by Max Marbut
Special to the Daily Record
Ron A. Autrey, president and chief operating officer of Miller Electric Co., has been approved as chairman-elect for United Way’s 2007 health and human service community campaign in Northeast Florida by the organization’s Board of Trustees.
The Jacksonville native served as division chairman for the construction industry on United Way’s Campaign Cabinet in 2003 and 2004 and is a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, the designation for donors of $10,000 or more.
In 2004 Autrey led Miller Electric’s effort and the company earned United Way’s highest campaign honor, the Summit Award, given each year to the company most “exemplifying the vision of United Way through spirit, involvement and leadership.”
You aren’t selected to lead North Florida’s largest charitable effort (United Way raised more than $21.5 million in 2004) without a proven fundraising track record.
Connie Hodges, president and CEO of United Way of Northeast Florida, said, “Ron is just a gem. When he was chair for the construction and manufacturing divisions, we saw some of the greatest growth we’ve ever had in that area because of his leadership and relationships. He is extremely committed to the mission of United Way and has a genuine desire to make life better for all of our citizens.
“Ron has also helped make Miller Electric a wonderful example of corporate citizenship,” she said.
“This company was founded in 1928 and we’ve been involved with United Way for years,” Autrey said. “We feel it’s incumbent on us to maintain a high level of community involvement.
“It works both ways,” he added. “It gives me the opportunity to share time and ideas with so many good people who put so much into United Way. It’s also a good way to spend time with people we’re already doing business with and people we’d like to do business with and I’ve made a lot of friends.”
United Way isn’t Autrey’s only service contribution. He is on the Board of Governors of the National Electrical Contractors Association and is a member and past chairman of Florida’s Contractors Licensing Board. His other civic contributions include the Board of Trustees of Jacksonville University, Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and for the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Executive Committee of Cornerstone Jacksonville, the Boy Scouts of America North Florida Executive Board and Council of Stewards for the Jacksonville Community Council Inc.
Will the 2007 chairman try to “reinvent the wheel”?
“It’s a big job. There may be a new theme for 2007,” Autrey said, “but the United Way staff knows how to get it done.”