Mary Strickland, WGA Treasurer, likes being in the spotlight more than might appear — especially if you catch her on stage doing improv. Learn more about Mary’s humorous theatrical alter ego and how she became involved with WGA in the short Q&A below.
How did you get involved with WGA? What made you step up as a leader?
When I first moved to Jacksonville in 2012 and was interviewing for jobs, I was often told WGA was the place where interesting and important women in Jacksonville gathered. When I did start working in Jacksonville as the CEO of Lutheran Social Services, I continued to hear good things about WGA. When I retired, I wanted to stay connected in the non-profit community. My first year, I joined the Grants Committee and read dozens of grants. Jan Healy asked me to consider being the Treasurer, and I was thrilled to step into this role.
Many of our members are fearful of “numbers/budget/finance.” What would you tell them about your WGA Treasurer experience that might alleviate fears about getting involved with the financial team?
It’s easy to serve on the finance committee first and then get familiar with the budget. We meet virtually on a quarterly basis, and our budget is not that complicated. You don’t have to be a finance whiz — the wonderful staff members at The Community Foundation do 95% of the work. The support from our President, Sabeen, and from Nikki and Amber is excellent.
Are there any fun facts about you that others may not know?
I love to get on stage and tell humorous stories, and I was featured in the cast of Untold Stories at the Florida Theater in 2024. I’m also part of a local improv troupe, Improv to the Rescue.