Saying goodbye is never easy.

This week United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County Director and Community Impact Coordinator Josh McKinney announced he is leaving the agency to accept another position.

McKinney sent his letter of resignation to the United Way ECC Board of Directors on May 11 but made his resignation more public this week. His resignation will be effective on June 1.

“Though I have loved my time at United Way and I had great plans with you for its future, this position represents too great an advancement for my family and myself, both personally and professionally, to pass it up,” McKinney said in his letter of resignation. “It truly is a life-changing opportunity; I hope you will understand.”

McKinney accepted a position with the Tennessee Housing and Development Agency as the HUD Housing Counseling Coordinator for the East Region. Prior to joining the United Way, McKinney had worked with Eastern 8 Development, an agency that often works hand-in-hand with THDA and HUD to offer a wide variety of programs to help people across Northeast Tennessee find affordable and safe housing.

“I was not looking for this new position. My work at United Way has been both challenging and gratifying, truly leaving me with no desire to seek any other opportunities,” McKinney said. “However, in April a former colleague with the state (who will now serve as my supervisor) reached out and encouraged me to apply for an open position. After considering the details and conferring with my family I determined that I should pursue the opportunity.”

While McKinney said he is leaving his position with United Way, he said he hopes to continue to serve his community.

“I’m happy to say that I am not leaving the community, so I will be continuing my work with the other organizations that I’m a part of as long as they will have me,” McKinney said. In addition to his involvement with local service organizations, McKinney also serves as the pastor of Midfield Freewill Baptist Church.

The Board for the local United Way will begin the search for McKinney’s successor as soon as possible according to Board Chairman Andrew McKeehan.

“Josh has done an impeccable job rallying the community and rallying the Board to make us stronger,” McKeehan said. “To meet our goal last year for the first time in many years was a major hurdle and gave us a lot of momentum for the campaign this year and we are hoping to build on that success.”

“He will be tough to replace,” McKeehan added.

According to McKeehan, the Board’s Executive Committee will meet soon to discuss the candidate qualifications they will be looking for as well as how the search for candidates will be conducted.