Native Tulsan Hired To Lead YWCA

The YWCA Tulsa has hired a native Tulsa woman as its next chief executive officer. Vanessa Finley is a Booker T. Washington graduate with an MBA from the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Finley was hired after a nationwide search for "someone with passion for our mission, outstanding leadership that fit our organization and community, as well as a strategic understanding of non-profits," said Shelly Holden of YWCA Tulsa.

She will replace Felicia Collins Correia who has been with the organization for eight years, according to a news release. Correia announced her retirement last August.

Finley returns to Tulsa from her position as director of development for Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri. She has also been executive director at two other groups: Gilda's Club of Kansas City and the First Step Fund.

Finley said she has spent the last 20 years of her career working in the areas of poverty elimination, racial justice and women's rights, making her a natural fit for YWCA Tulsa.

She is married to fellow Booker T. graduate Phillip Brown.

YWCA will hold two meet-and-greet receptions to introduce Finley to the public.

YWCA East
7 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 22
8145 East 17th Street

YWCA Midtown
7 to 9 a.m. Thursday, July 24
Patti Johnson Wilson Center
1910 South Lewis Avenue