The merger of three United Ways based in south and mid-Michigan became official on April 1, 2022, offering exciting new opportunities to the region while strengthening local impact. Today the new United Way of South Central Michigan announced its board members, board officers and executive leadership.
United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) brings together Capital Area United Way (CAUW), United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR) and United Way of Jackson County (UWJC). The new organization will partner locally and regionally on community impact efforts across six counties—Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson and Kalamazoo. As a merger of equals, each of the local United Ways brings unique strengths, shared authority and a continued focus on local needs.
The boards of directors for the legacy United Ways voted in favor of merging on Jan. 24 after an in-depth, two-year evaluation of potential benefits to local and regional communities.
Officers, CEO, Leadership
UWSCMI’s 36-member board of directors includes 12 representatives from each of the legacy United Ways’ previous boards. The new board met today for the first time as a merged organization and made three key appointments:
- Chris Sargent was named President and Chief Executive Officer. Sargent had been President and CEO of UWBCKR since 2017. Between 2012-2017, he was UWBCKR’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He also helped lead the merger of United Way of Greater Battle Creek, where he was had been President and CEO, and Greater Kalamazoo United Way in 2012.
- Teresa Kmetz will serve as Chief Resource Development and Marketing Officer. She had been President and CEO of CAUW since 2008. Kmetz has been with CAUW since 2001.
- Ken Toll was named Chief Operations Officer. He had been serving as President and CEO of UWJC since 2006.
The UWSCMI board also announced its officers for the year (previous United Way board role is noted in parentheses):
- L. Robert McConnell (CAUW), Board Chair
- James Liggins Jr. (UWBCKR), Immediate Past Chair
- James Johnson Jr. (UWJC), 1st Vice Chair
- Carla Thompson Payton (UWBCKR), 2nd Vice Chair
- Erik Decker (CAUW), Treasurer
- Conner Wood (UWJC), Secretary
A complete list of board members is available at unitedforscmi.org/board-of-directors.
In addition, the board unanimously passed a Resolution of Recognition honoring the 60-member staff of the combined United Ways. The resolution applauded staff “their immense talent and unparalleled dedication to transforming our communities in meaningful, measurable, lasting ways; and for their crucial role in creating a new United Way that will make an even greater impact for more people in more ways.”
New CEO Shares Excitement
Sargent said he is excited to lead the collective strength and impact power of three United Ways coming together as one.
“Our United Ways have been working side by side on common needs for a decade,” said Sargent. “We learned that the needs we’ve been addressing in our local communities are also interconnected. By bringing together our unique experiences and broad expertise, we’re certain we can deliver more impact in more ways, both locally and regionally.”
Sargent pointed out that the primary benefit of the merger is in its scale. “The merged organization will be able to tap new sources of funding, create new partnerships, advocate for racial and economic equity more effectively, and take a bigger role in leading impact for vulnerable families that our individual United Ways can’t do by themselves.”
Sargent underscored that existing partnerships, investments and goals at the local level won’t change due to the merger. Local leadership committees will report to the new UWSCMI’s board as well as advise the local site, ensuring that the community’s voice remains. Donations made locally will be invested locally, not sent elsewhere. Local offices, local staff and local partnerships will not change. Even the local United Way’s name will still be used in some cases, such as for local fundraising and other local purposes.