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New United Way ED Likes Change And A Challenge

Saint John, NB, Canada / Country 94
Tamara Steele
Dec 2, 2019 | 7:47 AM


New United Way ED Likes Change And A Challenge

Alexya Heelis has been named the interim executive director for the United Way serving Saint John, Kings and Charlotte. (submitted)

The United Way looking within to find their new interim executive director.

Alexya Heelis has been with the organization for 7 years now.

She worked closely with former executive director Wendy MacDermott and want to move and grow the changes and innovations she brought in.

Heelis enjoys how the United Way serving Saint John, Kings and Charlotte is focused on impact.

“Any money we receive from the community, we are investing that back in the non-profits and programs that are really getting great returns and really moving the needle on important issues,” Heelis said.

For the first six years, Heelis mostly worked on the campaign side doing fundraising and in the first year, they raised 1.2 million.

“Last year our campaign topped out 1.75 so, I would say that definitely has been the biggest contribution for me to be a part of that and to continue to grow our campaign,” Heelis said.

Heelis says the reason the post is interim is to give the United Way board of directors time to find exactly what they need and want in a new executive director.

“We have a really strong and engaged board. They didn’t want to make any quick decisions but a thoughtful and careful decision about what the future of the United Way looks like and what type of leader is needed to get there. If that looks like me down the line, I will apply if I like this role. If they are looking for somebody different, then that’s fine too,” Heelis said.

Tamara Steele

Country 94.1 Reporter
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Veteran broadcast journalist serving Port City airwaves (and beyond) for 18 years on seven different radio stations. 15 of them on King Street. A cat mom obsessed with British tv and tea.

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