Executive Team
Leah King was named president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County in November 2019. As president and CEO, Ms. King provides leadership, sets strategic direction and ensures operational excellence, in accordance with the values and mission of United Way of Tarrant County. She is responsible for all aspects of the organization including fiscal oversight, growing financial support, developing processes and policies, facilitating cross-departmental collaboration and promoting a positive, multi-cultural environment.
Previously, she was executive vice president and chief operating officer. She was responsible for driving the strategic vision and direction of the organization in the areas of workplace campaign, donor relations, community investment, volunteer engagement and the Day of Action program.
Before joining the staff of United Way, Ms. King spent her career in the private sector as a public affairs, community relations, investor relations and marketing professional. A passionate advocate for children, Leah is active in the community. She currently serves as a director for Cook Children’s Medical Center and on the board of governors for the Fort Worth Club. She is also an active member of the Fort Worth (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Ms. King is a founding member of the United Way of Tarrant County’s Women United and has served as its Women’s Fund development committee chair.
Jeffrey Allison is an accomplished chief financial officer and senior business executive with career experience in a number of retail, consulting and non-profit organizations. He has demonstrated expertise in building and leading financial, operating and planning teams; designing and implementing business growth strategies; and identifying, mentoring and developing talent.
Prior to his role with United Way of Tarrant County, Jeff was SVP & CFO at Goodwill Industries of Dallas. He has experience in management consulting as the principal of Summit Retail Consulting and as a director with AlixPartners, LLP. He has spent much of his career in corporate finance and retail management, including roles as EVP-GMM and EVP-P&A at JCPenney, Inc., SVP-P&A at Chico’s FAS, Inc., VP-Finance at Express, Inc. and director of FP&A at Limited Brands, Inc.
Jeff is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, an executive member of Financial Executives International and a council member with Gerson Lehrman Group. He earned his CPA from the state of Ohio, and his education includes a Bachelor's of Business Administration in finance from the University of Oklahoma and Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. Jeff is also a board member and lead director of Board Development Systems, Inc.
Jeffrey Allison
chief financial officer
Michelle Bleiberg is chief communications and marketing officer for United Way of Tarrant County where she oversees all external communications including advertising, promotions and public relations to support the marketing objectives and to maximize the positive exposure in local and national markets.
Prior to joining United Way of Tarrant County she was a vice president in the Dallas office of Allison+Partners where she oversaw a portfolio of clients including Navigant Energy, Supplemental Health Care and HighGround Advisors. She has more than 25 years of public relations experience with expertise in thought leadership, corporate reputation, crisis communications, media relations, community relations, event planning and brand positioning. She has served clients and worked in a variety of industries, including entertainment, restaurant and hospitality, healthcare, non-profit, the arts and energy.
Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Texas Tech University. She serves on the Texas Tech National Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Professional Advisory Committee for the Texas Tech College of Media and Communication. In addition, she volunteers at the SPCA of Texas, the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance and Youth Village.
Michelle Bleiberg
chief communications & marketing officer
Beth Watson is executive vice president and chief human resources officer for United Way of Tarrant County where she is responsible for all employee relations across the organization. She joined the organization in the fall of 2017.
In her role, she manages all recruitment, onboarding, talent management, and health and safety programs; ensures organizational and leadership development, performance management and strategic human resource planning; and the creation and implementation of policies. She oversees a competitive compensation and benefits program and ensures compliance with employment-related laws, regulations and best practices.
Before United Way of Tarrant County, Beth served as a human resources consultant for WhitneySmith Company, where she advised clients of diverse sizes and industries regarding human resources best practices.
Ms. Watson received a Bachelor of Business Administration, Management and Marketing from Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business, and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Beth Watson
chief human resources officer
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
- Board Chair: James Powell, Assistant General Counsel for Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Chair of Annual Campaign: Hadley Woerner, President-Tarrant Region, Frost Bank
- Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and Compliance Officer: Josh McNamara, CPA, Partner, Hartman Wanzor LLP
- Chair of Benefits and Compensation and Benefits Committee: Jill Lyttle, Executive Vice President Human Resources and Leadership Development, First Command Financial Services, Inc.
- Chair Investment Committee: Kristy Odom, C0-Chair Community Investment Cabinet
- Chair of Diversity Committee: Shannon Fletcher, Chief of Staff, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
- Chair of Governance Committee: Justin R. Chapa, Of Counsel, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
- Chair of Strategic Planning Committee: Cheryl Mobley, CEO, reCalibrate
- Member-At-Large: Melinda M. Johnston, Managing Director and Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch, Chair, Women’s Leadership Council
- Non-Voting Member: Leah King, President and CEO, United Way of Tarrant County
- Non-Voting Member: Beverly Boyd, Corporate Secretary, United Way of Tarrant County
Directors
- Dr. Keon Anderson, Dentist, JPS Correction Center
- Stevan (Steve) B. Bobb, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, BNSF Railway
- Earnest Boon, Secretary/Treasurer District Lodge 776, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
- Carlo Capua, Co-Owner, Z’s Cafe
- Brian Coltharp, P.E., President and CEO, Freese and Nichols
- June Davis, Board President, Crowley ISD
- Joseph DeLeon, President, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
- Sean Donohue, CEO, DFW International Airport
- John Flack, II, Partner, KPMG, LLP
- Dalton “DJ” Harrell, Assistant Director, Planning and Development, City of Fort Worth
- Scott Hickson, Partner, EY, Fort Worth
- Jarrett Jackson, Precinct Administrator for County Commissioner Devan Allen
- Dr. Melody Johnson, Scholar in Residence, Texas Christian University
- Dr. Peter Jordan, President, Tarrant County College South Campus
- Dr. Pat Linares, Former Interim Superintendent for Fort Worth and Crowley Independent School Districts and Education Consultant
- Allison Mullis, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Bell
- Martin Noto, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Inwood National Bank
- Brian D. O’Neill, PE, CFM, Principal, Pacheco Koch
- H. Richard Payne, Fort Worth Managing Partner, Assurance Partner, EY
- James Sharp, Strategy Director, VLK Architects
- Dr. Abbie Shipp, Professor of Management and Faculty Director for ‘The Adaptive Leader’ Executive Education Program, TCU Neeley School of Business
- Tom Stallings, Founder, Firm Strategies
- Gloria Starling, Managing Partner, The Capital Grille Fort Worth
- Daniel Torres, General superintendent-Texoma Service Unit, Union Pacific Railroad
- Jeff Whitfield, Partner, Kelly Hart
- Jennifer Wichmann, Assistant City Manager, City of Arlington
- Barbara M. Williams, Interim Managing Partner of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
- Darwin Winfield, Manager of Public Affairs, Atmos Energy
Board Members and Voting Ex-Officios
- Chair, AAA Advisory Council: Amanda Robbins, Program Director, Fort Worth Emergency Services Collaborative
- Chair, United Way Arlington Steering Committee: Patra Stroemer
- Chair, United Way NE Steering Committee: Kristin James, Assistant Director of Neighborhood Services, City of North Richland Hills
- Co-Chair, Women United: Brooke Goggans, Mosaic Strategy Partners
- Co-Chair, Women United: Susan Medina, Principal, SKM Communications Strategies, LLC
- Brian Golden, President, Tarrant County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO
