Waters told the Foundation board late last year of her intent to close out her career in 2015, so they worked quickly to name a search committee that would oversee the recruitment effort to find the next Executive Director for the Community Foundation.
After several months, the committee found their choice candidate and presented their recommendation to the Foundation Board earlier this week. The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is pleased to officially announce that Mr. Randy Redner has accepted the position.
Randy Redner is very familiar with Gwinnett County. He served for five years as Area Executive Director for the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Duluth from 2005-2010. He left our community to serve as ACS’s Vice President where he managed the day-to-day operations for the society’s 14 field offices across the state of Georgia. While at ACS, Redner was responsible for a $21 million fundraising budget. Most recently he has worked as Vice President of Income Development for the United Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur where he increased donations by 55% in 2014. Throughout Redner’s career he has also worked for Habitat for Humanity North Fulton, Mead Corporation, Render Ad Service and Georgia Power Company. Randy has a BS in Marketing from Valdosta State University and an MBA from Mercer University. He is a proud graduate of Leadership Gwinnett’s Class of 2007 and Leadership North Fulton’s class of 2002. He also has completed Harvard Business School’s Leadership Training specifically designed for not-for-profit management.
Scott Phelan, President of the Community Foundation, says, “We are genuinely excited to have Randy take on this very important leadership role. He has big shoes to fill, but we are very confident we have hired the right candidate for the job. Randy has a great track record and we are eager to see him channel his energy and expertise to grow the Foundation.”
Redner shares, “I want to thank the Foundation for placing their confidence in me as the new Executive Director of the Community Foundation. It will be an honor and a privilege to work side by side with such exceptional community leaders on the issues and needs that matter most to our community. By growing the Foundation, we can give more and continue to expand the positive impact we have on our community’s quality of life. We have an amazing opportunity to leave an everlasting impact on the generations that follow us and I look forward to that challenge.”
Randy was quick to continue, “I also want to say thank you to Judy Waters for the legacy she has built. Judy has set an incredibly high bar for me to follow. I so much appreciate the solid foundation (pun intended!) she has put in place. I have always been told ‘leave it better than you found it’ and she has certainly done that.”
Judy Waters says, “It’s such a great season for Randy to step in and take the reigns. We have come through a tough few years as the economy struggled, but now the tide has turned. There are so many giving hearts in our community that truly want to give back. The Foundation works to connect people who care with causes that matter. We help people channel their giving in ways that has the greatest impact and truly changes lives. I am excited to work over the next few months to introduce Randy to our donors and help him get oriented to the work that we do. It will be wonderful to leave with sound piece of mind and know that the legacy the Foundation has built over the past 30 years is in good hands.”
Redner’s first day on the job will be Monday, May 4th. Judy will work in a consultive role with Randy through August. Her official farewell to the community will take place on August 22, 2015 at the Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Celebration.
In honor of Judy Water’s retirement, the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is establishing the Judy Waters Community Fund. This fund will expand the Foundation’s discretionary dollars and enable the Foundation to give with greater impact in the years to come. Phelan says, “This is our chance to make a gift in Judy’s name to say thank you to her for the many gifts she has given to our community. There is no better way to honor her than to enable the Foundation that she has lead with such passion to continue to improve the quality of life in our region for everyone.” To contribute to the Judy Waters Community Fund visit www.cfneg.org or call 770-813-3380.
