Nov. 2, 2016
United Way Announces Third Class of Leadership Program
The third class of participants in a leadership education program designed to prepare the next generation of non-profit and community leaders has been announced by the Tulsa Area United Way.
The program, titled “neXtulsa”, was developed in response to an anticipated leadership shortage in the non-profit sector in the coming years, said Sharon Gallagher, director of community collaborations at the Tulsa Area United Way.
“We conducted extensive research that revealed a significant number of executive directors of Tulsa area non-profit organizations are planning to retire in the next three to five years,” Gallagher said. “We want to ensure that our non-profit sector has strong leadership to serve the coming generations.”
The program is a collaboration between the Tulsa Area United Way and the University of Oklahoma – Tulsa.
“neXtulsa” recently announced its third class of 15 participants following a stringent nomination and selection process, she said. Participants were selected by a committee of United Way board members and other community leaders.
The second class of participants includes Steffanie Bonner, Dillon International; Krystle Brewer, 108 Contemporary; Michelle Brobston, Child Abuse Network; Haley Buzzard, Tulsa Area United Way; Laura Chalus, JTR Group; Rachel Gold, University of Tulsa; Matt Hancock, YMCA of Greater Tulsa; Justin Harlan, Teach For America; Amy Hilligoss, Camp Fire Green Country; Andrew McRae, KIPP Tulsa; Liz Neas, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma; Nathan Pritchett, Fab Lab Tulsa; Laura Ross-White, Community Service Council; Christina Siemens, Parent Child Center; and Amanda Viles, CAP Tulsa.
“We are planning an intensive 10-month training, coaching and experiential program that will result in ready-to-step-up candidates for leadership roles at non-profit organizations,” she said.
The program includes eight day-long sessions, including an orientation and overnight retreat.
The curriculum will focus on traits of highly effective leaders, management and communication skills, emotional intelligence, ethics, thinking patterns, creative problem solving, team building and collaborations, stakeholder relationships, and finance and budgeting.
Adjunct faculty for the program, who are well-known leaders in the non-profit sector across the U.S., will be provided by United Way Worldwide. Faculty members will visit Tulsa to administer the program, teaching classes on-site.
For more information on the program, visit or contact Gallagher at 918-295-6620 or Dr. Chan Hellman at OU-Tulsa at 918-660-3483.
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