United Voices: An Interview with Board Member Dena Diorio 

By: Taylor Mabrey, Content Manager

United Voices is a series of interviews with community leaders sharing their expertise, passion and involvement across the greater Charlotte region. 

I recently sat down with United Way of Greater Charlotte board member Dena Diorio to talk about her background, her role in the community and why she got involved with United Way. 

Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

Diorio: I grew up in upstate New York and went to college for social work. After getting my bachelor’s degree and securing my first job, I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me as my passion was more to address issues on a policy level. I wanted to play a role in changing the system to help more people. I went to Columbia University for my master’s degree in public administration. I started that chapter of my career with the City of New York. From my first role as financial analyst to Deputy Director to the Director of City Legislative Affairs and the Mayor’s lobbyist to the City Council, I helped shape critical policies, including facilitating the passage of over 100 local laws.  

I then pursued opportunities in Connecticut, working at the City of Stamford and City of Danbury. I moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 2007 when I joined the County as the Chief Financial Officer. In 2014, I became the first woman to serve as County Manager. I currently lead Mecklenburg County with its more than 6,000 employees and a budget of $2.5B. Beyond the county, I have had the opportunity to serve on a variety of Boards, including Charlotte Center City Partners, the Charlotte Sports Foundation, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, Dress for Success Charlotte, Blumenthal Performing Arts and, of course, United Way of Greater Charlotte. Those opportunities give me a broader and more comprehensive view of the issues, challenges and solutions in our community. 

I am happily married to Phil Volponi and I have cat named Bailey.  

How did you get involved with United Way? 

Diorio: Mecklenburg County has traditionally held a seat on United Way of Greater Charlotte’s Board of Directors. I assumed the seat in 2015 and have served ever since. When I retire in 2025, I may be one of the longest serving Board Members. Additionally, as County Manager, I have a clear view of the work being done in Mecklenburg County to improve the lives of our residents. The County has collaborated with United Way for many important initiatives, but perhaps the most recent has been the A Home For All strategy.   

What surprised you about United Way? 

Diorio: What surprised me about United Way is the continued effort to make the organization stronger. The team works so hard, which is not a surprise, and always has a positive view of where the organization is currently as well as where it is headed. United Way never takes its deep roots in our community for granted and I respect that. 

What are some successes or positive outcomes you are most proud of since joining the board? 

Diorio: I am very proud of how the organization continues to redefine its revenue model to ensure sustainability into the future. The organization has also transitioned to a place-based strategy to align resources in specific areas in the County to help build capacity and build community, this was a complete shift from the prior strategy of grant making, this new strategy results in greater impact and accountability,  

Why is the work with A Home For All important to you and why did you turn to United Way to quarterback the effort? 

Diorio: United Way was selected to be the quarterback agency because it is a trusted partner in the community. The organization has a vast reach and influence with both the public and private sectors and is best positioned to advance the multiple strategies in the plan.  

What about United Way’s mission excites you? 

Diorio: I love the focus on grassroots solutions through an equity lens. This allows us to think differently about the work and empower the community in different ways. It is a bottom-up approach that focuses on nonprofits’ strengths and building their capacity. This work will make our community far more resilient in the long term.  I have always believed that we should work together to make our community better for all of us. Building community is a beautiful outcome of our collective work. Creating an environment where each of us can move the needle for the common good, that’s exciting.  

Meet the rest of United Way’s Board of Directors.