Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Hoff.
Hi Susan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I joined the United Way Metropolitan Dallas team in 2009 as the SVP Community Impact. My primary role was to help lead the re-envisioning and strategy for the organization’s impact work. This entailed facilitating a dramatic shift from a traditional United Way model to a targeted approach to driving measurable change in Education, Financial Stability, and Health.
Prior to joining the United Way team, I held the CEO role at 3 nonprofit organizations – over a 15 year period:
1 small grassroots West Dallas community center
1 start up which I grew and expanded by over 500%
1 very large (70M budget and 250 staff)
Before that I served in progressive leadership roles in the nonprofit sector in Midland, Texas and in the Dallas area.
I grew up in Midland, went to undergraduate school in Colorado, and graduate school in Dallas.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My career journey has been an exciting and fulfilling one – although not a linear path! I learned from each of my experiences – and incorporated them into my work.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am incredibly fortunate to get to do many different things within the scope of my job and to work with many different and incredibly accomplished, smart people! Overall, I’d say I specialize in connecting people, programs, ideas, and resources to create comprehensive strategy and drive positive change for our community. I excel in pulling together diverse groups of people together to address challenges together. I in the power of combining diverse thought and experiences – rather than a singular approach.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
For a short period of time, I was a contortionist in a very small circus.
