel a perfect fit for me. How do you see your role […]

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Spotlight: Laura Olson

Join us in welcoming Laura Olson to the UWATX team as the Family Services Coordinator for Success by 6! Laura sat down with us to give us a bit of her background and share what she hopes to accomplish in her new role with United Way. What is your background, both in the community and professionally, prior to working with United Way?  I have lived in Austin for twenty years. I’ve been working in education since I graduated from Earlham College where I got my B.A. in Spanish. I was a high school Spanish teacher and grade school teacher for eight years prior to having my children. Most of those years were spent teaching at the Austin Waldorf School and working to bring a holistic, artistic learning experience to children. I am the mother of five children ranging in ages 2 ½ to 15. Having my own children opened my eyes to the challenges and joys of parenthood, and brought about a desire to support families with young children in their journeys. It became clear to me how critical pregnancy and the first few years of life are in the formation of a child’s health, as well as that of his/her family. Following the footsteps of my mother and grandmother (both early childhood professionals) and because of my own personal passion, I served as the Director of Blossom Family Center, a parent education and resource center. I then served as Regional Director for LifeWays North America, where I trained caregivers and parents in […]

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