Peninsula United Way names interim CEO after leader Steven Kast announces retirement
United Way of the Virginia Peninsula’s board of directors named an interim chief executive after CEO Steven Kast announced his plans to retire.
The board selected Charvalla West, who has led United Way as chief operating officer and director of community impact for the past four years, to immediately assume leadership of the organization to provide stability while a search is conducted for the next permanent CEO.
West, who joined United Way in 2015, played a critical role in the implementation and management of the nonprofit’s Pathways Out of Poverty program and led a lot of the engagement work that led to the Peninsula Eviction Reduction Pilot program and the Peninsula Youth Collaborative.
“We are excited that Charvalla has accepted the responsibility of leading the organization until a permanent CEO is identified, and know that she will position United Way to remain a strategic partner in creating lasting change on the Peninsula,” United Way board chair Gary Behm said in the announcement.