The Goodman Community Center announced Tuesday that Letesha Nelson will be the new executive director of the organization dedicated to serving its neighbors on Madison’s east side.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Goodman and look forward to diving into the work the skilled and caring staff are doing every day,” Nelson said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get to know each person, learn from them and help Goodman continue to grow and impact lives across the Madison area.”
Nelson comes to GCC with more than 16 years of experience in nonprofit management, as well as a healthy dose of love for the community. Nelson currently serves as the executive director of Children and Family Enrichment at Idlewild in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade in various roles with the Girl Scouts, where she worked her way from a coordinator role up to Chief Operations Officer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Letesha Nelson to the Goodman family,” said GCC Board of Directors President Souphaphone Maddox. “Not only is she a highly skilled nonprofit leader, she’s also brimming with warmth and compassion for her community. As we got to know Letesha through the interview process, it became clear that her values align perfectly with the Goodman Center’s. I’m confident she’ll continue the work of strengthening lives and securing futures that Becky Steinhoff started 31 years ago.”
Nelson will replace Becky Steinhoff, who has been executive director of the Goodman Community Center for more than three decades. Steinhoff announced her plans to step down in June of this year.
“I have no doubt Letesha is the right person for this job,” Steinhoff said in a statement. “Her mix of compassion, strength and willingness to roll up her sleeves and get the job done is exactly the right fit for Goodman. I know she’ll be a great leader for this organization, and I am confident she and the talented Goodman team will continue to do tremendous work in service of our community.”
Steinhoff’s last day will be Dec. 31. Nelson will be working with Goodman Community Center’s team of executives for most of January to quickly get her up to speed on the center’s programs, services and operations. She will officially start with the center on Jan. 25, 2021.
