Blanca Gonzales took the reins as executive director of technology training nonprofit i.c.stars this month, replacing Sarah Dollhausen-Clark, who has held the position since 2018.
Dollhausen-Clark left i.c.stars for a role at Northwestern Mutual, where she is now the lead program manager of tech advancement and outreach.
Gonzales, a Milwaukee native, was formerly a program manager and then program director at i.c.stars. She joined the organization in 2020.
As executive director, Gonzales said she's excited to continue building i.c.stars' corporate partnerships with companies including Northwestern Mutual and Molson Coors to increase their hiring of nontraditional workers, which includes people who may not have a four-year college degree.
"Sarah left such an amazing foundation," Gonzales said. "However... (i.c.stars-Milwaukee has) been here for three and half years, but we have not yet made that big mark to the entire business community."
Previously, Gonzales worked in operations for the Racine Unified School District, in various management roles for Boy Scouts of America — including as the multicultural director — and in membership and marketing for the Girl Scouts of America.
"Blanca brings a deep respect for learning and teaching transformation and we look forward to continued growth for the i.c.stars Milwaukee office," i.c.stars' co-founder, president and CEO Sandee Kastrul said.
Kastrul co-founded i.c.stars in Chicago in 1999. Under Dollhausen-Clark's leadership, the organization expanded to Milwaukee in 2018.
The i.c.stars Milwaukee office is currently based at 411 E. Wisconsin Ave., but the organization plans to move into the Eagleknit Innovation Hub at 507 S. Second St. in August, Gonzales said.
