Brisson will continue in role until a successor has been named; professional search to begin in March for next leader of nonprofit organization
DETROIT (Jan. 27, 2025) – Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan announces that, after nearly two decades of service to the Southeast Michigan community through Gleaners, President and CEO Gerry Brisson shared his intention to welcome a new leader to the nonprofit organization. Brisson is collaborating with the Board of Directors on the transition plan and will remain in his role as president and CEO until his successor has been named and brought on board.
“After 19 incredible years with Gleaners, I have profound gratitude for the privilege of leading this organization. I am extremely proud of what Gleaners has accomplished in my tenure, and it has been an honor to witness the growth of an amazing team to do more and better for our community,” said Brisson. “Gleaners is poised and ready for a new leader who will bring a fresh vision. This transition is an opportunity to welcome new wisdom and strength, ensuring Gleaners continues to thrive and be a resource for our neighbors.” Under Brisson’s leadership, Gleaners has significantly increased its capacity for service to the community, fundraising to enable that growth, and long-term financial stability to sustain its mission.
Within his tenure, Gleaners:
- Successfully managed the challenges of the COVID pandemic, a historical landmark in food banking. Gleaners quickly adapted to meet immediate and record increases in food distribution, accelerated fundraising, and pivoting team dynamics.
- Launched its South Campus, located in Taylor, with flexible capacity now and for the future, supported by a capable leadership team ready to adapt to community needs for food and food resources, volunteers, and more.
- Built a strong team of accomplished executive leaders who are experts in their fields, supported by mission-driven leaders and managers rooted in a diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice platform to reflect the community Gleaners serves.
- Created a strategic framework, the “Bridge to Tomorrow,” that has helped guide decision-making with clarity to create lasting change. The “Bridge to Tomorrow” is centered on values like compassion, excellence, and innovation while emphasizing community impact, resource growth, and trust, serving as the root of a multi-year focus on the Pillars of Success.
“Gerry’s leadership has been instrumental in steering Gleaners to where it is today. He has brought knowledge, enthusiasm, passion and heart to this organization,” said Damali Sahu, chair, Gleaners Community Food Bank Board of Directors. “Gerry has been an extraordinary leader and an unwavering advocate for the mission. Thanks to Gerry’s leadership, the organization is financially and operationally strong and stable, and our board of directors is committed to the continued success of Gleaners and service to the community.”
A professional search firm will be hired to identify the next president and CEO. A search committee that includes board officers Sahu and Ned Greenberg, along with Brisson and several other past and present board members, has developed criteria that describe desired qualities, skills and performance expectations for the organization’s next leader. The professional search firm will share Gleaners’ current strategies, plans and future mission/work with prospective candidates so they understand the expectations of the role, while also determining compatibility with the organization.
The search is set to begin in March with the anticipation that a candidate will be selected and in place by the end of 2025.
In addition to Brisson’s continued leadership during the transition process, Gleaners will maintain its operations as outlined in the Board-approved framework rooted in Gleaners’ Bridge to Tomorrow, ensuring continuity of support to Gleaners’ partners and guests across Southeast Michigan. Gleaners’ effective and efficient systems, skilled executive and senior leadership, and commitment to the mission will ensure that operations and programs will remain steady and focused on providing access to the food and resources the organization’s guests need to thrive.
Gleaners continues its progress toward the planned Spring opening of Fresh! by Gleaners in Warren, providing fresh produce, eggs, and milk to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
About Gleaners Community Food Bank
Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners serves five Southeast Michigan counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe. Gleaners provides food to nearly 350 partner agencies, including schools, soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and others across the region, and supplements the efforts of those partners by offering directservice, drive-up grocery distributions. In its fiscal year 2024, Gleaners distributed more than 53 million pounds of food. Every dollar donated provides three meals, and 92 percent of Gleaners’ expenses directly support neighbors facing hunger. For more information, visit gcfb.org.
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