Gilda Gonzales CEO Announcement
After an extensive national search, the Planned Parenthood Northern California (PPNorCal) Board of Trustees proudly announces the selection of Gilda Gonzales as Chief Executive Officer effective June 5, 2017. Ms. Gonzales has served as PPNorCal’s Interim Chief Executive Officer since December 2016. Ms. Gonzales has 15 years of executive leadership experience in both government and non-profit sectors. She brings to PPNorCal an impressive track record of strategic leadership and a reputation for “making things happen.” Ms. Gonzales has been with PPNorCal since February 2014 serving as Senior Vice President of External Affairs. In a short period of time, she distinguished herself as a strong executive and was appointed Acting CEO during a four month CEO sabbatical in 2014-15.
“We are very fortunate to have such a fierce, talented, and experienced leader in Gilda Gonzales who the Board believes is the right leader as we tackle both internal and external challenges,” said Board Chair Cynthia Gómez, Ph.D. “She has been battle tested over the years and is ready Day One to lead our organization. She has the support of our staff, donors, and community partners.”
Previously, Ms. Gonzales served an eight year tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of The Unity Council, a community development organization, serving Oakland and the greater Bay Area. Ms. Gonzales also held several key positions during a 14-year tenure in Oakland City Hall which included Director of Federal and State Government Relations, Chief of Staff to former Mayor Jerry Brown, and Policy Director to former Mayor Elihu Harris. She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, East Bay and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Psychology from St. Mary’s College of California. She grew up in the California central valley town of Atwater and currently lives in Oakland with her husband, Ken Wysocki, Ph.D.
Ms. Gonzales is the first Latina to serve as CEO of a California Planned Parenthood affiliate.