United Way of St. Charles parish is in need of a new director.
That’s because Denise Brodsky, the first full-time executive director of the St. Charles Parish non-profit organization, resigned in January to pursue other opportunities out of state.
“I have battled the heat of the desert, the humidity of the south and now I will be experiencing the cool winds of the northeast,” Brodsky said about her departure. “I have relocated to Kentucky and I hope to stay within the United Way system. However, I’m still exploring my options.”
Brodsky plans to remain in the position in the parish until a new executive director is selected.
“I am currently working via telephonic conference, computer, and email to get things accomplished,” she said. “I fly in one week out of every month, and I will continue to do that through April 5. By then someone else should be appointed to the position.”
Brodsky says that the UWSC human resources committee is working with a search firm to find her replacement.
Brodsky became UWSC’s first full-time executive director in August 2005, and within a few weeks, Brodsky found herself at the helm of an organization during the deadliest storm in U.S. history- Hurricane Katrina.
“My goal was to take the focus off of the fundraising aspect of United Way and make it a total community impact organization, ready to directly meet the needs of the community,” she said. “One of the most pressing needs the community has now is transportation.”
Brodsky says during her tenure she pushed initiatives geared towards revamping transportation for residents throughout the community and the organization purchased the first two transit buses that will be running parishwide sometime this year.
“One of the main things I heard from health care directors in the area, was the need for transportation,” she said. “Many clinic directors told me how difficult it is for their patients to get back and forth.”
Brodsky’s goal was to create long term permanent solutions for the problems in the community.
“I will never ever forget the good people of St. Charles Parish; it was place where I redefined myself,” she said. “I found a surrogate family, just after the storm all the way up until now. St. Charles Parish was there when I had no one else to support me.”
Brodsky hopes she’s left a foundation behind for the parish to continue to grow.
“I have served the organization through its transformation with great pride and am humbled by the vast outpouring of community support, both personally and on behalf of the agency, which we have received during my tenure.,” Brodsky stated in her departing speech. “The relationships I cultivated during my stay here have added to the success of our United Way.”
Brodsky says as she moves on to pursue her personal and professional goals, she will remain committed and focused on the board’s vision and mission.
“Our organization is at an important crossroad and now more than ever it is critical to maintain continuity and stay on track with our community impact agenda.”
Brodsky leaves the community this message – ‘Change is as good as taking a rest.’
“If you think about it that’s what United Way of St. Charles gave me, the opportunity to take a rest and rediscover my own ability,” she said. “Our United Way is now taking a way and rediscovering itself, not only in the parish but in the region.”
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