Derinda Rodriguez
Derinda Rodriguez has always loved working with numbers. Born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, she began her career working for a couple of Certified Public Accounting firms. Those experiences led to increased responsibilities working at small construction companies, where she managed payroll, invoicing, cash receipts, contract reviews, commissions, and even Human Resources. She also flexed her management muscles by supervising technicians. She brought her accounting expertise to United Way of the Greater Triangle in 2017, making her one of the organization’s longest-tenured employees.
What Drew Me to UWGT?
I was offered a temporary accounting job here in November 2017, with no expectations of turning it into a new career. Although I’d certainly heard of United Way, I had no conception of the magnitude of its community impact. Had this been a different organization, I probably would have kept an eye out for new opportunities. But United Way’s commitment to uplifting others made me want to stay, and fortunately they felt the same about me, because they offered me a full-time accounting job in July 2018. It feels wonderful to do what I love for an organization I love.
Top 5 Strengths, per the CliftonStrengths Assessment:
- Relator — Drawing deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal
- Deliberative — Inclined to take serious care in making decisions or choices, anticipating obstacles along the way
- Achiever — Deriving immense satisfaction in being busy and productive
- Responsibility — Bound by stable values such as honesty and loyalty
- Empathy — Skilled at sensing other people’s feelings by imagining themselves in others’ lives or situations