Lifeworks Services, Inc. announced today the appointment of Gertrude K. Matemba-Mutasa as president and CEO. Gertrude’s hiring is the result of a search led by the Lifeworks Board of Directors in collaboration with Doran Leadership Partners. Gertrude will succeed Jeff Brown who served as president and CEO since 2017.
Gertrude comes to Lifeworks from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) where she served as Assistant Commissioner of the Community Supports Administration. At DHS, she led the efforts to ensure service providers could pivot to meet individuals’ service needs throughout the first two years of the pandemic. She revamped the RFP process resulting in a 50% increase in grants awarded to culturally specific organizations and established anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values of the administration.
Prior to her role at DHS, Gertrude served as the Executive Director of Phyllis Wheatley Community Center where she successfully rejuvenated a North Minneapolis legacy institution that was on the brink of closing by establishing relationships with funders, achieving profitability within nine months, and securing the first ever endowment in the 100-year history of the organization. Gertrude also directed operations at Minneapolis-based First Children’s Finance and WomenVenture and was the owner and director of Bright Beginnings Preschool.
“It was our goal to ensure the next president and CEO of Lifeworks was the right fit for the organization,” said Lifeworks Board Chair John Abbott. “We are confident Gertrude will continue the work the Lifeworks team and our entire community have started together to break down barriers and envision truly inclusive communities for people with disabilities.”
Gertrude lives with her husband in Maple Grove. They have three daughters ages 21, 19, and 15. She has an MBA from the University of North Carolina and majored in Accounting and Business Administration at Bennett College.
“I am very excited to join Lifeworks. I admire and appreciate the organization’s spirit of innovation that drives the development of new services and inclusive communities. I can’t wait to get started,” Gertrude said.
Gertrude joins the Lifeworks team on Monday, April 11.
Contact us
Emma Rohrer | erohrer@lifeworks.org