‘United’ in praise for Kint as nonprofit’s CEO retires

Michael Kint, United Way of Indian River County CEO, was showered with accolades and congratulations at a recent surprise party held at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. He will be retiring at the end of the year after 25 years of dedicated service to the respected, successful non-profit.

The road to Kint’s association with the United Way was an unexpected and circuitous one.

A native of Illinois, Kint was headed for a teaching career. After earning an undergraduate degree, then a masters in Theatre Performance from Northern Illinois University, he took a position teaching theater at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill., where he soon found that he “loved directing.”

In December 1984, a job opportunity at Riverside Theatre brought Kint, wife Sandy and their young daughter Jonna to a little oceanside community in Florida they had never heard of – Vero Beach.

“We had to look on the map,” Kint says, recalling that Jonna did not want to uproot her life or leave her friends. “It took her a year to forgive me.” Now, married with two sons, “she loves it.”

Kint remained at Riverside for a decade, working two half-jobs; one through a grant to grow the children’s theater, and the other “directing shows, building kids’ programs and some marketing.”

During a short stint with the school district, the superintendent enlisted him to administer a federal grant. Although told he could continue with the district when the grant sunsetted, the feds cut the grant, the superintendent moved, and Kint was out of a job.

While volunteering on the United Way Citizens Review committee, Kint befriended Sam Block, then chair of the new UW Foundation board. After receipt of a major, unexpected windfall, the board needed to fill the newly established staff position of Foundation Development Officer.

“Why not apply?” Block suggested.

Kint did, and thus began an entirely unexpected, but immensely fulfilling 25-year career.

“I was remarkably lucky,” he states.

To luck and experience, Kint added his ebullient personality, unflappable nature, patience, positive attitude, sense of humor and not inconsiderable charm and congeniality.

In that first position, Kint oversaw the establishment of a separate 501(c)3 to manage and grow the endowment fund. Over the years, the skill sets acquired through the theater served him well, as he guided his team through projects and programs, smooth sailing and bumpy roads.

“Having a good team is everything,” Kint consistently asserts. He recalls with pride various programs made possible through the United Way, in some cases by providing temporary office space to get them up and running.

Among them, the School Readiness Coalition, Early Learning Coalition, Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Mental Health Collaborative.

Of the latter, COO Meredith Egan, who will become CEO on Jan. 1, calls Kint’s work to establish the collaborative tireless.

“It’s become the blueprint for all the collaborative efforts that have come after,” says Egan.

Kint takes great pride in the growth of the annual campaign, recalling “we hit the magic $3 million mark three and four years ago.”

When COVID hit in March and put a halt to the 2019-2020 campaign, the United Way instead raised $1.4 million in emergency response funds.

Over the past decade, Kint says the focus has been on community engagement.

“While member agencies are the backbone of United Way, we’re doing any number of county-wide projects with non-member organizations,” says Kint. “We want to get the community as a whole to focus on and bring to the table (such issues as) mental health.”

Egan considers Kint’s legacy as “rooted in his belief that no one person or organization can do everything. There must be collaboration, coordination, cooperation. Michael’s approach to our work is always with this lens, as he quickly identifies ways community partners can work together.”

The respect of his staff is obvious as his departure approaches.

“Michael’s theater background has been the office joke,” Egan observes. “However, it’s the foundation of his leadership style. He stays in the wings and lets his cast shine; he gives gentle, constructive feedback that always helps us find our talent.”

Eve Balance, community impact coordinator, adds that Kint “shows appreciation for your work, makes you want to achieve quality results.” And Melissa Ogonoski, finance director, says she regards him as a “mentor, team leader and wonderful person.”

“It was tough to stump Michael with an issue,” says Nate Bruckner, community impact director.

“He’s been through it all and was calm and deliberate under pressure. Except for the Cubs. Michael could always get excited over the Cubs.”

“I feel good. The agency’s in good hands,” Kint says. “Twenty-five years … I never would’ve thought.”

So, what’s next?

“No definitive plans. Not for at least six months. I’ve always been fascinated by those hospital volunteers who cuddle babies. Maybe I’ll do that.”

Photos by: Kaila Jones
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