United Way of Southwest Georgia is pleased to announce the appointment of Orson D. Burton Jr. as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Burton brings more than 15 years of nonprofit and public service leadership to the organization and will officially assume his new role on August 25, 2025.

Orson Burton Jr. is a lifelong Albany resident whose roots in this community run deep. He earned a Bachelor of Political Science from Morehouse College and furthered his leadership studies at the University of Cape Town. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional strategic vision, fiscal stewardship, and a commitment to equitable community development.

An accomplished networker and servant leader, Burton serves on the Leadership Albany Board of Directors and is a member of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2025. He also participates in the 2025–2026 South Georgia Leads program, where he collaborates with peers to strengthen regional leadership capacity.

Mark Johnson, Board Chair of United Way of Southwest Georgia, said on behalf of the board he is proud to welcome Orson D. Burton Jr. as the next President and CEO. Orson’s commitment to this region, his track record of building transformative partnerships, and his servant-leader approach will ignite new energy across our communities. I also want to thank interim CEO Cindy Wisham and her team, who stepped up during our leadership transition and laid the groundwork for this exciting next chapter.

Burton stated, "I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as the next President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Georgia. This isn't just a professional milestone for me. it's a homecoming to the organization that embodies everything I believe about the power of collective impact.

Albany is more than my hometown; it is the foundation upon which my values, passions, and life's purpose have been built. Though my educational journey took me from Morehouse to South Africa, these experiences only deepened my appreciation for Southwest Georgia and reinforced my commitment to return and serve. My wife and children call this place home, where we worship, serve, and invest our time and resources. We are stakeholders in every sense of the word.

United Way represents the convergence of my professional expertise with my personal mission. I've spent my career managing multimillion-dollar community development initiatives and building transformative public-private partnerships. Now, I have the opportunity to channel that experience into an organization whose collaborative model can amplify our collective impact in ways that individual efforts simply cannot achieve.

Southwest Georgia has incredible untapped potential, and I believe United Way can be the catalyst that brings our community together around shared goals. We're not just planning for success; we are architecting a transformative journey that redefines potential, amplifies impact, and creates sustainable value for our communities.

My vision extends beyond maintaining the status quo. I see United Way of Southwest Georgia becoming a national model for rural innovation, demonstrating how strategic collaboration, data-driven programming, and authentic community engagement can transform regions. Together, we will write the next chapter of Southwest Georgia's story, one of unprecedented collaboration, measurable impact, and realized potential.

I am ready to begin this work immediately, building on the strong foundation established by our dedicated staff and board members. The path to thriving communities lies at the intersection of innovative leadership, strategic partnerships, and unwavering commitment to service. That path starts now."