United Way of the Ozarks CEO plans retirement

The six-year chief executive of United Way of the Ozarks has set an August retirement date.

Jennifer Kennally informed the local United Way Board of Directors of her decision in a letter dated March 5, according to a news release.

"This has been my dream job," said Kennally, who has 28 years of experience in nonprofit management, in the release. "I’ll be working very hard the next six months to make sure we continue to move forward. After that, I’ll take some time off this fall and then I’m sure I’ll find a new challenge here in the community.”

During its monthly meeting yesterday, the United Way Board of Directors appointed Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams to lead a search committee to find Kennally's successor. Williams also is slated to serve as chairman of the United Way board in 2015.

Among United Way's accomplishments during Kennally's tenure was an 11 percent boost in the nonprofit's annual campaign funding; the implementation of the Community Investment Council; and the organization of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Hands On for Seniors and the Tri-Lakes United Way chapter, the release said.

"Jennifer was instrumental in changing the structure of our organization and making it more focused on addressing our specific red-flag and blue-ribbon issues,” current United way board Chairwoman Linda Ramey-Greiwe said in the release. “Jennifer leaves the United Way of the Ozarks in a strong position ready to face the next set of challenges."

Prior to joining United Way of the Ozarks, Kennally worked as president of Mercy Regional Foundation in Joplin and as executive director for the Olathe Region United Way, United Way of Johnson County, Kansas, and the Greene County unit of the American Cancer Society. She also has served as chairwoman of the Missouri and Kansas state United Way associations.