Five Questions: Jennifer Kennally

Q: What was your biggest accomplishment in Kansas City?

A: My career (in Olathe) became more focused on organizational development for United Way, and we started working to pull the six United Way offices in the Kansas City area together to form one seamless organization. … That’s what I’ve worked on for the last 10 years.

Q: What brought you back to Springfield?

A: When I was executive director of the Greene County unit of the American Cancer Society, that’s where I first became familiar with the United Way and met John Rush. John was sort of a mentor to me when I was a new executive director. I was interested in (returning) to Springfield. I took a job heading up the hospital foundation for St. John’s Regional Health Center in Joplin – I’ve been there for the last year – and then I found out John was retiring and this job was opening. I wanted to get back to United Way and be closer to my family. I feel really blessed in that regard to get back here.

Q: What are your goals for United Way of the Ozarks?

A: My first goal is the campaign for 2008. Obviously, needs are greater than they’ve been in a long time, and we need to raise as much money as we can for our agencies, programs and services that are helping those people who are falling between the cracks right now – and those numbers are growing. Then, we want to look at what United Way of the Ozarks is going to look like in the future, what more we can do for this region, and how we can be more effective at mobilizing resources.

Q: How has the current economy changed the way your organization raises funds?

A: Our campaigns are based in the workplace, and we’re seeing the same challenges everyone else is with the economy. We’ll have to start earlier, going out to meet with the companies that have supported us so well in the past, to see what we can do to run the best campaign possible this year. We’re working on new strategies to be more effective about getting word out about what United Way’s mission is and what we’re accomplishing, and how we’re making an impact in the community.

Q: Tell me about your family and hobbies.

A: I have two girls; Lauren is 25, and Kate is 15. Like any mom, I’m involved in soccer games and basketball games. We also have a border collie and a cat. But I’m really just fortunate in that I get to be back here with my family and do the work that I love to do. I also have an identical twin sister who lives here (Jan Sederholm), who’s the director of Habitat for Humanity. It’s funny to us because we both started our careers here in not-for-profits, and now we’re both back here again. So if people see us out there and think I’m Jan, I’m not. I’m the other one.

Interview by Jeremy Elwood.