United Way Staff
Katie Childs
Executive Director
Katie@UnitedWayofChathamCounty.org
Alane Coore
Finance Officer
Alane@UnitedWayofChathamCounty.org
Daisy Butzer
Impact Manager
Daisy@UnitedWayofChathamCounty.org
Communications & Grants Specialist
Shelley@UnitedWayofChathamCounty.org
Board of Directors
Laura Mendelsohn, Chair
Laura is a retired biochemistry and pharmaceutical researcher. She has prior non-profit board experience and joined the board to use her skills to help improve the lives of Chatham County residents. She plays the violin and performs in chamber ensembles and the Chapel Hill Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tina Vrabel, Vice Chair
Tina is a retired Legal Professional in the Financial Services Industry who spent over 20 years working in various legal capacities. After leaving full time work, she spent 6 years volunteering in various Board leadership capacities with Read and Feed (mobile literacy provider for children). Having lived in Chatham County for over 10 years, she wants to do more for her community.
Allison Bolin, Secretary
Allison is a licensed occupational therapist and currently serves as the Associate Operating Officer at UNC Health Chatham in Siler City. Allison brings almost 20 years of experience in the health care industry, lean methodology, and business administration to the board. Most importantly, Allison and her husband have lived in Pittsboro for 17 years and are proud to raise their two boys in Chatham County.
Rodd Baxter, Treasurer
Rodd is a retired lawyer who served as General Counsel to NYC based investment management firms over a 35-year career. He belonged to numerous industry associations and committees. Rodd is an avid tennis player who has also taken up golf.
Anne Bishop
Anne Bishop relocated to Chatham County in 2023 after living in St. Louis, Missouri for the past 20 years. She built a successful career in wealth management, advising ultra-high-net-worth families for over two decades before shifting her focus to community involvement and volunteer work. In 2021, Anne founded The Curated Coupe, a bespoke gift company specializing in vintage glassware. Anne is an avid reader, enjoys sourcing unique vintage pieces for her business, and loves traveling with her husband, Brad (often to visit their adult son Greg).
Janie Butler
Janie is a former Corporate Training Consultant and Employee Assistance Program Counselor, and has volunteered in the non-profit sector for over 25 years in the US and in Asia. She wants to apply her skills and experience to help the United Way make a positive difference in our community. Janie enjoys playing pickleball, walking in nature, and reading.
Jim Dean
Jim has recently retired from a career of teaching, research, and educational leadership. He served as dean of UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, as provost of the University of North Carolina, and as president of the University of New Hampshire. He and his wife Jan are delighted to be back in North Carolina, and to serve our Chatham County community. Jim is passionate about classical music (he plays the clarinet), soccer (Tottenham Hotspur), and tennis (his game needs lots of work!).
Renita Foxx
Bio coming soon
Kamira Jones
Kamira is a Salesforce Solutions Architect for a pharmaceutical marketing company. She has also worked doing nonprofit tech support, consulting, and procurement/contract management for a government research agency and a Fortune 100 company. She is passionate about using technology to empower end users and transform business objectives. She resides in Pittsboro.
Pete Koelsch
Bio coming soon
Mark Korell
Mark has had a successful 40 year career in national financial services companies, including four CEO roles. He also served five years in state and federal government, as well as on the boards of Habitat for Humanity International, Mercy Housing and Self Help Ventures Fund. He is an avid tennis player, nature lover, and traveler with his wife Jane.
Dennis Lewis
Denny is Director of the North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office and Defense Industry Consultant for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. He was a career Army Officer then an executive for large Defense companies before moving back to NC and starting his own LLC. He enjoys hunting and fishing.
Gary Sandefur
Gary Sandefur is Dean Emeritus of the College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Provost Emeritus, Oklahoma State University. Prior to becoming a university administrator, Gary’s research focused on poverty, inequality and related issues. He is a native of Oklahoma and a member of the Chickasaw Nation. He grew up in the middle of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma and continues to have strong ties with the community. Gary and his wife, Kathy, moved to North Carolina in 2021 to be near their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, who also live in Chatham County.
Neha Shah
Neha M. Shah, originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau, which serves all of Chatham County. Neha has a Master of Science in Tourism and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Management and Marketing), both from the University of Florida. She worked at Discover Durham and has been with Chatham County government for 25 years, and has co-authored academic publications and presented at several international conferences. One of her first jobs after graduate school was with the Girl Scouts organization in Fort Lauderdale, where she learned a great deal about grant writing, annual giving, and capital development campaigns. Neha is a writer, traveler, and foodie, always eager to explore new locales.
Ellen Shanahan
Ellen is a retired UNC-Chapel Hill Health Services Researcher. Her background in program planning and evaluation for federal maternal, child and reproductive health projects gives her insight into many of the county’s social needs. She enjoys doing needlepoint.
Jan Sherwin
Jan is a former Global IT Services Executive who developed and implemented transformational business-led technology-based solutions across Fortune 1000 industries and markets. She currently supports five local non-profits as a Board member as well as two national non-profit organizations.
Jaime Castaner Weiss
Jaime has been living in Chatham County since 2018 and is a pastor at Chatham Community Church in Pittsboro, working alongside people and local non-profits to meet community needs. Before that, he lived in the NY metro area for a decade working first as a mechanical engineer and later on in a non-profit serving college students. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico and loves to get back there at least once a year. In their spare time, Jaime and his wife Hana enjoy dancing as part of the Chatham Social Club.
Sharon Wellman
Sharon is a native of Chatham County and currently is the Assistant Director of Honors College at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She has worked as a mental health consultant with the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and as a health professional with the Chatham County Public Health Outreach Unit. She served on several county, public school, and non-profit organizational boards.
Views: 10689