By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
Sean Byrne has been in Enid since 1998, and now he has been named to fill an important job as executive director of United Way.
Byrne was named Friday to succeed Allan McCobb, who announced his retirement after 19 years at the head of United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma.
He will begin April 27.
“I’m very excited,” Byrne said. “I have some big shoes to fill. Allan has done a great job for 19 years, and I hope my feet grow fast.”
Byrne had been executive director of PreventionWorkz and currently is assistant director of Youth and Family Services of North Central Oklahoma, a post he has held since February 2008.
He said the United Way post will be similar to previous jobs he has had working with the community agencies. Byrne has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma and was executive director of PreventionWorkz for nine years.
Byrne was selected from 48 candidates who applied for the position in a comprehensive search that has been ongoing since January. Several candidates from across the country and locally were interviewed for the position, said April Danahy, chairwoman of the United Way board.
“Sean Byrne has a genuine interest in providing the necessary services to people in need,” Danahy said. “Our board and supporters are proud of the trust this community and communities across northwest Oklahoma have in our United Way. We are confident that Sean will work well with our 15 United Way agencies in building upon that trust to continue to provide quality services for people in our area.”
Danahy said the board advertised in newspapers, including Enid News & Eagle, through United Way of America and though United Way agencies.
Byrne has a background in human service programs, fundraising and grant writing.
“It’s all about local people solving local problems. It’s an exciting opportunity,” he said.
Enid’s United Way exceeded its fundraising goal last year, but is facing a slowing economy this year. Byrne said he is hopeful the organization will exceed its goal with its next campaign.
“These are wonderful people who have always been very giving and very supportive,” he said. “We will focus on the fact that during economic hard times is when local agencies are needed the most. People who have been barely getting by aren’t getting by any more and it’s more important.”
Byrne starts his new job just as the United Way is preparing agency grants. McCobb has agreed to stay for a few weeks to help with the transition, and Byrne said he will rely heavily on him.
“And also on the board,” he said. “They have a very strong board of directors, they are knowledgeable and connected in the community.”
Byrne said the United Way job is about identifying problems in the community and working to solve them.
