United Way of Weld County executive staff now includes a vice president of community impact, vice president of philanthropy and chief operating officer.
“I am excited to share that United Way recently hired two new executive level staff and has changed the responsibilities of a third,” shared Melanie Woolman, United Way’s president and CEO. “As of February 6, Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca began serving as the lead staff for our direct service programs and community investments, while Travis Hitt is overseeing United Way community fundraising efforts.”
Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca has worked with the developmentally disabled, older adults, migrant farmworkers, families on public assistance, at-risk youth, households experiencing homelessness and individuals in the criminal justice system during his 25 years with nonprofit organizations.
With a BA in business administration and organizational management from Adams State College and a graduate degree in nonprofit management and leadership from Regis University, Cienfuegos-Baca was most recently the Greeley-based Jobs of Hope executive director, providing housing and employment support to those recently released from incarceration. Before this, he was the operations manager at Catholic Charities Guadalupe Community Center.
Travis Hitt’s passion for youth and giving back to the community began over a decade ago. After earning an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, Hitt worked as a youth hockey coach at the Greeley Ice Haus and served as a psychology intern with Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County.
After transitioning to club house director and managing different locations around Weld County, Hitt then served Boys & Girls Clubs in California and Colorado Springs. In 2018, he became the vice president of marketing and engagement with Boys & Girls Clubs back in Weld County, leading fundraising events such as Elegant Night and Dancing with the Weld County Stars, while increasing overall revenue.
“With over a decade of experience in different United Way of Weld County roles, I have made Lyle SmithGraybeal the chief operating officer,” Woolman added. “Lyle’s grasp of United Way’s community role and organizational operations will allow me to maximize my time in community engagement and leadership and for being with donors and other stakeholders. I am incredibly excited for what this executive team and all of our board of director and staff members, donors, and volunteers will do together in upcoming months and years.”
