Teresa Hall Bartels has become the new chief executive officer of United Way International, the global arm of the nonprofit network.
Bartels replaced Chris James-Brown, who moved on to the position of CEO for the Child Welfare League of America.
Bartels started her career in the United Way, staying on as a volunteer after she went into the private sector. She has been on United Way International’s board of directors since 2000.
“Volunteerism used to be considered a strictly American tradition, but the more people I talk with, and people I meet in all kinds of places, I realize that everyone wants to make their community better, and United Way is an organized way to do that,” Bartels said Friday.
Before taking over as CEO, Bartels operated a consulting firm serving nonprofit organizations, and owned a franchise of the employment agency Manpower Inc.
Bartels will be charged with creating a more global system so that donors across the world can better use United Way as a partner, she said.
She officially takes overthe position March 15.
“There are so many people that we need to have relationships with, and need to work with in partnerships, that I think I will initially spend a lot of time listening, learning and nurturing those relationships,” Bartel said.
