United Way of Pickens County has hired Adrienne O’Brien as its full-time Success Coach for Pathways at Work, a new United Way program that embeds financial coaching and resource navigation directly inside local Pickens County workplaces.
In her role, O’Brien will meet one-on-one with employees at partner companies, providing confidential support around whatever they may be facing outside the workplace. Her work includes financial coaching, budgeting and debt management, tax preparation through the United Way Free File program, connections to community resources for housing, healthcare, and utilities assistance, and referrals for mental health and substance use support.
“Pathways at Work exists because so many people are dealing with financial stress they cannot talk about at work,” said Julie Capaldi, President of United Way of Pickens County. “Adrienne brings exactly the right combination of expertise, warmth, and person-centered focus to that work. We are thrilled to have her on the team.”
O’Brien joins United Way of Pickens County after serving as Lead Housing Stabilization Specialist at a nonprofit in Western North Carolina, where she worked with individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In that role, she partnered with landlords to secure stable housing, provided financial literacy and life skills training, and helped clients navigate Social Security applications and community resource networks.
“I’m really looking forward to my role as a Success Coach at United Way. I’m excited to be able to provide ongoing support to such hardworking neighbors in our community.”
The Pathways at Work program launches this summer in partnership with Reliable Automatic Sprinkler and Champion Aerospace, the first two Pickens County employers to host the program at their worksites. You can learn more here.
Pathways at Work is one component of United Way of Pickens County’s Financial Security work, which also includes the Free File tax preparation program and financial literacy classes offered in partnership with the School District of Pickens County Adult Education program.