Nonprofits, at the helm: New execs at Gateway Girl Scouts, Springfield Preservation, WJCT

The Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, which serves 10,700 girls and adult volunteers in 35 counties across North Florida, has named a new CEO.

Wendy Dordel has about 20 years of Girl Scout executive experience, as well as work at other nonprofits. Prior to her appointment to the Jacksonville-based council, she was vice president of council consulting at Girl Scouts of the USA in New York City where she acted as liaison between the national office and the 111 council executive teams.

She is among several leadership changes recently announced by nonprofits on the First Coast.

The Gateway board "was impressed with her dedication to connecting people to the right work, through coaching and education as well as her commitment to being a transparent and authentic leader," chairwoman April Harrell-Devine said. "She has a proven record of engaging volunteers and driving membership success."

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Dordel is a "dynamic leader … a transformational nonprofit executive who drives large-scale growth, builds world-class teams and develops cultures that foster inclusivity, trust, and accountability," according to Gateway.

Earlier at the national office, Dordel was vice president of adoption and optimization and senior operations and membership consultant. She has also overseen the Girl Scouts Overseas Division, leading a team that created business and marketing strategies that served girls and volunteers in 82 countries.

Prior, she spent 16 years at the council level as CEO for Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Badgerland and as managing director of operations at Girl Scouts of Black Hawk Council.

"Girl Scouts has provided me with lifelong friends, mentors and opportunities," she said. "I am delighted to join the amazing staff and volunteers of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council in delivering the same lasting impact experience to the girls of North Florida."

Dordel began her nonprofit career in domestic violence support service and prevention education. She succeeds Mary Anne Jacobs who retired in 2022 after leading Gateway for nearly a decade.

Gateway serves about 6,100 girls in kindergarten through 12th grade, with the help of about 4,600 adult volunteers. The service area is Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Nassau, Okaloosa, Putnam, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties.

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council

Michael Haskins is the new executive director at Springfield Preservation and RevitalizationCouncil, which advocates for Jacksonville's oldest existing neighborhood.

Haskins has about 10 years of experience as an education and nonprofit leader, most recently as founding assistant school leader of operations at KIPP Bold City High School in Jacksonville.

"Michael not only brings valuable leadership experience to the organization, but also a freshperspective," board president Kelly Lezama. "Springfield has grown tremendously over the last decade, with even greater potential in the years to come. Michael will help us navigate the journey in a thoughtful and inclusive way, both as an organization and as a community."

Haskins will lead programs that "drive the preservation, revitalization and balanced growth of the community," according to the council.

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He succeeds Kelly Rich who stepped down in 2022 to take a job as director of downtown initiatives for Experience Fayetteville in Arkansas. She had been the nonprofit's leader since 2018.

Prior to his KIPP work, he was program director at the Tulsa Debate League and has appeared at TEDxUTulsa, presenting on the "Power of Debate".

"I'm looking forward to … playing a key role in the urban core's revitalization," Haskins said. "From the Emerald Trail, to infill and adaptive reuse on Main Street, to our growing small business community, to our public events like Jacksonville PorchFest, Explore the Core, and Tour of Homes, there is a lot to be excited about in Springfield. I can't wait to get started."

WJCT Public Media

WJCT Public Media, Jacksonville's community-owned and -operated public media organization, named Sarah Dobson as vice president of development. She now oversees the organization’s major-gifts fundraising program, campaign fundraising and planned giving.

Support from individuals is the largest single source of revenue for WJCT Public Media. President and CEO David McGowan said WJCT has an " incredible community of supporters."

"We’ve been fortunate to have had the backing of the community as we’ve built new offerings such as Jacksonville Today and the Jacksonville Music Experience over the last few years, even as we’ve improved our radio and television services," he said. "I know Sarah looks forward to … helping us to tell the story of this vital community asset in the years ahead.”

Previously, Dobson was senior director of development for Feeding Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville-based regional food bank. She has worked in the Northeast Florida nonprofit sector since 2007, including independent consulting with the Jacksonville Symphony, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and the University of North Florida.

"I feel fortunate to serve local nonprofits and help fulfill their missions in our community," she said. " I have seen the pivotal role WJCT Public Media plays in keeping our community informed, engaged and inspired."

Scenic Jacksonville

Michael Kirwan has been named board president for Scenic Jacksonville, a nonpartisan environmental organization. He has worked with the organization for 10 years and led the Underground Committee and the Great Cities Symposium.

Kirwan is a partner with the Foley & Lardner law firm and was recently awarded the firm’s national community impact award, the Lynford Lardner Award, for his community contributions.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville

Nan Ferrara of Voya Financial is the new executive committee chairwoman for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville.

The charity provides lodging and other services for critically ill, chronically ill and seriously injured children and their families that come to Jacksonville for medical care.

Send nonprofit news to Beth Reese Cravey at bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville-area nonprofits: Girl Scouts, SPAR, WJCT get new execs