(LinkedIn)
KENOSHA, Wis. — The United Way of Kenosha County has selected veteran nonprofit executive Selina Gomez-Beloz as its next chief executive officer following what board members described as a comprehensive nationwide search.
Gomez-Beloz will officially begin leading the organization on July 6, replacing longtime CEO Carolynn Friesch, whose tenure the board credited with helping guide United Way through a period of growth and expanded community engagement.
According to the organization, the Board of Directors unanimously selected Gomez-Beloz after evaluating a pool of qualified candidates, citing her leadership experience, strategic vision, and commitment to strengthening communities.
“After a thorough selection process, we are excited to welcome Selina as our next CEO,” Board President Tanya Ruder said in a news release. Ruder praised Gomez-Beloz’s collaborative leadership style, passion for community engagement, and record of organizational excellence.
Gomez-Beloz brings more than two decades of nonprofit and public-sector leadership experience to the role. Most recently, she served as Senior Program Manager at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, where she oversaw the American Rescue Plan grant program supporting 131 libraries across the country, including public, Native American, and Native Hawaiian institutions.
Before her federal service, Gomez-Beloz served as executive director of public libraries in two communities, managing organizations with budgets of up to $4.4 million and supervising as many as 73 employees. Throughout her career, she has focused on expanding access to resources, building partnerships, and advancing community development initiatives.
She holds a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from DePaul University and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. United Way also noted that she is bilingual in English and Spanish and has worked with diverse communities throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Washington state.
“As a librarian, my role was always to connect people with the resources and information they needed in the moment,” Gomez-Beloz said. “I’ve always appreciated United Way as being library-adjacent in that way, and I’m passionate about bringing that same spirit of connection to this community.”
The board also thanked interim CEO Dave Maurer for leading the organization during the transition and ensuring continuity for staff, donors, community partners, and the public while the search was underway.
As CEO, Gomez-Beloz will oversee United Way of Kenosha County’s efforts to mobilize resources, strengthen partnerships, expand community impact, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization’s programs throughout Kenosha County.
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