Executive Team

Jill Michal is President and CEO of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, an organization committed to improving lives by harnessing the collective power of donors, advocates and volunteers. Jill spearheads United Way’s efforts to create real change by uniting local communities and collaboratively investing resources to ensure children succeed in school, families are financially stable and older adults can age in good health in their homes and communities.

Under Jill’s leadership, United Way has shifted from an organization that simply made grants to one that truly makes change. Jill believes we need to break the cycle of broken systems in this region by focusing on the root causes of our most serious challenges. By defining ourselves more by the problems we are trying to solve than the organization or constituency we represent, Jill looks to make United Way the table around which the community, business, government and labor gather to make it happen.

It was during her early days at United Way that Jill caught the passion of the staff and the mission. Prior to taking on the top spot, Jill served as United Way’s Director of Finance, Vice President of Finance and Operations and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She oversaw Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Building and Administration as well as certain aspects of Community Impact, Donor Research and Information Services. In addition, she has been an important figure on the national scene as a leader with the United Way Worldwide Financial Issues Committee, a group of senior financial staff from United Ways across the country that develop financial standards and guidelines for United Way in all 50 states.

Jill began her career with Arthur Andersen, LLP, and was with the firm for approximately eight years focusing on healthcare and nonprofits, leaving to join United Way in December 2001. Jill is a graduate of Penn State University, a proud Nittany Lion with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a member of the AICPA and PICPA. Jill serves as a Board Member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success. She also serves on the Audit Committee of the Philadelphia Jewish Federation, the Advisory Board of Graduate!Philadelphia and the Finance Committee of the Delaware Valley Grantmakers. Jill is the personification of what it means to LIVE UNITED.

As Senior Vice President, Ann O'Brien Schmieg serves as the voice of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey's Community Impact agenda in the community at large. Ann works toward the dual goals of increasing United Way's presence throughout the region and cultivating relationships that enhance the organization's ability to attract new resources to support our goals, ensuring that our work is able to make positive lasting change in our community.

Prior to joining United Way in 2003, Ann spent 15 years with La Salle's Nonprofit Center. She consulted with many of the region's nonprofits in the areas of board development and strategic planning, and served as the founding editor of Opportunity NOCs, the region's first nonprofit jobs newsletter which launched in 1993. Ann is on the Advisory Committee of the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) at Bryn Mawr College's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research where she also teaches the NELI session on board governance. She also serves as adjunct faculty at St. Joseph's University Haub School of Business where she teaches Stakeholder Theory and Social Responsibility. Ann has an MBA from La Salle University and a MSS, MLSP from the Bryn Mawr College's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.

Ann has acted in a variety of volunteer leadership roles in local nonprofits. She currently serves as Past President of the Board at the Commonwealth Youthchoirs, and as a board member with Delaware Valley Grantmakers.

Ann resides in Mt. Airy where she is actively involved in her neighborhood as a volunteer and on a variety of local boards of directors.

Annie Madonia is Senior Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy at United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. She is responsible for leading and managing all of the United Way's Resource Development programs and initiatives. In this role, Annie works closely with United Way's philanthropic partners, and oversees the annual workplace campaign, affinity groups, major gift cultivation, and endowment and planned giving efforts.

Before joining the United Way, Annie served as Vice President of Development and Board Relations for The Philadelphia Orchestra; prior to that, she spent 12 years at The Cleveland Orchestra, ultimately serving as Director of Development from 2000-2007. She has also held development positions at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc. and Carnegie Hall.

A native of New York City, Annie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from Wellesley College.

With a goal to strengthen United Way’s brand and effectively support relationships with donors and partners across the community and region, Chris Murray spearheads United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s communications strategy, with a focus on market research, public and media relations, digital and social media, and advertising.

Chris has served a diverse group of clients throughout his public relations and marketing communications career, creating and executing strategic business-to-business and consumer communications programs in the technology, sports & entertainment, healthcare, tourism, finance, manufacturing and professional services industries. Chris’ agency background includes large and small firms in the Philadelphia area, including a boutique agency he founded, leading impactful PR and marketing communications initiatives that have helped organizations drive sales, enhance brands, protect reputations, establish leadership positions and build relationships with key stakeholders.

