Mathieu Nelessen, American Red Cross, Northeast Division Vice President, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alan H. Turner, II as Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Western and Central New York Region. Turner has been President and CEO of United Way of Central Florida for the past three years. He will begin his new position November 5.

“I feel honored to have been selected to serve in this capacity, and I am excited to be joining a great team in Western and Central New York,” Turner said. “I am looking forward to learning more about the Red Cross programs, as well as the blood collection operations that are throughout the region. My family and I are excited about this next chapter in our lives and looking forward to being back in New York State.”

A native of Upstate New York, Turner has lead the United Way of Central Florida since July 2015. In 2017, the United Way of Central Florida celebrated a campaign increase for the third consecutive year and its largest campaign in the organization’s history by raising more than $9.37 million. Before moving to Florida, Turner served as President and CEO for the United Way of Southwest Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, and as the President and CEO for the United Way of West Tennessee in Jackson. In previous positions, Turner has served as the Executive Director of the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus and within the New York State Assembly.

This summer, Turner successfully completed doctoral leadership classes at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL. He finished his M.B.A. at Union University in Jackson, TN. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Daemen College in Amherst, NY, and was named one of Daemen’s Distinguished Alumni in 2011. Turner also earned an A.A.S. degree in Business Administration from S.U.N.Y. Cobleskill, and was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served as a Pharmacy Specialist with the 338^th General Hospital Reserve Unit in Niagara Falls, NY. Turner will be based in Syracuse, and lives with his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Andrew and Sara.

“Alan’s nonprofit experience and leadership skills will help the American Red Cross continue our mission of helping our neighbors in need,” said Nelessen. “Alan brings nearly 20 years of experience in non-profit organizations, community engagement, fundraising, and a strong governmental background that will help lead the talented staff and volunteers we have supporting the Western New York region to continued success.”

Nelessen would also like to express his sincere gratitude to Regional Disaster Program Officer Kenneth J. Turner, who has served as Interim Regional CEO since Rosie Taravella accepted the same position with the New Jersey Region in June 2018.

As Regional Chief Executive Officer for Western and Central New York, Alan Turner will oversee Red Cross services for 26 counties, including the cities of Binghamton, Buffalo, Corning/Elmira, Rochester, and Syracuse. In the twelve month period between July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018, those services included: providing immediate emergency assistance including temporary housing, food and clothing, comfort and support to 1,355 families following 866 fires and other disasters; making 2,622 households safer through the installation of 6,795 free smoke alarms as part of the Home Fire Campaign; teaching 63,269 people life-saving Health & Safety skills such as CPR and First Aid; providing 2,506 case services to support members of the military, veterans, and their families; and helping collect 150,842 lifesaving blood donations from volunteer donors.