Jennifer Kmecik, community engagement director at Community Thread in Stillwater, has been named executive director of United Way of Washington County-East in Stillwater.
Before joining Community Thread as the volunteer center director in 2017, Kmecik served as programs director at Camp Fire Minnesota and as director of urban programs at Junior Achievement North.
“I feel very connected to the mission and work that UWWCE does in the St. Croix Valley,” Kmecik said. “I look forward to helping the organization grow, so that we can further the work and impact of the nonprofit agencies in the community.”
Her first day at United Way of Washington County-East will be Nov. 21, but she said she plans to continue part-time at Community Thread for three weeks to work on the organization’s Holiday Hope program.
Kmecik, 44, is a member of the board of the Chisago Lakes Area Community Foundation. She also is a 2021-22 class participant of Leadership in the Valley, where she continues to be involved as a steering committee member, and is a past participant and co-chair of Leadership Twin Cities.
Kmecik has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas. She and her husband, Matt, have two sons and live in Lindstrom.
Jessica Ryan, who had been head of United Way of Washington County-East since 2016, left in October to become executive director of the Housing First Minnesota Foundation.
