Milwaukee, WI – The Board of Directors of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is pleased to announce the selection of Karen Gotzler as the Center’s new Executive Director, effective immediately.  Gotzler will take the role after serving as Interim Executive Director since July.

“Karen is well-known in Milwaukee, both for her work as an expert in nonprofit management and for her dedication to the revitalization of the Center during the past three years.  We are very pleased that she will continue this work by moving into the role as the Center’s permanent executive director,” said Center Co-President Paul Williams.

Gotzler has been consulting with a wide range of organizations from businesses to government and nonprofit groups over the past 15 years as a part of Urban Strategies / Sector Management Consulting Group. Previously, she served as President & CEO of Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin. Prior to that, Gotzler was an Economic Development Consultant for Wisconsin Department of Commerce. She has led multiple nonprofit ventures in Board and executive roles.

“In 30 years of working with nonprofit groups, the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center and its hundreds of volunteers are the most diverse and committed group I have had the pleasure to support,” Gotzler said, adding “It is a joy to be part of this team.”  She explained that her focus will be on community-building and program expansion.

“We are excited to be moving forward with a full leadership team that includes a new executive director and a diverse and engaged board of directors that will ensure that the Center helps to meet current and emerging needs of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ community,” said Co-president Tina Kreitlow.

An official welcome for Gotzler will be part of the Center’s annual meeting, to be held at 6:00 P.M., Thursday, March 5, 2015 in the Center’s Community Room at 1110 N. Market Street in downtown Milwaukee.