Executive team
Jeannine Truswell
President & CEO
With an undergraduate degree in education and special education and almost 40 years’ experience in nonprofit management, Jeannine has been the United Way of Weld County president & CEO since 1986.
Before this she was the Weld County Partners executive director and owned and operated a private business. At United Way Jeannine leads a staff of 30+ people and oversees a multi-million dollar budget. Her current board of directors memberships include the Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, and the El Pomar North Regional Council. Among her many commendations is the Colorado Nonprofit Association Steve Graham Award for Building Nonprofit Capacity.
With an undergraduate degree in education and special education and almost 40 years’ experience in nonprofit management, Jeannine has been the United Way of Weld County president & CEO since 1986.
Before this she was the Weld County Partners executive director and owned and operated a private business. At United Way Jeannine leads a staff of 30+ people and oversees a multi-million dollar budget. Her current board of directors memberships include the Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, and the El Pomar North Regional Council. Among her many commendations is the Colorado Nonprofit Association Steve Graham Award for Building Nonprofit Capacity.
Patty Gates
Vice President of Donor Engagement
A Greeley native, Patty has over 30 years of banking experience, recently retiring as FMS Bank branch president and chief operating officer. Her involvement in Greeley and Weld County community and nonprofit organizations is extensive, including serving as A Woman’s Place board chair, Greeley Chamber of Commerce board chair, Greeley Stampede committee chair, United Way of Weld County board member, Women2Women board chair, and more. Patty serves as the United Way of Weld County vice president of Donor Engagement and Leadership Giving
A Greeley native, Patty has over 30 years of banking experience, recently retiring as FMS Bank branch president and chief operating officer. Her involvement in Greeley and Weld County community and nonprofit organizations is extensive, including serving as A Woman’s Place board chair, Greeley Chamber of Commerce board chair, Greeley Stampede committee chair, United Way of Weld County board member, Women2Women board chair, and more. Patty serves as the United Way of Weld County vice president of Donor Engagement and Leadership Giving
Jason Pugh
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Jason holds a MPA in public finance from Indiana University and a BA in history from Depauw University, and serves as the United Way of Weld County vice president of Finance and Administration. His 25 years of experience in government, private, and nonprofit settings includes roles at a software development and training company in Boulder and with the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Washington, D.C. An early adult experience for Jason was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic. He speaks French and Sango fluently.
Jason holds a MPA in public finance from Indiana University and a BA in history from Depauw University, and serves as the United Way of Weld County vice president of Finance and Administration. His 25 years of experience in government, private, and nonprofit settings includes roles at a software development and training company in Boulder and with the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Washington, D.C. An early adult experience for Jason was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic. He speaks French and Sango fluently.
Lyle SmithGraybeal
Vice President of Community Development
With 25+ years of experience working in nonprofits as a program developer, manager, fundraiser, and volunteer, Lyle serves as the vice president of Community Development with United Way of Weld County, working on communications, grants and large designation fundraising, and the access to services initiative area. He has a BS in accounting and business administration from Friends University and a MS in economic development from Eastern University. Most recently Lyle was coordinator for Renovaré, an internationally focused faith-based nonprofit that provides teaching on spiritual practices. His most recent board of directors involvement was with Pura Vida, a Colorado-based nonprofit that facilitates primary and secondary education opportunities in the highlands of western Guatemala.
With 25+ years of experience working in nonprofits as a program developer, manager, fundraiser, and volunteer, Lyle serves as the vice president of Community Development with United Way of Weld County, working on communications, grants and large designation fundraising, and the access to services initiative area. He has a BS in accounting and business administration from Friends University and a MS in economic development from Eastern University. Most recently Lyle was coordinator for Renovaré, an internationally focused faith-based nonprofit that provides teaching on spiritual practices. His most recent board of directors involvement was with Pura Vida, a Colorado-based nonprofit that facilitates primary and secondary education opportunities in the highlands of western Guatemala.
Melanie Woolman
Vice President of Community Impact
Melanie earned dual BA degrees in international relations and political science from Canisius College, a Jesuit institution, in Buffalo, New York. Before becoming the United Way of Weld County vice president of Community Impact and overseeing the programmatic life of the organization, she held other roles at United Way, beginning with a year of service as an AmeriCorps member focusing on community-wide capacity building to end homelessness in Weld County. Melanie is a regional and state-wide leader in addressing and preventing homelessness, including leading the process of founding the federally-recognized Northern Colorado Continuum of Care for Weld and Larimer counties. She embraces the Jesuit ideal of being “men and women for and with others” and embodies it in her day-to-day work.
Melanie earned dual BA degrees in international relations and political science from Canisius College, a Jesuit institution, in Buffalo, New York. Before becoming the United Way of Weld County vice president of Community Impact and overseeing the programmatic life of the organization, she held other roles at United Way, beginning with a year of service as an AmeriCorps member focusing on community-wide capacity building to end homelessness in Weld County. Melanie is a regional and state-wide leader in addressing and preventing homelessness, including leading the process of founding the federally-recognized Northern Colorado Continuum of Care for Weld and Larimer counties. She embraces the Jesuit ideal of being “men and women for and with others” and embodies it in her day-to-day work.
