Trident United Way announces new leadership hires: Astad, Johnson and Reams to join the organization this month
September 19, 2023
Trident United Way (TUW) is thrilled to announce three new leadership hires who will join the organization this month: Vice President of Institutional Funding, Director of Health and Director of United for ALICE.
Ilze Astad will become the Vice President of Institutional Funding, leading the organization’s grant proposals and compliance planning. This is a new role for Trident United Way as we look to diversify funding and increase our overall fundraising goals. Astad joins TUW from Palmetto Goodwill where she most recently served as the Senior Director of Mission Services and previously as the Director of Grants and Programs. Prior to Palmetto Goodwill, Astad was the Senior Vice President of Operations at Lowcountry Food Bank and the Director of Development at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.
Angela Johnson is stepping into the role of Director of Health, a position that has been awaiting fulfillment as TUW underwent a CEO search over the last year. In this role, Johnson will lead the Health Collective Impact Initiative, Healthy Tri-County (HTC) and Health Impact Areas including Community Health Needs Assessment, the next HTC Regional Health Improvement Plan, HTC Healthy People Healthy Carolina’s initiative, Diabetes Coalition and events such as the HTC Health Symposium. Johnson has held roles in both the legal and health fields. Most recently she was the Executive Director of Drawing Near to God, a nonprofit supporting women based in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Prior to that, she was a practicing attorney with several organizations, including as a sole practitioner. She began her career as a registered nurse at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, KY.
Katie Reams joins Trident United Way as the Director of United for ALICE, another new position for TUW. In this role, Reams will oversee TUW’s United for ALICE program, which was recently adopted by Trident United Way and will be utilized by United Ways across South Carolina. This program is a method of research and data collection that provides quantifiable information related to the income and basic expenses of households in our region. This data will be used to inform strategies and solutions to assist those in the Tri-County who are struggling to make ends meet. Reams has worked for years in the United Way network, joining TUW from the United Way Association of South Carolina as the Director of SC 211 Services. She also held the roles of Community Impact Manager and Community Resources Coordinator at the United Way Association of South Carolina and Campaign Specialist at Trident United Way. Prior to joining the United Way network, Reams was a Houseparent at Collins Children’s Home in Seneca, SC.
“We are excited and honored to add these three incredible community organizers to our TUW team,” said President and CEO DJ Hampton. “They all share a depth of experience, community connections and dedication to the Tri-County. Individually, they are each an expert in their field who will not only support the great work our staff is already doing but help us take our service to the Tri-County to the next level.”
About Trident United Way
Celebrating more than 77 years of service, Trident United Way is a catalyst for measurable community transformation in education, financial stability and health. In 2021 The Chronicle of Philanthropy once again voted United Way as America’s favorite charity.
