To help acclimate O’Doherty to his new community, United Way hosted a meet and greet event at Asparagus restaurant in Merrillville. The meetup allowed United Way staff, local business owners, and other community members to meet the new CEO and discuss future plans for the community.
“We're so excited to see that the Lake and Porter United Ways have joined together. They play such a vital role in supporting the needs of the community,” said St. Mary Medical Center CEO Janice Ryba. “As a not-for-profit in the hospital environment, we partner very closely with United Way as a resource for our patients. We’re happy to be here and meet the new CEO.”
Sharon Kish, former president and CEO of United Way of Porter County, is positive that O’Doherty will push United Way into a new era. Kish retired in 2016, and is excited to see what the future holds for United Way, especially after last year’s merger.
“I think the merger going to make United Way stronger throughout the Region. I met with Adam briefly and I think he’s going to be wonderful. He has the energy, enthusiasm and knowledge to lead the way into the future,” said Kish.
For O’Doherty, the meet and greet served as a way to connect with community members from all areas of the organization.
“When I get to meet people, it’s nice just to have some sit-down time and really get to know what their vision is for the community. I feel like I'm drinking from a fire hydrant with all the people I'm meeting so far, but that's exactly what I wanted. If I can't meet people and develop relationships, then the work we're trying to do doesn’t really matter,” said O’Doherty.
O’Doherty has worked to build relationships with the community since his first day on the job. His enthusiasm and determination to improve the lives of those in the Region have assured others at United Way that O’Doherty was the right person for the job.
“We’re really excited for the future with the merger and Adam’s placement. We’ve begun strategic planning and will be evaluating how we can serve residents throughout our regional footprint better,” said Senior Director of Community Impact Anicia Kosky.
United Way of Northwest Indiana footprint has expanded to encompass Lake, Porter and Starke counties and portions of Newton and Jasper counties. For more than 50 years, United Way has been providing a variety of health, education and financial stability programs in Northwest Indiana. In 2021, they provided more than $5 million in resources to help residents thrive.
For more information on United Way of Northwest Indiana, visit www.unitedwaynwi.org.
