Columbia, SC – The United Way Association of South Carolina’s (UWASC) Board of Directors has named Kelly Callahan Cruise as Interim CEO. Current president and chief executive officer Timothy Ervolina announced his retirement last month and will step down at the end of March from the leadership role after ten years.
Cruise joined UWASC in 2010 as Director of Volunteer SC, served as Director of the SC 2-1-1 Contact Center, and for the past two years, served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. Ann Robinson, Senior Vice President at Home Trust Bank in Greenville and UWASC Board Chair, states, “Although we are saddened by the loss of Tim, the Board is excited to have Kelly lead the organization through this transition. We will miss Tim, but we know that he has assembled a dynamic team that will continue to create long-lasting opportunities for the people of South Carolina.”
Cruise has led UWASC through multiple expansions of the SC 2-1-1 Contact Center, making it one of the largest non-profit contact centers in the United States, served as a former Commissioner for the SC Commission on National and Community Service, and serves on multiple oversight and advisory boards across the state. Educated at East Carolina University, Cruise is a sought-after speaker on women in leadership, non-profit and volunteer administration, and change management.
“Leading the UWASC team of staff and volunteers into its next phase is exciting to me,” Cruise said. “Change can be hard and their trust and support has been wonderful. We will continue to serve our local United Ways and trusted partners across the state to support their important work. It is through our local United Ways’ staff and volunteers that the real work gets done. Looking across SC, in every community that has a United Way, you will find a community that has someone in their corner, working to make life better for their neighbors.”