WILMINGTON — The New Hanover Community Endowment announced Monday that Executive Vice President of Programs and Operations Lakesha McDay has submitted her resignation.
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“I am proud of the role I served as part of the inaugural years at the Endowment,” McDay said in a press release. A reason for her departure was not divulged.
“The team I helped build at the Endowment will continue as my legacy of excellence and service to the New Hanover community,” she added.
During her tenure at NHCE, McDay assisted in creating the foundational processes to put the endowment in the position it is in today. She oversaw grant-making, capacity-building, operations, and has served as a “positive, inspiring voice for the endowment while helping to address community needs,” per the announcement.
In her statement, McDay said board of directors chair Bill Cameron and incoming CEO Dan Winslow asked here to stay on in a consultancy role to ensure a smooth transition of new leadership, which she accepted. Winslow, appointed in August, will start in his role on Oct. 1.
“Lakesha’s willingness to extend her time with us through the onboarding of our new CEO speaks volumes about her commitment to the organization and our mission,” Cameron said in a press release. “NHCE has benefited greatly from her expertise and steadfast leadership, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
McDay’s resignation marks the fourth leadership departure from the endowment this year.
Former CEO William Buster abruptly resigned in February; McDay stepped in as interim director. Her leadership in that role has been praised by Cameron, who said during a public session held this spring McDay brought experience, talent and training to help move the endowment’s needs forward while the board searched for a new CEO.
McDay informed Port City Daily last month, upon the announcement of Winslow stepping in as CEO, that she had not applied for the position.
A month after founding president Buster parted ways with the endowment, board member Patricia Kusek resigned in March, both with limited information provided on the cause.
Board of directors member Michele Holbrook announced her resignation in May, due to personal commitments she said “made it difficult to fulfill the requirements” of the board.
Recently, th New Hanover County Board of Commissioners appointed former Wrightsville Beach Mayor Bill Blair to take over from Stedman Stevens, who did not seek another term.
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