Laura Gilliam joined United Way of West Florida (formerly United Way of Escambia County) as President/CEO in January, 2018. Laura began her non-profit career in 1996 with Faith in Action of the River Cities. She served as Executive Director of United Way of the River Cities in Huntington, West Virginia for 12 years.
While in West Virginia, Laura served on several boards, and as the President of the Board of West Virginia 211. She has presented at local and regional meetings and was a member and past president of the Huntington Rotary Club.
Laura is a member of the Downtown Pensacola Rotary Club; the Institute for Women in Politics of Northwest Florida; and the Transportation Disadvantaged Board in Santa Rosa County. She serves on the United Way of Florida State Association Board of Governors, and is a member of the National 211 CEO Partnership for United Way Worldwide.
Laura graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Her husband Frank retired from Marshall University after 28 years and serves on the faculty at the University of West Florida. They have two children, Rachel who is the Program Director at Camp Beckwith in Fairhope, Alabama; and, Ian who is a Lieutenant in the Navy, currently stationed in Japan.