Leading with Influence and Service with Sue Parks of Orange County United Way

Leading with Influence and Service
With Sue Parks of Orange County United Way

This podcast is EXTRA INTERESTING if you live in Orange County, California.

Jason Lavin sits down with Sue Parks, CEO of Orange County United Way, to explore what it means to lead through influence and service. Sue’s journey from small-town Illinois to heading one of Orange County’s most impactful organizations reveals the power of resilience, adaptability, and commitment to community.

Roots from Rockford

Sue grew up in Rockford, Illinois, where freedom and family shaped her early years. As the youngest of four children, she was influenced by her father, a World War II veteran turned self-made trucking company owner. It was her father that instilled in her the value of education and opportunity. After starting college at SMU, Sue transferred to Iowa State, closer to her Midwest roots, where her corporate journey began.

Started with a career fair (Iowa State)

Recruited by Armstrong World Industries at a career fair, Sue underwent an intense four-month training program at the corporate manor house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Despite requesting a Midwest placement, she was deliberately sent to Fresno, California… a move that tested her mettle. Those challenging years, spent building a career with zero network in an unfamiliar place, taught Sue to “pay her dues” and discover strength she never knew she possessed. Though the training program had a low retention rate (only 2 of 18 recruits stayed), it forged Sue’s resilience and determination.

Accomplished and sought-after corporate career

Sue’s career trajectory continued upward through Avery Dennison, where she spent seven years as a sales manager covering half the country, followed by US West during telecom deregulation, and Gateway Computers in Lake Forest. By then, she had become a proud Californian with a clear requirement: any future opportunity had to keep her in the Golden State.

Cold call from OC United Way

Sue’s connection to United Way began serendipitously when the organization, having seen an article about her, called her home phone asking if she’d lead a women’s giving circle as a volunteer. Little did she know that it was a volunteer role that would eventually lead to her current position as CEO. She now leads a fight to improve lives across Orange County.

Working for Orange County, CA

The statistics Sue shares are sobering: of Orange County’s 3 million residents, approximately 1 million live paycheck to paycheck or in poverty. Through initiatives like “United to End Homelessness,” Orange County United Way tackles this crisis head-on. Research from UCI shows that housing everyone experiencing homelessness would actually save the community $40 million annually compared to the current $300 million spent managing the situation.

United Way partners with apartment owners to match them with homeless individuals who have housing vouchers while coordinating nonprofit case management. Sue emphasizes that most homelessness in Orange County stems from economic reasons. These are people with jobs who simply can’t afford the high cost of living. Alarmingly, seniors on fixed incomes represent a growing portion of the homeless population as rents and living costs outpace their resources.

Beyond housing, Orange County United Way focuses on Title 1 schools and operates OC 211, a social services hotline connecting callers to a network of 1,100 nonprofits representing 3,300 programs. Built on a Salesforce platform, this system could serve as a national model for community resource coordination.

Sue Parks exemplifies leadership through service, demonstrating how one person’s commitment can create ripple effects that lift an entire community.