County United Way’s President and Guiding Light Will Retire

W. James Greene, president and guiding light of the United Way of San Diego County for eight years, will retire in April to pursue his own consulting business.

Greene, 57, announced his impending departure to United Way’s Board of Directors at their meeting Tuesday. He told the assembled board members that he “felt the need for a change in his professional work and in his life style,” according to United Way spokesman Gene Louden.

“It isn’t that I’m burned out, because I’m not,” Greene said by telephone from his Del Cerro Heights home Tuesday. “I just want to spend more time with my family and at the same time want to be able to do some things professionally that my present schedule doesn’t allow me to,” he said.

32-Year Career

Greene’s retirement will put an end to a 32-year career with United Way, during which he served in executive positions in Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as in California. Chosen as United Way’s “top professional” in 1981, Greene is credited with reorganizing the San Diego chapter to make it more responsive to the changing needs of a rapidly expanding community, as well as overseeing the adoption of a revised fund-distribution system.

“He’s recognized nationally as a real innovator in the charitable fund-raising business and has brought a lot to this United Way in the eight years he’s been here,” said Terry Hayes, executive vice president of marketing for the San Diego United Way office. “He’s really been a very inspirational leader for the staff and volunteers.”

Ed Streicher, the immediate past chairman of the board, will head a committee to choose Greene’s successor. Streicher said there are no preferred candidates. The committee will start a national search for qualified applicants after Jan. 1, he said. The committee plans to recommend a choice to the board by the end of February.

During Greene’s tenure, the local United Way office doubled the amount of money raised during its annual campaign for local health and human care services. In 1980, the campaign raised just over $12 million; by comparison, a record-setting $25,026,801 was raised this year.

Greene said he plans to work part time doing fund-raising consultation and providing management services to voluntary agencies. He said he has already been approached to do some work with agencies in the Midwest and on the East Coast, and hopes to do some international business as well.

Greene said he plans to stay involved with United Way nationally.