WARREN CO. UNITED WAY TO SHARE CEO WITH AGENCY
Aaron Reid to take reins of nonprofit serving area children, elderly.
The president and LEBANON —
CEO of the United Way of Warren County will also take the reins of Warren County Community Services (WCCS), an $11-million-ayear nonprofit serving the county’s needy children and elderly.
On Aug. 1, Aaron Reid will replace Eugene Rose as executive director of WCCS.
“When we combine, we’re able to open so many different doors,” Reid said Monday. “It produces synergies that I think are going to help us be tremendously successful.”
Rose was placed on administrative leave on April 5 and fired May 6, according to Linda Oda, president of the WCCS board.
Reid has headed the county United Way since 2011 and seen it shift focus to include workforce development as well as social service funding in its mission.
Rose began with county social-service agencies as a board member of the Warren County Board of Development Disabilities in 2003 and took the helm of WCCS in 2014.
Through their agencies, Rose and Reid collaborated in 2016 to expand the 2-1-1 social service telephone referral service to Warren County.
“At the end of the day, both of these great organizations care about improving the quality of life for all Warren Countians. We are so fortunate to have boards with the forward-thinking attitudes of sharing their knowledge and resources with others to lift everyone up,” Reid said in a press release.
The two organizations expect to save money on administrative costs, as well as eliminate duplication between the agencies, resulting in more services for young and old in Warren County.
“We think we are going to be the model for the state of Ohio,” Oda, also the Warren County recorder, said Monday.
Rose could not be reached for comment.
In 2016, Rose said he was looking for $4 million for projects and with no expectation of additional government funding.
“In the long run, we have to find a completely new funding model,” he said.
Oda declined to comment further on Rose’s departure, but indicated it was related to WCCS’s status with the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio.
“Our relationship with Council on Aging has never been better. They are an important partner. We are excited for what the future holds for us,” Oda said.
The Council on Aging funds WCCS programs through administration of countywide community-services tax levy collections.
At 9:15 a.m. today, Oda is scheduled to discuss Reid’s dual role with the Board of Warren County Commissioners.
Oda said the Council on Aging was about to provide funding to WCCS for existing programs, including Meals on Wheels, based on three requests for proposals.
Oda said another funding approval would for the first time enable WCCS to help needy people to pay bill and pay for professional assistance.
Contrary to claims, Oda said there were no plans to close the Warren County Senior Center on Ohio 741, across from the Otterbein retirement campus.
“That was never true. We are not closing it. In fact, were looking at new ways we can bring more services to senior citizens,” Oda said.
“We want to serve more people, not less,” she added, including meals for people on special diets.
Richard Jones, a former banker also president of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau board, was hired in March as chief operating officer.
Oda said Jones served as a liaison to the Council on Aging, shortly before Rose was placed on leave and has handled WCCS renewed bids for funding.
Oda said she and Jones first talked of combining services with United Way, leading Jones to talk to Reid.
“That started the ball rolling,” said. “We can serve more people if we are spending less money on overhead.”
Oda declined to disclose Reid’s new salary and benefits, indicating 65 percent would come from WCCS, 35 percent from United Way.
She said the two offices would be sharing board members and could be combining offices in three to six months at a new location.
Employees will continue to work for the separate agencies, unless duplication can be eliminated through further consolidation, Oda added.
“We want this to be permanent,” she said. “Only time will tell.”