President, Patty Youngblood
Patty returned to Georgia in September of 2003, after a 29-year absence in Oklahoma. In December of 2003, she became President of the United Way of West Georgia, Inc. This Georgia native was born in Augusta, lived briefly in Savannah, but for the most part grew up in Atlanta. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a BA in Sociology.
Professionally, she has been Director of Annual Giving at Phillips University in Enid, OK, the first Executive Director of Main Street Enid, Inc., and most recently was the first Executive Director of The Volunteer Center of Central Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. She has given workshops on volunteerism, participated in a National Panel on Disaster Volunteerism and presented one of five case studies at the National Leadership Forum on Disaster Volunteerism. She has participated in a number of leadership programs, including Leadership Greater Enid, Leadership Oklahoma City, the Central Oklahoma Regional Leadership Institute and most recently Leadership Troup 2005 Class.
Youngblood has two grown sons: Jimmy, an Auburn graduate working in Enid, OK as a civil engineer, and Ross, a graduate of the University of Georgia working in Atlanta as an accountant. Since moving to LaGrange, she has joined the First Presbyterian Church, the Rotary Club of LaGrange and is serving on the Board of Leadership Troup.
Vice President, Sharon Alford
Sharon was born and raised in LaGrange.
She graduated from the University of West Georgia with a BBA in Marketing.
Professionally, she has done marketing for a medical practice, worked in sales and run her own business. Sharon has been the Vice President of United Way for 13 years.
Sharon is married to Perrin Alford, Vice President of Student Services at West Georgia Technical College. She has four children: sons Max (13) and P.J. (11), and twin daughters Lydia and Lucy (6).
Administrative Assistant, Gayla Ritchie
Gayla was born and raised in LaGrange.
She has been the Administrative Assistant for United Way for six years. She has also held positions at the Georgia Department of Labor and Literacy Volunteers of America. Previously, Gayla worked as a stay-at-home mom.
Gayla is married to Rod Ritchie. She has one daughter: Lori, a LaGrange College graduate with an English degree.
