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United Way announces Feller as new president (Dec 05, 2008)

Red Cross to form search committee for replacement

By: Andrew Tobias - Staff Writer

The United Way of Delaware County has announced a new leader, and it's a familiar face to those involved with non-profit work in the county.

Starting Jan. 5, Brandon Feller, the executive director for the Delaware County chapter of the American Red Cross, will become the local United Way's new president. The position has been vacant since former president Kathy Tatterson Kreuchauf resigned in July to take a job elsewhere.

"When we interviewed Brandon, he brought everything to the table we were looking for." said Steve Garlock, chairman of the local United Way's board of trustees.

Feller's resume includes three and a half years at his position with the local Red Cross.  Before that, Feller, a former legislative aide, worked as government and external relations officer for the Red Cross of Illinois.

Feller's experience in non-profit leadership in a local chapter of a national organization, as well as his knowledge of the community, made him suited for the job, Garlock said.

"In our mind, he's the ideal candidate," Garlock said.

Feller said his time working with the Red Cross and partnering with United Way helped further his passion for non-profit work.  He said working with the United Way would present a new challenge.

"It's an opportunity to take that passion into a new arena so we in Delaware County can pool our resources and make a difference," he said.

Feller's goals for the United Way include trying to improve how they target potential niche donors. He said a challenge has always been reaching residents in southern Delaware County, many of whom work in Franklin County.

"So many people are new to the county and don't have the institutional knowledge of organizations and services we have," Feller said.

He also said he would like to do more reach out to individual donors and small businesses.

The United Way is currently on track to match the $3.5 million it raised last year, and hopes to meet the organization's goal to raise $3.8 million by March, Garlock said.

Garlock said he has seen encouraging signs for his organization's cause, despite concern that people may be less willing to give during hard economic times.

"I'm seeing people who are giving more, because they can see the need is greater," Garlock said.

Meanwhile, Feller's departure means the Red Cross in the county is looking for a new executive director.

"It's always hard to replace a good executive director and Brandon was certainly that for the Red Cross," said Phil Packard, who will be the chairman of the newly-formed search committee to find Feller's replacement.

Packard was part of the Red Cross's previous search committee, which spent about nine months looking before settling on Feller.

"We're gonna look far and wide and try to find the best possible candidate," he said.

The Red Cross has not yet decided if it will have an interim executive director before the search process is completed, Packard said.

atobias@delgazette.com