New VPs Bring Added-Value and Extensive Experience to the Organization
The Arthritis Foundation South Central Region would like to announce the recent hiring of Pam Gill and Leslie Knudsen at the Dallas headquarters. Gill joins the Arthritis Foundation as the Regional Vice President, Mission Programs and Knudsen will serve as the Regional Vice President, Walks & Runs.
"The expansion of our management team further strengthens our ability to meet the needs of our constituents in the communities that we serve in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico,” said Susan Carter, Chief Executive Officer, Arthritis Foundation South Central Region. "Pam and Leslie’s extensive professional experience and comprehensive understanding of the nonprofit sector will greatly benefit our organization to help support those living with arthritis pain every minute of every day.”
Gill served as the Director of Field Relations for Mothers Against Drunk Driving in the National Office located in Irving. In this role, she provided organizational leadership to staff and volunteers across the country. Prior to assuming her position at MADD, Gill worked with the YWCA, New Orleans to assist in recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She has also held managerial positions and served as a Board Officer with a variety of notable nonprofit organizations such as B.C. Epilepsy Society and AIDS Vancouver in B.C. Canada. Gill is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of progressive experience in organizational development, public health programming, citizen engagement and strengthening the voluntary sector. She is an established and dynamic leader who has helped nonprofits position their worth and value by the true impact made through its programs and services, and by successfully engaging community members. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Simon Fraser University.
As the Regional Vice President, Mission Programs Gill will be responsible for the planning and directing public health initiatives, programs and services within the South Central Region. In her new role, Gill will also work closely to develop strategic relationships and initiatives with the medical and scientific community, influential policy makers, volunteer leadership and national and local volunteers and staff members.
Knudsen comes to the Arthritis Foundation with a wealth of experience managing and overseeing team-raising events in the nonprofit health space. Since 2012, Knudsen served as Senior Development Director for the American Heart Association headquartered in Dallas, TX. She managed Heart Walks attracting more than 50,000 participants and reaching revenue goals of $4.2 million in 2012. Prior to that, Knudsen was Special Events Manager at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation where she coordinated Hope Ball, Walk to Cure Diabetes and Tee Up to a Cure raising more than $1 million. Earlier in her career, Knudsen served as Assistant Facility Manager at Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District where she planned and supervised wellness activities including 5K Family Run/Walks. She holds a Master of Arts degree with a Sports Management Specialization from St. Edwards University in Austin and a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with Business Foundation Minor from University of Texas.
As the Regional Vice President of Walks and Runs, Knudsen will be responsible for the strategic planning, execution and evaluation of Arthritis Walks, Jingle Bell Run/Walks and other team-oriented special events and fundraising activities within the South Central Region. She will also work in close collaboration with executives and managers in the Development Group, oversee and manage team-oriented fundraising activities and staff within the region and serve as a member of the Development Group Leadership Team.
The work of the Arthritis Foundation South Central Region supports the organization’s fight against arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. Currently, 50 million Americans (one in five) are living with arthritis pain every minute of every day. The Arthritis Foundation leads initiatives to support research to find a cure, provide public health/educational programs for those who have arthritis, and continue its advocacy efforts throughout the South Central Region and across the U.S.
Please join us in welcoming Pam Gill and Leslie Knudsen to the Arthritis Foundation South Central Region team. For more info call (214) 826-4361; email pgill@arthritis.org or lknudsen@arthritis.org.
About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of arthritis, which strikes one in every five adults and 300,000 children, and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. To conquer this painful, debilitating disease, we support education, research, advocacy and other vital programs and services.