Angela Broome, American Red Cross

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Position: Carolina Piedmont
Region CEO, American Red Cross

Lives in: Arboretum area

Family: divorced; children, Grant, 13, Grayson, 8

Angela Broome knew it would be a challenge to switch careers from the banking world to the nonprofit arena.

She knew her new job as chief executive of the American Red Cross’ Carolina Piedmont Region wouldn’t be easy. But it was made even more difficult because she was taking the helm of an organization that had just gone through a consolidation and reorganization.

On top of that, she faced a major challenge her first day on the job.

On March 11, 2011, about 30 minutes after she showed up – before she even got her name badge – the media were calling for a statement in response to the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan.

“People who work at the Red Cross have big hearts and want to help the community,” Broome, 42, said. “They pulled together as a team. I learned they always pitch in to do whatever they have to to meet the mission. It is very
rewarding.”

Broome barely had time to catch her breath when tornadoes hit eastern North Carolina and Joplin, Mo. It seemed that 2011 was a year of one disaster after another.

“We all get fatigued,” Broome said. “But you just have to juggle to make it all happen. I have a great support system of family, friends and the people I work with.”

Broome, a single mother of two boys, ages 8 and 13, is a North Carolina native and a graduate of Western Carolina University. She also has a master’s in management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

She spent 14 years with First Citizens Bank before joining the Red Cross. But she was no stranger to the nonprofit world, having served as board chairwoman for the YWCA Central Carolinas and volunteered for the Charlotte Philharmonic, Junior Achievement and Habitat for Humanity.

Broome’s business background was especially helpful as the local Red Cross transitioned from 10 individual chapters into a regional organization headquartered in Charlotte.

“I had experienced this kind of thing at the bank, and I knew how to do team-building and foster collaboration. The staff never lost sight of its mission to respond to emergencies.”

But there were some differences, she said.

“In a nonprofit, you have to be very frugal with donors’ dollars and watch every penny. Plus you have to wear a lot of different hats because there is never enough people, time or dollars to get the work done.

“There is never a dull moment. I love working in such a wonderful organization.”

– BEA QUIRK