NCCJ Names Interim Executive Director, Chairs for Transition Team Committee
December 5, 2023
Category: News
Tags: Community, NCCJ,
On December 5th, we shared the following announcement:
North Carolina for Community and Justice (NCCJ) has announced that Erika Rain Wilhite will serve as the organization’s interim executive director.
Erika joined NCCJ’s staff in 2016 and currently serves as the organization’s director of development and communications. “It’s an honor to be offered this opportunity,” Erika says. “I see my role as ‘the bridge.’ I’m committed to carrying out NCCJ’s important work and maintaining continuity until it’s time to pass the baton to our next leader.”
The news follows last month’s announcement that NCCJ’s longtime executive director Ivan Canada will depart in mid-January 2024 to join the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits as their next president and CEO. “Erika has played an important role in NCCJ’s growth over the past 7 years, and our team already looks to her for leadership,” says Ivan.
Jennifer Martineau, NCCJ’s board chair, echoes this sentiment. “Knowing that NCCJ’s amazing team will be in good hands gives us the time we need to be thoughtful, thorough and strategic in finding the right person to lead NCCJ into its next chapter. We are very happy that Erika has agreed to be our interim executive director.”
In accordance with NCCJ’s succession plan, the board will retain a professional firm to conduct the search and will form a Transition Team to guide the search and transition process. Mona Gillis Edwards (a past NCCJ board chair, and the founder and owner of LIFT Coaching and Consulting) and Neil Belenky (a longtime supporter and advisor to NCCJ, and president of Belenky Consulting) have agreed to co-chair the committee.
The NCCJ board welcomes the support and input from our community during our transition and will keep our community apprised of our progress.
“NCCJ exists to serve this community, and we exist thanks to the generosity of this community – the volunteers, donors, and partners who make our work possible,” says Jennifer. “What you have to say matters. We are committed to transparency throughout the executive search process. We’ll be sharing regular updates and inviting your input on what you want to see from NCCJ’s next executive director.”
