Owosso, MI *****
aczawh@r.postjobfree.com
Retta K. Parsons
Professional Goal: To serve as a leader in the connection of people and resources to address community
challenges on a systemic level to make effective, lasting impact
Professional Experience
CEO Shiawassee United Way
20082017 Owosso, MI
Serve as Chief Executive Officer of organization with an annual fiscal worth of approx.
$500,000
Serve in a leadership role in the formation and maintenance of community-wide non-profit,
educational, governmental, and corporate partnerships and coalitions
Serve as a leader in the delivery of human services to a county that experienced sustained
double-digit unemployment rates for over 4 years
Manage marketing campaigns to include all forms of media: print, radio, television, and internet
Secure appropriate funding including grants and donations
Oversee approx. $17 million budget & $22 million new facility construction project as Board
Chair of Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility
Ensure compliance with United Way of America, State of Michigan, and United States non-
profit reporting requirements
Supervise and evaluate staff of 4 to 6 persons
Major accomplishments in this position:
Led Board and community through successful change process and alliance establishment that
resulted in the implementation of United Way 2-1-1 in the county.
Design, fund, implement, and evaluate an initiative that addresses professional and personal
barriers of employees at local businesses. In the first 6 months of implementation, one factory
experienced the following results: 80% decrease in employee absent hours, 74% decrease in
written reprimands, and 66% decrease in terminations of full-time employment.
Fundraise to secure annual provisions for an 11 member, county-wide food pantry alliance. In
2015, brought over $163,900 in product, donations, and services were brought to the Hunger
Network pantry alliance as a whole.
Serve as Chairperson of the Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility Board of Directors. In
addition to overseeing a multi-million-dollar budget, also participating with a $22 million
facility building project.
Conduct multi-media promotional campaigns that include television advertising.
Served as Chairperson, and expanded membership, of the 40+ member Shiawassee County
Health & Human Services Council.
Girl ScoutsMichigan Capital Council, Holt, MI
Adult Development Manager
19992008 Girl ScoutsIrish Hills Council, Jackson, MI
Serve as Chief Learning Officer for the organization
Leader responsible for department that had an annual fiscal worth of approx. $100,000
Supervised and evaluated administrative volunteer staff of 19 persons. These volunteers stayed
a number of years and recruited others to the corps.
For 2007, managed the delivery of 124 trainings for 707 persons in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton
counties.
Served on a leadership team for the planning and implementation of the annual Michigan State
Trainers Conference. This event has a yearly attendance of approximately 250 lead volunteer
staff with an approximate budget of $26,000.
Wrote, field tested, facilitated, and evaluated course curriculum designs, both classroom and
electronic, for the department
Coordinated, supported, and expanded adult recognition program.
Retta K. Parsons, Resume, Page Two
Major accomplishments in this position:
Cultivated and maintained partnerships with other community non-profit and professional
organizations
Between 20032008, was the leader of the team that accomplished a 49 percent growth of the adult
recognition program.
Designed, coded, implemented, and evaluated electronic training options for volunteers and staffa
first for this 75 year old organization.
Presented new Adult Development Manager Training and mentoring per peer requests throughout
the State of Michigan.
Worked with a team throughout the State of Michigan to design, present, and evaluate a Training of
Trainers course for new team members in the state.
Academic Coordinator, Tutor, Writing Instructor Spring Arbor College
19921997 Lansing, MI
Mentor non-traditional undergraduate students through baccalaureate thesis
Grade baccalaureate theses
Design and deliver curriculum to facilitate students learning of colleges writing forms and
requirements
Assist referred students toward fulfillment of the requirements for graduation
Program Coordinator Charlotte Public Schools
1990 - 1991 Charlotte, MI
Responsible for all aspects of program design, implementation, and management for an after school
child care program. Duties included but not limited to:
Budget forecasting and actual budget implementation
Grant writing, state licensure, and curriculum design
Education
Master of Public Administration Western MI University
Apr. 1996 graduate, 3.80 GPA Kalamazoo, MI
Bachelor of Arts Spring Arbor College
Jan. 1992 graduate with honors, 3.81 GPA Spring Arbor, MI
Major--Management of Human Resources
Michigan State University
Nursing Home Administrator Licensure Series
October 2016present Eli Broad School of Management
Anticipate completion mid to late 2017 East Lansing Michigan
Associate DegreeGeneral Lansing Community College
Mar. 1990 graduate with honors Lansing, MI
CertificateComputer Programming Lansing Business Institute
Mar. 1980 graduate, 4.0 GPA Lansing, MI
Certifications, Skills, and Abilities
Certified Instructor of Trainers through Girls Scouts of the USA
Certified Bridges Out of Poverty TrainerLifetime Certification
Microsoft Office: Word, Access, Excel, & PowerPoint
Professional & Community Activities
Girl Scouts of the USALifetime Member
President, Shiawassee County Emergency Food & Housing Board
Chairperson, Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility Board
Chairperson, Shiawassee County Dept. of Human Services Board
Past Chairperson, Shiawassee County Health & Human Services Council
Administrator, Shiawassee Hunger Network
Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce Ambassador
MI Assoc. of United WaysPublic Policy Committee
Central Michigan 211 Management Team
Owosso Rotary Club
Presbyterian ChurchesMason, Holt & Lansing, MICo-Moderator of Board of Deacons, Clerk of Session,
choir member
915 W. King St.
Owosso, MI 48867
aczawh@r.postjobfree.com
Retta K. Parsons
REFERENCES
Alison Morrison
Director, Shiawassee & Gratiot Counties
MI Dept. Of Health & Human Services
1720 E. Main St., Suite 1
Owosso, MI 48867
aczawh@r.postjobfree.com
(Shiawassee United Way Board Member)
Scott Dzurka, Vice President
Public Sector Consultants
1105 Kelcrasta Dr.
Saint Johns, MI 48879
(Former United Way Associate)
Brent Jones
Vice President
Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership
225 Sylvia Dr.
Corunna, MI 48817
aczawh@r.postjobfree.com
(Shiawassee United Way Board Member)
Kris Wurm
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council
1223 Turner Street
Suite 200
Lansing, MI 48906
(Former Girl Scout Co-worker)
Scott Gilman
5491 W. Heathwood, SE
Kentwood, MI 49512
aczawh@r.postjobfree.com
(Professional Peer)
Richard Baldwin
5547 Starflower Drive
Haslett, MI 48840
(Professional Peer)
John Spicko
9160 Ridge Road
Goodrich, MI 48438
(Former Shiawassee United Way Board Member)