Staff

Rebecca Baruzzi (she/her)

Executive Director

Rebecca is a determined innovator focused on making community resources more accessible—because everyone deserves a fair shot. She thrives on collaboration, bringing diverse stakeholders together to co-create strategies that lead to meaningful, lasting change.

Her work spans community engagement, program development, advocacy, policy creation, and group facilitation. Simply put, if it helps people and communities thrive, she’s all in. Rebecca believes the strongest solutions are rooted in community voices, out-of-the-box thinking, and a healthy dose of humor along the way.

Connect with Rebecca if you’re passionate about building stronger communities—or if you simply enjoy exchanging clever ideas over coffee.

After ten years in rural central Vermont, Rebecca relocated to Brattleboro for this role and is delighted to be living in the “big city.” When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her on the trails—biking, hiking, or skiing with her husband and teenage son.

Kara M. Orfanidis (she/her)

Office Manager

Kara joined the United Way of Windham County staff in 2011 and serves as Office Manager. Originally hired to track donations and maintain the donor database, her role has grown to support all aspects of office management and organizational operations. She provides administrative, financial, and campaign support to staff and the Board of Directors and helps oversee the systems, processes, and technology that keep the organization running smoothly. Her work also includes bookkeeping, donor and grant management, volunteer and program support, and coordination of special events and community initiatives.

Born in Brattleboro and raised in Bellows Falls, Kara cares deeply about the region and the people who live here. Her connection to the community extends beyond her work at United Way through her involvement in local nonprofit and affordable housing efforts. She appreciates the area's natural beauty, rich history, and the sense of community that brings people together. Kara currently resides in West Brattleboro and enjoys art, music, nature, and rockhounding with family in Maine.

Colleen Savage (she/her)

Manager of Marketing & Community Engagement 

Colleen Savage is the Manager of Marketing and Community Engagement for the United Way of Windham County. In this role, Colleen spearheads our outreach initiatives, amplifies the impactful stories of our partner organizations, and fosters deeper connections throughout the region.

With her strong ties to the local community and a passion for advocacy, Colleen brings fresh energy and strategic vision to our team. She is instrumental in driving engagement and raising awareness of our mission to improve lives and build a stronger, more resilient Windham County. She is dedicated to creating a stronger, healthier community for everyone. By mobilizing people, organizations, and resources, she focuses on helping our neighbors learn, earn, and thrive! She is dedicated to ensuring every child succeeds in school, every individual and family achieves financial stability, and everyone has access to the health care they need.

Originally from the Sunshine State, Colleen moved to Brattleboro in 2020 after living in Philadelphia for years with her son and spouse. When she isn’t pouring her heart into her work she can be seen running around the woods of Windham county, petting your dog or baking tasty treats.