2020 40 Under 40 Yearbook: Jill Finney, 40

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Then: Vice President of Communications and Volunteers, United Way of the Ozarks
Now: Executive Director, Safe and Sober Inc.

Jill Finney transitioned from one nonprofit to another in January when she took over as executive director of Safe and Sober Inc. She worked the previous three years for United Way of the Ozarks.

“This has been a really good fit for me. I really like the mission of the organization,” she says of the agency that works with youth to educate them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. “I have kids, so it’s very close and dear to my heart.”

It’s the first top nonprofit leadership role for Finney, who says she’s “still in the learning phase,” which includes tasks such as reconciling bank accounts and learning QuickBooks.

“There’s a learning curve for the organization,” she says, adding it was very difficult to leave her United Way position. “It’s a little different from being a communications professional.”

Finney also is balancing work with school, as she’s working on a master’s degree in nonprofit and civic leadership at Drury University, with plans to graduate in December.