Moore finds her encore moment

Sheila Moore of Ooltewah had her feet in the for-profit world but found herself more and more wanting to step into the nonprofit universe.

Today, as interim director of the United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s Center for Nonprofits, she has found her niche.

Ms. Moore’s saga is so inspiring she was recently selected as one of 17 winners in a “My Encore Moment” national story contest sponsored by Encore.org, an initiative of San Francisco-based Civic Ventures, which is a national think tank on boomers, work and social purpose.

The first-ever contest sought Americans who are successfully transitioning from midlife careers to new careers that combine personal meaning and social impact with a continued income.

The winners were selected from 324 applicants.

“I happened to see (the contest) in a newsletter,” Ms. Moore, 52, said. “I have a strong opinion (on second careers). I feel there are a lot of opportunities in other sectors.”

Previously, while she did consulting and training around the country, she found herself leading a workshop for a small center for nonprofit management. Midway through the class, she wrote in her winning essay, she realized she “had found something to get excited about.

“The skills and experiences I had spent years gaining for the for-profit world,” she said, “could be applied and appreciated in the nonprofit world. And I realized I cared about those organizations and the people who also cared so deeply.”