Laura Burg has taken over Misty Dothage's position as executive director of the Callaway County United Way.
The Callaway County United Way is a local non-profit organization that helps fund and support 11 nonprofits that serve the community.
Burg assumed the new position at United Way on June 1. She has never worked for a non-profit but is very passionate about serving her local community.
"I think that a really important aspect is whatever breaks your heart about the world and globally, try to fix that thing in your community," Burg said. "I can't fix world hunger, but I can help with food security in my little town."
For the past 13 years, Burg has lived in Fulton with her three sons and husband.
During this time, she has been a stay-at-home mom, youth group leader for the Heartland Church of the Nazarene, foster parent and assembly technician for Equipment Share.
She has also participated in volunteering for local schools, churches, sports organizations and community events.
Experience volunteering in the community is what helped lead her to take the job.
"I'm drawing a lot from volunteer experience because you have to have some kind of want to make the world a little bit of a better place for this job," Burg said. "And I think that there's not one person that can change the whole world, but you can always change someone's world."
Burg has her undergraduate degree from William Woods University and a graduate degree from Western Illinois University in sports management. Before moving to Fulton, she was a sports club director for Northern Arizona University.
The organizational, multitasking and people skills she learned through sports management will help her in her new job, she mentioned.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has "lost momentum," Burg said.
Her new goal as director is to utilize social media to rebuild the organization and promote what it offers.
However, she is not trying to "shake things up," Burg said.
"My approach is very much I want to learn what we've done in the past, what has worked, what can we improve on and just make sure that we're spending our time in a way that's the most useful for the community," Burg said.