New Board Members Add Expertise in Operations and Law
Mercer Street Friends has added two new members to its board of trustees: Ann Gavzy, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Legal Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, and Michael Godshall, member of the Strategic Planning team at First Quality Enterprises. Their specialized expertise will enhance the nonprofit’s strategic direction as they provide critical services for families and individuals across Mercer County.
“We are thrilled and honored to have such esteemed members of our community join our dedicated board of trustees,” said Bernie Flynn, CEO, Mercer Street Friends. “Their passion, experience, vision and commitment to serving the Mercer County community will help us further our mission to nourish minds and bodies and empower families and communities.”
As Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Legal Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, Ann Gavzy oversees legal related services, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate, population health and commercialization of innovation, and makes key recommendations on governance issues. Gavzy has been recognized by NJBIZ for being among the 50 Best Women in Business and has also received the General Counsel of the Year Award, the 2020 New Jersey Women Lawyers Association Leaders in Law Award: Public Sector, and the 2022 NJBIZ Leaders in Law Award.
Michael Godshall is a member of the IT Strategic Planning team at First Quality Enterprises, responsible for areas involving supply chain manufacturing. Throughout his professional career, he has served in leadership roles in both software and consulting organizations. Michael has a long-standing connection to Quaker organizations, serving for 11 years on the board at Buckingham Friends School, eight of which he served as the clerk.
The appointment of these additional board members follows a busy year for Mercer Street Friends, which provides family and educational services to the greater Trenton area, in addition to serving as the Food Bank of Mercer County. The nonprofit marked record attendance at its Fourth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration in June 2024 and moved to a new 42,000 sq. ft. warehouse facility that includes new cold storage units and dedicated pack and sort rooms, allowing the organization to better organize and distribute nutritious, fresh food throughout the County.
For more information on Mercer Street Friends, visit www.mercerstreetfriends.org.
About Mercer Street Friends
As a Quaker-affiliated, nonsectarian 501(c)(3) organization, Mercer Street Friends is dedicated to nourishing minds and bodies, empowering families and communities by providing comprehensive programs to address poverty and the physical and emotional trauma it creates for children, families and the community. Their work is focused on three critical areas: food, families and education. To learn more about Mercer Street Friends, visit www.mercerstreetfriends.org.
