United Way top exec is agency's youngest

DAYTONA BEACH — United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties on Monday named Courtney Edgcomb as its new president.

Edgcomb, 27, is the youngest person to ever hold the top executive position at United Way of Volusia-Flagler. She succeeds the late Dennis Burns, 65, who died unexpectedly in early February.

"Dennis was a great friend to me and a mentor," said Edgcomb, who began working at United Way of Volusia-Flagler in June 2013 when she got hired a few months after graduating from Stetson University.

After starting out as an assistant director of resource development, Edgcomb was promoted to director of community impact in October 2015 and was promoted to vice president a year and a half later.

Steve Sally, the former longtime executive director of a DeLand-based nonprofit called The House Next Door, came out of retirement to fill in as interim executive director following Burns' death.

Edgcomb's promotion to president is effective immediately.

United Way of Volusia-Flagler was founded in 1941. It has raised just under $3 million in donations and grants each of the last two years.

Those funds are used to provide financial support to 22 nonprofit organizations that offer 30 programs in the two-county area.

As president, Edgcomb oversees a staff of 18 employees. The offices for United Way of Volusia-Flagler are at 3747 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Edgcomb oversaw the launch of a new initiative at United Way called Generation Impact aimed at engaging young professionals to become involved, not just as donors, but also as volunteers.

As vice president of community impact, she oversaw fundraising, the distribution of funds, United Way's volunteer center and marketing.

She also has been active in the community as a member of the DeLand Breakfast Rotary, Dolly Parton Imagination Library committee, the Leadership Daytona Alumni Council and as a volunteer at her church, Stetson Baptist in DeLand.

The News-Journal's Business Report last fall recognized Edgcomb as one of the Volusia-Flagler area's "Influential Women in Business."

Ray Salazar, a former longtime president of United Way of Volusia-Flagler who retired at the end of 2015 after leading the organization for 16 years, said he is thrilled about the selection of Edgcomb for the agency's top post.

"Dennis Burns and I were convinced that Courtney's aptitude alone would escalate her to a leadership role," said Salazar. "With her evolving experience and capacity to engage community leaders, she will continue to use and improve the Community Impact model to address relevant social issues in health, education and income stability."

Sam Willett, chairman of the local United Way's board of directors, said Edgcomb brings "phenomenal vision and incredible energy and is the right individual to lead our United Way into the future."

Edgcomb said she believes she is ready for the challenge, thanks in part to the mentoring she received from Burns.

"About a year ago, I began talking with Dennis about my eventual career goals," she said.

"He used to say all the time, 'My job is to hire the right people and get out of their way to let them work,'" she said of Burns.

Edgcomb said she shares that philosophy of "empowering" staffers, but added, "My job is to lead the charge for our organization as a thought leader for this community" and in conveying to the public the positive impacts their donations are making to help the area's needy.

United Way of Volusia-Flagler's executive search committee conducted a national search for candidates to succeed the late Burns, said Rene Bell Adams, a board member who is set to become chair in July. A total of 65 applications were received including several from other states, some with extensive experience with United Way. Edgcomb beat out two other finalists for the job, Adams said.

Edgcomb's annual base salary will be $78,000, Adams said.

Edgcomb and her husband Robert live in DeLand. They have three children.