Letesha Nelson, President & Executive Director
Letesha Nelson joined the Goodman Community Center as its President and Executive Director on Jan. 25, 2021. Letesha brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience that ranges from working directly with program participants all the way up to leading an organization as its Executive Director.
Prior to joining the Goodman Center, Letesha was the Executive Director of Children and Family Enrichment at Idlewild, in Memphis, and before that, she held a number of positions with the Girl Scouts that spanned more than 17 years and a range of responsibilities. Thanks to this breadth of experience, Letesha brings expertise in operational efficiency, fiscal responsibility, donor relations, grant writing and programming to the Goodman Center.
A naturally authentic person, Letesha’s greatest strength may be the compassion and transparency she brings to every leadership role she’s held. In her career, she has demonstrated a level of direct but caring communication with staff, colleagues, donors and the community. Letesha couples this with a demonstrated ability to think creatively and pragmatically to ensure budgets are optimized to their greatest effect while members of the community receive the services they need.
Perhaps this strength of leadership and caring comes more naturally to Letesha because for her, this work is personal. As a young, single mother, she relied on services like those the Goodman Center provides to balance taking care of her children and getting her degree. She understands just how important the work GCC does is – because she was once in the very same shoes many of our families are in right now.
Sara Vant Hoff (she/her/hers)
Vice President of Mission & Strategy
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Sara Vant Hoff was first introduced to Goodman in October 2016 when she joined the center's board as a student member. She joined as an official staff member in November 2017. Sara began her career in direct service work with youth, and it brought to places such as Mozambique where she worked as a Peace Corps volunteer. Sara received her MPA from the UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs where she was trained in strategic planning, program evaluation, qualitative and quantitative analysis, public programs and grant administration, and more. She loves using an analytical mindset to find ways to continuously improve our community while also integrating diverse perspectives in the process.
Catie Tollefson (she/her/hers)
Vice President of Mission & Programs
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Catie Tollefson is the Vice President of Mission & Programs at the Goodman Community Center. Catie is a lifelong Madison north-sider and a graduate of East High school and UW-Madison. She gained much of her youth employment experience managing teen employees for more than 20 years at Ella’s Deli. In 2018, Catie began volunteering at GCC, became the FYI Teen Employment Program Coordinator in 2019, and moved into her current role in 2023. Catie believes in youth employment training that exposes youth to different work experiences in a supportive environment. To her, a successful teen employment experience develops not only employment skills but also confidence, initiative and a better understanding of long-term, post-high school goals. Catie feels very fortunate to be a part of the amazing Goodman Community Center family!
Noah Salata (he/him)
Vice President of Philanthropy & Community Engagement
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A trust-based advocate, Noah focuses on using philanthropy and grantmaking to contribute to healthier and more connected communities. Noah has been a long-time GCC supporter and was a member of the Board of Directors before joining the staff.
Noah comes to Goodman from the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation where he was the senior community and social impact specialist for grantmaking and community engagement. In support of a better philanthropic ecosystem, he also serves as a member of the Advisory Board at the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies and on the board of directors for the Center for Community Stewardship and the CEOs of Tomorrow. Noah has undergraduate degrees in Communications and English and received his MBA in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University.
Holly Beehn (she/her/hers)
Vice President of People and Culture
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Holly joined Goodman Community Center in November 2024 as the Vice President of People and Culture. A Wisconsin native, Holly attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for her undergraduate degree in Communications, and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she received her Masters of Science degree in Organizational Change Leadership. She was selected amongst her peers in 2008 to be trained as a certified Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt focusing on facilitating and leading teams through sustainable organizational improvements such as processes, creating efficiencies, and eliminating waste.
Holly started her career in the biotech industry, moved to manufacturing, and then into healthcare where she spent over 15 years leading and consulting HR teams across the country. Holly is passionate about people and developing relationships, change management and serving others by being the "human" in Human Resources. She is thrilled to join Goodman Community Center, in the heart of Madison, and all of the amazing programming and community that comes with it.
Jonny Popp (he/him/his)
Vice President of Finance
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With over 25 years of experience in leadership, strategic planning, and financial management, Jonny has dedicated his career to driving meaningful change and fostering mission-driven success. Beginning in operations and project management, he progressed into roles as Process Improvement Manager, Controller and General Manager, where he developed expertise in financial management, organizational leadership, and team development.
Beyond his technical skills, he is passionate about building relationships that inspire collaboration and innovation. Whether working with stakeholders, empowering teams, or engaging with communities, he brings a deep dedication to creating environments where people and ideas can thrive for the greater good.
Jonny is a lifelong resident of Madison and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, with degrees in Behavioral Science & Law, Political Science, and Sociology.