By Krystal Webb
United Way of Dane County
United Way of Dane County announces Renee Moe as its next president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2016. After a thorough search, collaborating with partners and community leaders and a lengthy interview process, it is with pleasure that the United Way Board of Directors selects Moe to lead the organization.
“United Way’s national reputation of excellence drew applicants from 30 states and seven countries. After a rigorous process, United Way is confident Renee Moe is the right leader to continue to drive successful community-centric strategies, as well as bring new and insightful partnerships to Dane County,” said Gary Wolter, chair of the search committee and CEO of MG&E.
Moe currently serves as the United Way Executive Vice President of Resource Development and Marketing and has been a lead officer of the organization since 2004. She has held several roles in her 16 years with the organization, and her results orientation led the most recent fundraising campaign to record levels.
“Renee is a bridge-builder who is comfortable listening in a community center, raising million-dollar gifts, and sitting around a table innovating strategies to achieve our community’s greatest aspirations,” said Karen Menendez Coller, a member of the search committee and Executive Director of Centro Hispano. “She is a true collaborator by nature and we are thrilled to work with her in the future.”
Moe holds JBA and MBA degrees from UW Madison. She is a 2015 YWCA Woman of Distinction and is a member of several local organizations, including Morgridge Center Board of Visitors, Rotary Club of Madison (past president) and Wisconsin Women of Color Network. In addition to her relationship-building and fund-development skills, Moe partnered with the Madison Metropolitan School District to develop training for United Way’s trademark Schools of Hope tutoring program and staffed the Born Learning Delegation, which aims to ensure more young children are prepared for kindergarten by 2020. She has proven success in developing and leading a strategic planning process to identify priorities in Dane County and is recognized as a community impact change agent.
“I’m so grateful to serve our community at the organization that aims to listen to and unite all voices to create change,” Moe said. “United Way has a responsibility to bring people together around a neutral table to collaboratively develop and implement solutions to change lives.”
Rich Lynch is the chair of the United Way Board of Directors and chairman of J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc. “We are thrilled that following this transparent and diligent search, Renee will lead United Way with enormous passion and vision. We are truly in very capable hands.”
Moe will succeed Leslie Ann Howard, who is retiring at the end of 2015 after 34 years of service. Howard’s vision and commitment to improving the human condition is only a small piece of her legacy. She ushered in significant improvements in many areas, including homelessness and the racial achievement gap, and transformed United Way into a nationally recognized organization. “Renee has shown again and again her deep love for our community, her ability to bring people together, and her strong desire to change lives. I believe Renee is the right person at the right time to lead United Way of Dane County,” she said.
Moe will take over as president Oct. 1, while Howard remains CEO until her retirement on Dec. 31. Moe will assume CEO responsibilities Jan. 1, 2016. Moe lives in Madison with her husband, Jason Salus, and two children, Nick and Nora.