photo by: Nick Krug

United Way of Douglas County CEO Jannette Taylor smiles as she is introduced before speaking on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 during the United Way 2017 campaign kickoff at Crown Toyota, 3430 S. Iowa St.

Story updated at 8:18 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2:

The top executive with the United Way of Douglas County is resigning at the end of the year, the organization announced Friday.

Jannette Taylor will resign as chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization on Dec. 31, according to a statement from the local board of directors. She has served in the role since September 2017.

Taylor told the Journal-World Friday afternoon that she is leaving because of a family health emergency, which is a priority for her. Although she’s leaving, she said she loves the organization and the people of United Way.

Peggy Johnson, chair of the board of directors, said she understands and respects Taylor’s reason for leaving. She said the work Taylor has done during the last year has put the organization in a good position. It is in good financial health, and it is expected to reach its fundraising campaign goal of $1.5 million.

“In the year we’ve had her, she’s done some phenomenal things,” Johnson said. “We are the benefactors of that, no doubt.”

Taylor said she is proud of the work the organization has done in the past year.

“We really put a lot of time and energy into making sure the United Way and all its partners that the work we are doing will affect those three areas: health, education and financial stability,” she said.

Lea Roselyn, the United Way’s community impact director, will serve as interim CEO while the board of directors conducts a search for a new CEO. Roselyn is a Lawrence native and KU graduate with almost 20 years of experience working for nonprofits.

Taylor said she will work closely with Roselyn during her last few months to help her take over the position.

The United Way personnel committee will meet next week to begin the process of the search for the next permanent CEO. Johnson did not name a certain date when a new CEO will be in place.

“We’ll want to jump on it as soon as we can, but we also don’t want to be in such a rush we hire the wrong person,” she said. “We’ll be diligent in our process and putting that committee together.”

Taylor was announced as the organization’s new CEO in July of 2017. Her predecessor, Erika Dvorske, announced in October 2016 her plans to resign after nine years with the United Way; it was simultaneously announced that Colleen Gregoire, vice president of resource development, was also leaving the nonprofit.

Johnson said she is not worried about the turnover.

“We’ve had a little bit of turnover in the last year and that happens sometimes,” she said. “I’m not concerned because we have a good team that believes in what United Way does, and turnover is just part of the way the world works.”

In the statement announcing Taylor’s resignation, the board thanked her for her leadership and “vision to achieve equitable programs and services for individuals and families in Douglas County.”