Staff

Ruben R. Garza (He/Him/His)

Executive Director

Ruben believes that a healthy community is one that delivers on its promise to support, enrich, and provide opportunity to the lives of all its members, regardless of race, gender identity or sexual orientation. He believes that active participation is required by all community members to uphold and protect its shared values. Ruben strives to lead by example; he employs his use of free time volunteering and engaging the community as a board member and supporting local arts and artists.

Ruben moved to Brattleboro, Vermont from Laredo, Texas in 2015. Ruben’s favorite Vermont past times are swimming in the Summer, generally being terrified of winter driving, and leaf peeping in the Autumn. You may catch Ruben walking around the downtown area shopping at his favorite record store, playing basketball in the Parks and Rec league, and attending theatre performances throughout the year.

Kara M. Orfanidis (She/Her/Hers)

Office Manager

Kara joined the United Way staff in 2011 and serves as Office Manager. Originally hired to track donations and maintain the donor database, she now supports all aspects of office management, providing administrative and campaign support to the Executive Director and the Director of Development and Community Impact, as well as support to the board of directors, which includes maintaining corporate records and all correspondence with members of the board. By default, Kara is known as our unofficial IT Specialist and the go-to person for help with technical issues. Other aspects of her position include coordination of the Mother’s Day Rose sale and providing support to the VITA program and other UWWC initiatives.

Kara was born and raised in Windham County and cares deeply about the community she’s grown up to love. Kara currently resides in Brattleboro with her son and enjoys spending time and sharing a laugh with family and friends.

Azza Zakaria

Development Director

Azza believes that true community progress is achieved when economic growth and social welfare are prioritized hand-in-hand. Originally from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Azza’s passion for community development was nurtured through her experiences in the nonprofit sector, where she worked extensively in New York City before joining United Way of Windham County. Her work has focused on development strategies that supported local businesses, sustainable practices, and social equity. Now, in Vermont, she is excited to bring that same dedication to her role, working closely with local partners to create impactful, lasting change.

Outside of work, Azza enjoys exploring Vermont's natural beauty, from hiking its trails to discovering local artisans and markets. She is thrilled to become a part of the vibrant Vermont community and looks forward to contributing to its continued growth and success.

Meet Our Dedicated Staff!