Lara Keathley serves as Vice President of People, Culture & Governance at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, where she has been a key member of the leadership team since 2020. In this role, Lara leads strategic initiatives across people operations including talent management, organizational development, employee engagement, total rewards and organizational facilities. She also oversees governance practices, and board relations — ensuring alignment between leadership, team members and the board of directors to advance the organization’s mission and values.
Lara brings more than two decades of experience in human resources, having held several senior roles including Vice President of Employee Services at Christian Financial Credit Union, Chief Culture Officer at the Michigan Credit Union League, and Director of Training and Human Resources at Advantage One Credit Union. She also served as a Human Resources and Training Consultant at CU Solutions Group, where she advised organizations on culture transformation and workforce development. Lara holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s certificate in human resources, and is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), Lara embeds these principles into organizational culture, leadership development, and team member experience. Her work fosters a culture of transparency, accountability and collaboration—creating an environment where individuals feel valued, empowered and supported to thrive.
In addition to her role at United Way, Lara serves on the board of the Human Service Association Workers’ Compensation Fund (HSAWCF). Her background in human resources and organizational leadership brings valuable insight into workplace safety, risk mitigation and employee support systems — key components in managing effective workers’ compensation programs and fostering safe, healthy work environments.
Outside of work, Lara enjoys staying active, reading, spending time with friends and sharing life with her wife, Kristin.