Joe Vanyo

Vice President of Operations

Joe Vanyo is the Vice President of Operations for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. In this role, Joe is responsible for leading the donor pledge and payment application functions, infrastructure support, establishing/introducing technology related strategies and providing fiduciary oversight to the defined benefit and defined contribution programs.

Prior to joining United Way in 2007, Joe spent fifteen years working in Operations for National City Bank. Over the course of his career, he led large operating divisions of up to 250 associates, spread across multiple mid-west locations, with budgets exceeding $25M. Joe participated in strategy defining sessions which ultimately resulted in him leading the integration of image technology in the traditional Proof/Encoding Division, Returned Deposited Items and Lockbox/Accounts Receivables divisions. Through the centralization of operating functions and introduction of new technologies, Joe played a key role in bringing leading edge products to market. Joe is schooled in process improvement, to include lean manufacturing and Six Sigma concepts. Most recently, Joe built and led a “Center of Excellence” responsible for the standardization and delivery of training, financial expense reporting, risk management, and client service functions to the Corporate-Wide Treasury Operations Division.

In 2006, Joe was one of the founding fathers of the Make a Wish of Illinois Foundation Associate Board. He served as Vice President in 2006-7, President, 2007-8, and Past President, 2008-9. Under Joe’s leadership, the organization built strategies targeted at generation X and Y, engaging them in large fundraising events with an overall goal of sharing in the power of a wish. Over the course of three years, the Associate Board acquired over $400,000 in new funds for granting wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. Joe continues to support the organization by serving as a formal mentor to Make A Wish staff members.

Joe earned his Bachelors of Business Administration degree from The University of Toledo, specializing in Operations Management.