United Way director resigns to join youth center

A North Idaho United Way director credited with expanding donations, participation and allocations to local agencies has resigned to take a position with a for-profit adolescent treatment center.

Jeff Conroy, executive director of the United Way of Kootenai County, told board members Wednesday he plans to leave the agency May 17. He has accepted a position as administrative director of Innercept, a residential school and center in Coeur d’Alene.

Conroy, 42, has been with the United Way since late 2003. Since then, contributions have risen about 56 percent to $489,000, he said. The number of business participants has increased from 63 to 213 and contributions to agencies have increased by 56 percent.

“Jeff is leaving this United Way in substantially better condition than he found it,” said Rick Barton, president of the United Way board of directors.

Barton said board members will begin immediately recruiting a new executive for Conroy’s post, which paid about $39,000 annually, according to federal tax documents. Advertisements will be posted in newspapers and on the national United Way Web site.

“They’ll look for someone to take the ball to the next level,” Conroy said. “This United Way has the capacity to raise $1 million. God knows the community needs it.”

Before joining the United Way, Conroy spent 16 years in administration with Boy Scout organizations in Portland and Spokane.

An online brochure for Innercept said the school was founded by Coeur d’Alene doctor George J. Ullrich. Ullrich, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, is co-medical director of North Idaho Behavioral Health, a division of Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene. Innercept is not affiliated with the medical center, spokeswoman Lisa Johnson said Wednesday.