Our Team

KayKellerPresident & CEO

Kay Keller

President & CEO

Kay serves as the President and CEO of United Way of Northeast Georgia, joining in this leadership role in February 2019. She has lived and worked in the Athens-Clarke and Oconee area her entire life, and served on the Board of United Way of Northeast Georgia since 2017. She most recently worked in Economic Development and Community Engagement with The University of North Georgia. Prior to that she served as the President for the Oconee Chamber of Commerce, as Northeast Georgia service representative with Georgia Power Company in Athens, and is a small business owner with her husband. She enjoys community building through collaboration. Connecting partners and generating ideas is at the heart of what she enjoys most. Kay lives in Oconee County with her husband of 26 years. They have two children, Brooke and Jacob. Kay is also a fellow Rotarian, a charter member of the North Oconee County Rotary chapter.

JordanNorthDirector of Development

Jordan North

Director of Development

Jordan joined United Way of Northeast Georgia in August of 2022 as the Director of Development. She comes from a background in Sales and Marketing, and is a partner at LogoSurfing, a local promotional company located in Winder. Jordan serves as President for the North Oconee Rotary Club and has been an active Ambassador for the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce since 2017. She loves to give back to her community through volunteering with different nonprofits and participating in 5K fundraisers with her English Cream Golden Retriever, Willy. Her favorite way to spend a Saturday is screaming GO DAWGS with her niece and nephews. Jordan’s favorite part about United Way is expanding her knowledge on the areas we serve, learning about the wonderful nonprofits we support, and LIVING UNITED!

CourtneyEtheredgeDirector of Community Impact

Courtney Etheredge

Director of Community Impact

Courtney joined United Way of Northeast Georgia in September of 2023 as the Director of Community Impact. In her new role, Courtney coordinates the Community Impact Grant process, oversees 211, and facilitates collaboration with local nonprofits, educational programs, government entities and businesses. Originally from Florida, Courtney moved to Athens in 2017 to earn her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Georgia. Before joining United Way, Courtney worked for several local nonprofits serving children and families impacted by trauma. She has served on the Vision Committee for Athens Clarke County and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. She’s excited about connecting with community members and working with organizations and programs to make the greatest impact for those they serve. In her downtime, you’ll find her listening to a podcast, cooking something new, and playing with her pup, Charlie.

AshleyCarterVice President of Strategy and Operations

Ashley Carter

Vice President of Strategy and Operations

Ashley serves as the Vice President of Strategy and Operations of United Way of Northeast Georgia, joining this leadership role in December 2024. Ashley is an experienced leader with over a decade of expertise in operations, strategic planning, and organizational management. She has a proven track record of scaling businesses, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving financial performance. Most recently, Ashley served as Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Seller Accountant, overseeing marketing, operations, and finance. A graduate of Berry College, Ashley excels at creating innovative strategies and fostering collaborative teams to achieve impactful results. Ashley lives in Oconee County with her husband, Cal, and their son, James.

AnnVolkOffice Administrator

Ann Volk

Office Administrator

Ann retired from AT&T in 2018 and quickly decided retirement was not for her. She briefly worked for a local CPA before joining United Way of Northeast Georgia in June of 2022 as the Office Administrator. Ann has lived in Oconee County with her husband, Richard, since 1994. She has two daughters and four grandchildren. She loves cooking, crafting, reading, and sewing.

2025 Board of Directors

Board Chair: Ryan Hammock*, Pinnacle Bank

Secretary: Kay Keller*, United Way of Northeast Georgia

Campaign Chair: Joe Moon*, Accelerate Commercial & Business Velocity Technology

Treasurer: Jessica Thompson*, Jackson EMC

 Kathyrn Lookofsky*, WorkSource Georgia

Scott Lowry*, University of Georgia School of Law

Jeremiah Bame, Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital

Elena Barberis, Trinity Health

Dr. Jennifer Benford, Barrow County School System

Dr. Philip Brown, Jackson County School System

Tammy Bush, Caterpillar

Chris Collins, Fortson, Bentley & Griffin

Luke Dorman, DPR Construction

Dr. Kristen Douglas, Athens Technical College

Miller Heath, First American Bank

Michelle Roberts Kelterborn, Synovus

Sean McCallen, Golden Pantry

Wesley Mellina, Athens Community Career Academy, Clarke County School District

Dawn Meyers, Foothills Regional High School

Nathan Moore, University of Georgia

John Neidenbach, NGMC Barrow, NGHS

Jessica Roberts, Grahl Construction

Dr. Susan Stancil, Oconee County Schools

Joe Vogt, Barrow County

Carol Williams, Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty

Michelle Yawn, Winder Housing Authority

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*indicates a current member of the executive committee