Larry Olmstead
President & CEO
Larry Olmstead joined United Way of Northern California as President & CEO in February 2016. Previously, Larry was an executive at United Way Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA, responsible for operations, human resources, and the 2-1-1 helpline.
Over the years, Larry has worked as a journalist, media executive, and human resources executive. He held significant newsroom management posts at the Detroit Free Press, New York Times, and Miami Herald, where he was managing editor. Larry was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team at the Times and was a Pulitzer finalist at the Free Press for reporting from South Africa. Larry studied journalism and political science at George Washington University.
Larry has served on and chaired numerous non-profit and industry boards. He is active in tennis, currently serving as a Board member for the United States Tennis Association’s Northern California Section, and as a national USTA committee member. Larry and his wife Michele have two grown children.