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United Way of Southwest Alabama / Uncategorized  / Turner Stepping Down as United Way CEO

Turner Stepping Down as United Way CEO

After nearly four years at the helm of the United Way of Southwest Alabama (UWSWA), the organization’s Board of Trustees announced that Alan H Turner II will be stepping down as president and CEO, in July.

Turner has been selected to become the new president and CEO for the United Way of Central Florida.  Located in Highland City, Florida and serving Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties, the United Way of Central Florida is nearly twice the size of Mobile’s United Way, with an annual revenue of more than $11 million and is home of the corporate headquarters of Publix grocery stores.

“On behalf of a great team of United Way volunteers and staff, I would like to express heart felt appreciation for the time and service that Alan has provided Southwest Alabama and the positive impact Alan has had on our communities,” stated Don Keeler, Vice President of Human Resources, Austal USA and the 2015 Chairman of the Board for the United Way of Southwest Alabama.  “Working closely with the Board of Trustees, Alan helped to move United Way of Southwest Alabama to a business model that responded more directly to the needs of our communities and effectively delivered on the four building blocks that serve to guide funding and focus for UWSWA.  We will miss Alan, but wish he and his family the very best in their new Central Florida United Way adventure.”

Since Turner moved to Mobile in 2011, he has worked with the staff, board of trustees and volunteers to make the United Way of Southwest Alabama a more efficient and effective organization. A few highlights include: reorganized their board and staff structure; updated the mission and vision; reduced the administrative and fund raising rate by more than half; and increased campaign funds three years in a row – for a total of a 10% increase over that time period.  The 2012 campaign was the first campaign increase in nine years and largest increase in 14 years.  The United Way of Southwest Alabama successfully incorporated HandsOn South Alabama to increase volunteerism throughout the area and merged Choctaw County to increase the service area from three to four counties.  The biggest change was introducing the community impact process which changed the way annual funds are invested.  Moving from funding agencies based on historical investments to investing in program and services that make proven impacts in the areas of education, health, financial stability and essentials.

Along with his work locally, Turner has been actively engaged with United Way Worldwide and other United Ways.  He is currently serving on the United Ways of Alabama board of directors and recently served as Vice-Chairman of United Way Worldwide’s Graduation Initiative Partnership to help address and increase our national high school graduation rate.  He is also serving on United Way Worldwide’s National Professional Council, the National Presidents Roundtable, United Way’s LEAD (Leaders Engaged in Accelerated Development) Advisory Board charter member, and served on the planning committee for United Way’s 2015 Community Leaders Conference held last month, in Dallas, Texas.  In 2013, Turner was as one of 16 international United Way CEOs who graduated the United Way Worldwide’s inaugural Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP), and is now the Chairman of United Way’s ELDP Alumni Network.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work with the great staff, board and volunteers of the United Way of Southwest Alabama,” stated Turner.  I feel blessed and thankful for the opportunity to have been part of the work that has been accomplished these past four year.  The work being done by the United Way, our partner agencies, community leaders in Mobile and the southwest Alabama will continue to make positive impacts for many more years to come.”

Keeler has reported that a search committee is being formed and a nationwide search will begin shortly.  He is in hopes that the organization will have a new CEO in place this fall.

Turner, who is originally from Upstate New York, came to the United Way of Southwest Alabama from Jackson, Tennessee, where he was the president and CEO of the United Way of West Tennessee. He is married and has two young children.