Community Foundation CEO puts off retirement

But Gwinnett Coalition executive director says she is leaving her post.

The head of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, who earlier this year announced his retirement, will instead stay on as CEO through 2023.

Randy Redner said in late February he intended to step down this year to spend more time with his family. Now, Redner said, he’ll keep his job through the end of 2023.

“As we all pivoted and worked furiously to meet community needs, it was as if God kept impressing on me that I was in the right place,” he said in a statement. “I realized I needed to change my plans for the future and remain where I was.”

Consistent leadership during challenging times is critical, board chair Dick LoPresti said in a statement.

“The relief stage of this pandemic has been challenging, but we also understand that the recovery stage will be longer and harder,” LoPresti said. “As a result, the executive board felt that Randy’s strong leadership is needed more than ever.”

Redner became the executive director of the Duluth-based Community Foundation in 2015.

While Redner will stay on, another local leader has announced her retirement. Ellen Gerstein, executive director of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services, will leave at the end of the year. A search has begun for her replacement.

Gerstein joined the Gwinnett Coalition in 1991, as its founding executive director. She started a helpline for referral calls to help people with basic needs.

Gerstein said she wanted people to continue doing the work.