Dapper Don

Rev. Don Roberts, the longtime CEO of Goodwill Manasota, has a penchant for pairing punch lines with poignancy.

It's a stock in trade that has served Roberts well in a distinguished career that began locally in 1977. That career, at least the one where he leads day-to-day activities of Goodwill Manasota, a $37.2 million nonprofit organization, will end Dec. 31, when he retires. Bob Rosinsky, Roberts' second in command for more than a decade, will take over the CEO role Jan. 1.

Roberts and Rosinsky realize the transition of a prominent CEO from leadership into retirement often trips up organizations — in both the nonprofit and for-profit worlds. That's a key reason Goodwill Manasota officials and board members have worked on the transition for two years.