As it begins its 75th year of service to the community, United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta welcomes a new Executive Director who brings a wealth of global and local experience and knowledge to the table.
United Way’s Board of Directors has invited Trudy Carrels to join the United Way team as Executive Director.
Following Jeff McLarty, who departed to pursue business ownership, Carrels will continue the work of building a stronger community through collective impact.
Carrels grew up in the Red Deer area and has lived and worked all across Alberta. Following her secondary education in Edmonton, she began her career with Co-Operators Insurance and Financial Services, a national organization, in supervisory management. She took on several roles in the company while also completing courses at Mount Royal College and the University of Calgary in management, marketing, basic law, finance and insurance institute accreditation.
Most recently, Carrels has worked as the president and founder of Global Physician Placement working to place physicians across Canada. Her career with the company provided the opportunity to work internationally with emphasis on addressing Canada’s physician shortage. She has worked in offices in Canada and South Africa building the company into other countries and across Canada.
Maureen Burke, United Way’s Board President says there were many reasons Carrels was the top candidate.
“With her background and career history working nationally and globally, we, as a board, felt that she would be successful in maintaining United Way’s stability and bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to the organization.”
Carrels is passionate about people, caring, serving, reaching potential, and hope for our future. In light of the recent economic changes province-wide, she is looking forward to exploring different ways that United Way and its partners can work together to best determine and address the needs of the community.
“United Way is an organization I can really get behind because it makes a difference in the community and in people’s lives. “I love that”, she says. “I love seeing people and groups team up to reach their potential and succeed. That’s what United Way is here to help people do.”
Carrels and her Husband Brent own a farm south of Foremost and a home in Lethbridge. They have two university-age daughters. Carrels enjoys family time spent skiing, golfing, hiking and loves to travel.
Carrels invites members of the community and local organizations and businesses to connect to talk about local issues, solutions, partnerships and more.
“The coffee is always on,” she says with a smile. “Stop by anytime.”
Carrels will officially begin her tenure with United Way on July 18.