While at Tierney Communications, Chris directed marketing communications for a major professional golf championship, coordinated media relations for international events in Shanghai, Tokyo, Prague and the U.S., and managed sustained communications campaigns for a leader in the environmental science industry. Chris also led a number of pro bono initiatives for non-profit organizations in the region, and was a member of Tierney’s issues management and crisis communications team.

A Southeastern PA native, Chris and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of daughter Bridget and son Charlie. Chris is a passionate advocate for individuals with Down Syndrome, a committee member of the Catholic Leadership Institute, and a member of the Business Advisory Council at Elwyn and board of directors of Woods Services Foundation.

Chris is an adjunct professor in the Department of Culture & Communication at Drexel University and a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Lynn Giardinelli is responsible for leading and managing the programs necessary to attract, retain and reward the employees of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. As a result of the merger, the organization has grown to 140 employees across the region, with the majority based in the center city Philadelphia office. Her work is focused on workforce redesign, talent/performance management, compensation and benefits design, and employee engagement. A respected HR professional in the United Way system, she serves on United Way Worldwide's national task force on Talent Management.

A 25-year employee of United Way, Lynn has also provided leadership in several other areas including Donor Choice/Donor Services, Facilities Management and Volunteer Management. She was promoted to the senior HR role in 1997.

Lynn is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in psychology. Her professional memberships include Philadelphia Human Resources Planning Group (PHRPG), Tri-State Human Resources Management Association, Philadelphia SHRM, and other local senior HR practitioner professional groups. Her community interests include food bank supports and adult literacy.

Karen Cleary is responsible for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s finance, customer relationships, and quality management functions. In this role, Karen oversees the organization’s campaign processing, information technology support and internal operations.

Karen joined United Way in 2003 as Controller and became Director of Finance in 2005. In 2008, she was appointed Vice President of Finance.

Prior to joining United Way, Karen worked as an audit senior at Arthur Andersen, LLP, where she specialized in healthcare and not-for-profit clients. She also held the role of manager of expense administration at CIGNA. Karen is a graduate of Penn State University and is a CPA. She is a member of the PICPA.

Laura Boyce is Associate Vice President of Community Impact for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Laura oversees Income, Health and Basic Needs initiatives and investments that support the implementation of United Way’s Agenda for Community Solutions.

Prior to joining the organization in 1994, she worked in public affairs at Scott Paper Company where she served as Media Relations Manager and coordinated employee community involvement programs.

Previously, she served as Program Director for the National Association of Black Journalists, and was an associate producer for a television news service. Ms. Boyce holds a BA in Geography from Vassar College, and is a 2006 graduate of the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at Bryn Mawr College.

Diane Castelbuono is Associate Vice President of Education at United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Working within United Way’s Community Impact department, Diane oversees education, which includes initiatives supporting both high quality early education and ensuring that high school students graduate college and career-ready.

Prior to her position with United Way, Diane was the Associate Superintendent for Strategic Programs for the School District of Philadelphia, where she led the district's school turnaround and charter school work. Previously, Diane served for five years as the Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for the oversight and support of all K-12 public and private schools in the Commonwealth, serving over 1.8 million students. Diane has worked for the Philadelphia public school system in several cabinet-level positions, including chief of staff for the School Reform Commission and director of policy and planning.

Diane earned her undergraduate degree from Haverford College, and holds a Master of Business Administration from Eastern University. She resides in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where her three children attend public school.

As Associate Vice President of Resource Development, Julie Roehrig is currently responsible for managing the operations of United Way’s annual campaign which generates nearly $50 million for the region each year. A fundraising professional with more than 25 years of experience, she serves on United Way’s senior management team and is responsible for driving key organizational initiatives. Prior to this role, Julie served in successive positions within the Resource Development department.

For nine years in the 1990s, Julie directed a regional association of United Ways, collaborating around fundraising strategies and operational excellence. Julie began her United Way career in a select management trainee program through United Way of America and has worked at local United Ways in Louisville KY, Indianapolis IN, Memphis TN and Richmond VA.

Julie graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelors degree in Government and Business. She resides with her family in Berwyn, PA where she has been an active volunteer with local schools, church and youth baseball organizations.