EFE Office Updates

EFE Welcomes New Controller

Welda H. Hollenberg, EFE's new Controller who succeeds recently retired Jossie Seelund, brings a wealth of accounting experience for nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses to her new position and a strong commitment to community service. She will oversee a budget of nearly $5 million from many different funding sources, private and public.

"Welda's drive and enthusiasm, coupled with her extensive experience and expertise, will enable her to provide the strong fiscal leadership our organization requires as a result of significant growth," says President and CEO Zena Naiditch. "I am confident she will put in place the new systems and processes necessary to strengthen our infrastructure, making future expansion possible. I am delighted Welda has joined our management team at EFE."

New EFE Controller Welda Hollenberg Welda was born and raised in the Philippines, and both of her parents were very community oriented and involved in grass roots politics. After earning her bachelor of science in commerce with a major in accounting at Visayan Central College in the city of Iloilo, she went to work for an entertainment agency and, as one of her many duties, prepared tax returns for such celebrities as the Everly Brothers, who were under contract and earning money in the Philippines.

Immigrating to the United States in 1968, Welda settled in Chicago, where she did accounting for several small companies before becoming Controller for the Illinois Migrant Council, a position she held from 1975-1982. The Council is a statewide program that served migrant farm workers throughout Illinois. Its funding sources were federal agencies and state and local government. Among her duties, she provided technical assistance on the administration of funds to other farm workers programs in the Midwest, including development of a computerized accounting system, which earned her a commendation from the U.S. Department of Labor, Technical Assistance Division, Farm Workers Program.

For eight years, Welda was Director of Finance for Cornerstone Services Inc. in Joliet, Ill., which is a nonprofit social service agency in Will County serving people with disabilities. From 1991- 1998, she held the position of International Controller and Financial Services Manager for Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation, a worldwide membership nonprofit organization serving more than 36,000 executives in businesses and professions in 68 countries working together to advance the status of women. Here, she had the opportunity to attend international conventions in Paris, Hong Kong and Switzerland.

Welda's wealth of experience included serving as Controller at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, a nonprofit legal services organization. Her last stop prior to joining EFE in June 2003 was as Controller for Chase House, a nonprofit organization that provides child care and Head Start programs in Chicago. Through the years, she has also continued her education through courses at Loyola, DePaul and Roosevelt Universities, including courses on budgeting and financial analysis for nonprofits.

"Equip for Equality's mission is very important to me," says Hollenberg. "And the welcome here has been fantastic. From day one on the job when I was introduced to all the staff at a welcoming breakfast, I knew I belonged." =

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