Laura Skarnulis

Chief Financial Officer

Laura Skarnulis joined United Way of Metropolitan Chicago in November 2009 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As CFO, she is responsible for direct financial activities and coordinating the accounting, reporting, fund distribution analysis and cash management of United Way. She also serves as the lead staff member of the Audit, Finance and Pension Committees.

Laura Skarnulis

Prior to joining the United Way, Ms. Skarnulis completed nine seasons with the Arena Football League (AFL) as their CFO. There, she was responsible for the financial, operational and administrative functions of the League. During her tenure with AFL, Skarnulis secured a league-wide credit facility of $10M and subsequent renewals. In addition to the management of financial and operational functions, she served as executive of AFL Events, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Arena Football League. Under her management, AFL Events posted the highest grossing gate in Arena Football history of $1M.

Prior to joining the AFL, Ms. Skarnulis served as a CFO consultant for a variety of startup ventures in the Chicago area where she advised clients on all strategic aspects of financial management, including revenue generation, budgeting, cost-saving strategies, operational improvement and employee development. From 1989 to 1996, Ms. Skarnulis led the corporate finance department at World Book Publishing and was responsible for financial reporting, profitability analysis and divisional cost review. Ms. Skarnulis began her career with Grant Thornton International as an auditor, where she worked on a variety of manufacturing, financial services and governmental clients.

A Chicago native, she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Skarnulis and her husband reside in the western suburbs of Chicago with their three children.