Goddard thought leaders honored
Goddard staffers keep getting recognized for their leadership!
Chief Financial Officer Michael Klidas was recently named to City & State’s 50 Over 50 list. His profile on the award website notes his 30-plus years of experience in nonprofit financial management. However, it continues, “Klidas’ favorite part of the job has nothing to do with numbers – it’s mentoring and connecting with co-workers. He credits mentors for helping him ascend to the C-suite and takes pride in being that person for others.”
Dr. Andrea Cain Lawson, our chief operating officer and compliance officer—who also oversees all our residences—was named to City & State’s 2026 list of “Who’s Who in Affordable Housing.” “Andrea Cain Lawson has played a central role in expanding housing across New York City,” the awards committee wrote. “She recently helped bring 68 housing units online, with 180 more planned on the Upper West Side and 72 in the Bronx, many serving people formerly on the streets.”
Claudia Cordova, the program manager at our Older Adult Center on Columbus Ave., was honored by the The Diller-Quaile School of Music for promoting music programming. “Claudia works closely with Diller-Quaile as a key partner in the Senior Centers Partnership, which since 2000 has provided lifelong learners with opportunities for growth and personal fulfillment through music,” they wrote. “Guided by the values of respect and sincerity, she brings compassion and integrity to every aspect of her work.”
Our Associate Vice President of Education Pathways, Chad Franklin, is included in City & State’s list of “2026 Black Trailblazers.” He was also recently named to the Responsible 100 list for people with a “shared commitment to making the world a better place.” For the latter award, Franklin himself wrote: “Social responsibility means taking ownership of the issues that plague our communities. It means being on assignment – knowing there’s a designated amount of time to get the good done that we’re born to do. It means not pointing fingers at why things are broken, but understanding how the solution starts with each of us individually as well interdependently.”
Several other employees were recognized for their work late last year. Our president, Rod Jones, was named a Nonprofit Power Player for the second straight year by amNY and PoliticsNY. Two senior staffers, Advocacy Director Larry Wood and ACT Teams Director Derrick Manigo, were honored for their work in electoral outreach and healthcare, respectively.