Candy Crecink of Starkville has been the executive director of the United Way of North Central Mississippi since only late May. But she has already been diligently working with the organization’s board of directors planning a fall fundraising campaign and other projects. Crecink’s long history of community service prepared her well to succeed Nikki Rives in carrying on United Way’s record of service and volunteerism in the greater Starkville area.

“We are privy to an enviable legacy of dedicated community leaders who have served as board members, campaign chairs or board presidents,” Crecink said. “This group established goals with the idea to always achieve a level of excellence for this agency — a level that would ensure financial support to our local agencies that through their services make a difference every day in the lives of the citizens of Oktibbeha, Webster, Choctaw and Winston counties. These agencies create a better life, either directly or indirectly, for all.”

Investing in the United Way is something community members should want to take part in, Crecink said.

“It is our responsibility to strive for a continued level of excellence as we establish new goals. I guarantee you that when I stand before any group large or small in one of these communities and ask how many have either received services, attended an event, assisted or supported, or know someone in their community that has been involved with our United Way agencies, that 95 to 98 percent would respond positively,” Crecink said. “The remaining 2 to 5 percent would be asking ‘How have I missed out on this?’ Hands down, United, we know the Way to invest in your community.”

Prior service

Before joining the United Way, Crecink was executive assistant for the Starkville Area Arts Council and has a diverse business background, working as director of marketing and advertising for Parents and Kids magazine in Jackson, director of volunteers for the Mississippi Commission for Cultural Exchange and director of the Action Line Department in the Office of the Mayor in Jackson.

She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mississippi University for Women and has had graduate school course work in educational psychology at the University of Alabama.

Crecink’s community service includes serving on the Member Events Committee for the Starkville Main Street program, on the board of directors for Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership (2014 Ambassador of the Year) and the MUW National Alumnae Association, including serving as president.

She has also served on the MUW Foundation board of directors, the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild board of directors and as executive director of the Thalia Mara Foundation in Jackson.

Crecink is an active member of First United Methodist Church in Starkville and volunteers with the Starkville Community Market and the Oktibbeha County Relay for Life.

For more information about the United Way of North Central Mississippi, contact Crecink at 662-323-3830 or e-mail her at [email protected].

Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.