After considering applicants from around the country, Reston Community Center (RCC) has decided to promote from within for its next executive director.
The community center announced yesterday (Wednesday) that its board of governors has selected current RCC Deputy Director BeBe Nguyen to succeed Leila Gordon, who will retire after 16 years with RCC on Dec. 13.
According to RCC, Nguyen will assume her new role on Sept. 9, allowing her and Gordon to work together to ensure a smooth transition into the center’s “next era.”
“This represents continuity of the brilliant growth and community building our present executive director, Leila Gordon, has led for the past 16 years,” RCC Board Chair Bev Cosham said in a press release. “BeBe will advance those strategies and lead us forward to new heights.”
Nguyen was recommended for the position by the board’s personnel committee, which worked with Fairfax County’s human resources department on a search process that launched in January and resulted in 100 different candidates.
She originally joined RCC as its communications director in 2007, per the press release:
Nguyen has a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Georgetown University. She arrived at RCC in May 2007 to lead the agency’s media department as the communications director. In January 2022, she became RCC Deputy Director and has led significant capital projects, succession planning and implementation for the agency’s internet technology systems, integration of facility rentals and customer relations functions, and implementation of RCC efforts to advance the goals of the One Fairfax policy as the RCC equity lead.
Nguyen says she’s “very excited” to step into a new role as executive director.
“RCC has been my career and my purpose both,” Nguyen said. “Expanding our programs and services as Reston grows will be fulfilling and a great mutual adventure for our terrific board and staff, and for the people of Reston who we are all so proud to serve.”
The change in leadership comes during a period of evolution for the community center. An upgrade of its Hunters Woods facility is expected to wrap up in early September, and this summer, RCC launched a survey to support its development of a new five-year strategic plan, which will address the future of the Lake Anne facility, among other issues.
RCC is also preparing to conduct its annual preference poll to fill three seats on its board of governors. This year’s slate includes current board members William Bouie and Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt, along with new candidates Mahnaz Weldy and Malka Wickramatilake.
Preceded by a candidate forum on Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m., at RCC’s CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road), voting will take place from Sept. 6 through Sept. 27 at 5 p.m.
