Our Team
Our team of dynamic individuals are passionate about community change.
Melanie Patz
President and CEO
A respected community and nonprofit leader, Melanie D. Patz most recently served as vice president of community investment and impact at Baptist Health and previously served as vice president of community impact for United Way. During her tenure at Baptist Health, she spearheaded the implementation of a school health center at Ribault High School, drove the creation of JaxCareConnect, and led the effort to initiate Blue Zones Jacksonville. Melanie has 27 years of nonprofit management experience, a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Samford University, and an MBA with a concentration in Economics from the University of North Florida. She currently serves on the boards of the System of Care initiative and the Early Learning Coalition of Duval and is a founding board member of 904WARD.
James Ellout
Vice President, Community Impact
James is responsible for developing and leading high-impact community initiatives that drive results in basic needs, financial well-being and racial equity. He began his career in Detroit, where he held positions in juvenile justice, behavioral mental health and public education. Prior to joining United Way of Northeast Florida, James led efforts with City Year Jacksonville to ensure students achieve their full potential. He has great passion for and expertise in program design and implementation, data and evaluation, and relationship development with stakeholders across the public and private sectors.
Coretta Hill
Chief Operating Officer
With more than two decades of experience in nonprofit management, Coretta's professional expertise spans strategic planning, organizational management, fundraising and communications. She oversees strategy development and improvements to operational efficiency at United Way of Northeast Florida, having previously served as vice president of volunteer and community engagement for more than a decade. Coretta started her United Way career at United Way of Southwest Georgia in Albany. Most recently, she served as vice president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, where she led strategy implementation and operations. Coretta holds an MPA from Albany State University as well as a BA in mass communications from Fort Valley State University. She also serves on the board of Level the Playing Field Leadership Academy and the North Florida School of Special Education.
Board of Directors
LISA PALMER, Chair
Regency Centers
DARNELL SMITH, Vice Chair
Florida Blue
JERRY DELGADO
KPMG
BRIAN EVANS
Fifth Third Bank
DR. DIANA GREENE
Children’s Literacy Initiative
RUDY F. JAMISON JR., Ed.D
City of Jacksonville
PATTY KEENAN
Miller Electric Company
KIRK LARSEN
PHILLIP LEE
Florida Blue
SARA LEY
Johnson & Johnson
GREG MONTANA
Retired
SABEEN PERWAIZ
Florida Nonprofit Alliance
NED PEVERLEY
Vestcom
DARNELL SMITH
Florida Blue
DIANA SORFLEET
CSX
AUNDRA WALLACE
JAXUSA Partnership
MATT ZUINO
Baptist Health
DELORES BARR WEAVER, Emeritus
