DePriest Waddy

For 130 years, Families First has been one of Georgia's leading social service organizations, working to break the barriers to resiliency for children and families. Families First fosters strong communities by helping clients to navigate comprehensive and sustainable solutions that improve child well-being and family self-sufficiency through adoption, foster care, parenting classes, education support, supportive housing, counseling and mental health services. We work to strengthen families, no matter what challenges they are facing. For more information go to familiesfirst.org.

Top Executive leading JCCEO (Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity) - one of the largest Community Action Partnership agencies in the United States with a 30M budget and more than 500 employees. JCCEO offers child development services through daycare and educational enrichment to over 1,800 children; senior services to the disabled; weatherization and utility assistance to thousands in Jefferson County.

Senior leader responsible for managing multiple C-level boards of directors and executing collaborative strategies to address community deficits in education, workforce development, and health throughout Georgia. In addition, serve as development officer overseeing a staff of fundraising executives raising 6M annually.

Developed and implemented strategy to produce 3M annually from earned income revenue. Partnered with fortune 500 companies to sponsor professional apprenticeships to support emerging technology professionals in an effort to close the opportunity divide for indigent young adults.

Led a network of 40 county agencies, community programs and partnerships to ignite stakeholders in the safety of children. Implemented a critical turnaround strategy including staff re-engineering within first three months of hire.