Lindsay Callahan named new CEO of United Way Fresno

The United Way Fresno and Madera Counties announced their newest president and CEO, former Fresno County Office of Education consultant Lindsay Callahan.

Effective Feb. 1, Callahan will succeed R. Michael Alexander, who retired in June, and interim President Bob Reyes, who will return to his role as board chair.

Callahan’s hiring was announced Thursday. Most recently, Callahan was a consultant for the Fresno County Office of Education in the Visual and Performing Arts Department. Before working with the FCOE, she founded an intermediary organization called the Central Valley Afterschool Foundation.

She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Davis, and her master’s degree of public policy and administration from Sacramento State.

During her time in Sacramento, Callahan served as a Jesse Marvin Unruh Fellow in the California State Assembly.

Callahan also managed a state level public-private partnership between the Foundation Consortium for California’s Children and Youth and the California Department of Education.

She recently was awarded the Adult Volunteer of the Year award from HandsOn Central California and was named one of Fresno’s 40 under 40.

“Lindsay brings an exciting energy to the organization, (and) her unique combination of leadership experience, networking ability and passion to help our community makes her an ideal president and CEO,” Reyes said.

When Alexander announced his retirement, he cited personal health and family reasons for his exit, saying he planned to spend more time with his wife, two children and grandchildren.

Alexander took over as CEO in January 2011. Before that, he had served as a member of the board while working for Kaiser Permanente Fresno.

During Alexander’s tenure, United Way of Fresno County returned more than $25 million to low-income families through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

The nonprofit also has distributed hundreds of thousands of toys through Toys for Tots and saved residents millions of dollars through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

United Way focuses its efforts on education, income, health and a women’s initiative.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Lindsay Callahan named new CEO of United Way Fresno."