It was a job she didn’t realize she wanted until asked, but now that she pursued it — and accepted it — Daphne Mertens says she made the right call to go for the CEO position with the United Way of the Flint Hills.
In talking with KVOE News after Friday’s announcement, Mertens said the United Way will likely seek grant funding to bolster its fundraising campaign. On KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Tuesday, Mertens expanded on that thought.
Mertens will supplant Mickey Edwards, who is returning to SOS as executive director when Connie Cahoone retires in March — and who has been focused on expanding the community consciousness of the United Way’s role beyond the annual fundraising campaign. United Way Board Chair Julie Cooper says the board is looking to build on the community impact already in place.
Cooper says the CEO decision was a tough one, but she says Mertens is the right person for the job because of her experience as grant manager for Healthier Lyon County and her caring nature.
The United Way works in conjunction with over 20 community partners in Lyon County and seven nearby counties.
