WALTHAM, Mass. – As the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) approaches its 40th quadrennial convention in May 2022, members of the organization are preparing for what will be a pivotal moment for the UNA, which adopted a new corporate governance structure in January 2020 that replaced the organization’s Executive Committee with a new Corporate Board of Directors.
Delegates to the convention, which is the organization’s highest governing body, will meet during that gathering to elect the UNA’s next president/chief executive officer (CEO), a new Corporate Board of Directors, as well as members of the Audit Committee and the Fraternal Advisory Board. The newly-elected Board of Directors will then appoint a secretary/chief operating officer (COO) and a treasurer/chief financial officer (CFO) by a majority vote during its first organizational meeting after the convention.
The mailing deadline for applications to all of the open positions is October 31.
Members of the UNA’s Nominations Committee, which is responsible for, among other duties, vetting the qualifications of individuals who submit applications for the positions described above, say there has been significant interest in certain positions.
Roman Hirniak, who chairs the UNA’s Nominations Committee, said a number of candidates have submitted applications for seats on the organization’s new board.
“There has been a markedly strong interest in seats on the newly-formed Corporate Board of Directors, and our committee will have its work cut out for it in vetting what looks to be a pool of highly qualified candidates,” Mr. Hirniak said.
But to date there has been less interest in other roles.
“The responses to some of the other leadership positions has been somewhat more lukewarm, but we understand that application packages are being completed and we’re confident that a similarly robust interest in those roles exists,” Mr. Hirniak said. “Notwithstanding, each of my colleagues on the committee and I have our own ‘Rolodex’ of individuals who we believe exceed the qualifications for the open leadership positions and I know that we have all been contacting those individuals with encouragement to submit application packages.”
While the UNA’s next CEO, COO and CFO need to work full time in the organization’s home office in Parsippany, N.J., Mr. Hirniak added that many of the other positions do not require people to leave their current jobs. What’s more, the Nominations Committee has said that it aims to attract candidates from a broader geographic swath of the country.
“The UNA will benefit tremendously from guidance which originates outside of the New York metro area,” Mr. Hirniak said. “Promoting the UNA’s products and services in a particular community is made significantly easier when we have direct contacts in that community, who are intimately familiar with it. The farther those communities are from the … home office, the easier it is to appeal to folks therein to join us by assuring them that they do not need to uproot their families and move to the Garden State.”
Founded in 1894, the UNA is a modern fraternal society that provides a variety of high-quality life insurance and annuity products, as well as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and a Coverdell Education Savings Account.
“Our organization has placed itself on the road to modernize and increase efficiency, with regard to how we do almost everything,” Mr. Hirniak said. “To those individuals who have a vision and are ready to implement it, this [the UNA]is where you belong.”
All applicants must be UNA members in good standing. A full profile of the positions noted above and instructions for applying can be found on the UNA’s website at the following address: https://unainc.org/una/leadership-position-openings/.
Completed application forms and copies of applicants’ detailed resumes must be sent via certified mail on or before October 31 to the following address: Ukrainian National Association, Inc., Attn: UNA President Stefan Kaczaraj, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, N.J. 07054.