Soles4Souls

A day after scrutiny of the organization in The Tennessean for possible inappropriate management actions, Soles4Souls announced a brace of business and organizational initiatives. The release is here.

Updated Jan. 7: Soles4Souls names strategy chief

[Updated 4:09 p.m.] Soles4Souls, the Nashville-based nonprofit that collects usable footwear and donates it to the needy, named Keith Woodley to lead its strategic development. Woodley was previously with Payless and Brown Shoes. The Tennessean's Dec. 20 story shone an unflattering light on Soles4Souls CEO Wayne Elsey's high compensation and heavy control of the organization's board and related matters. Tennessean bloggers also reported on diversion of S4S's shoes by unauthorized 3rd parties to black-market profiteers around the world. Updated Jan. 7: Since our publication of this item Jan. 4, Lovell Communications Partner Rosemary Plorin, representing Soles4Souls, has stressed to VNC that the shoes were not diverted, but were stolen, and, while some of them were bound for other countries, the goods were, she said, recovered in Ohio. VNC's wording of this item was not intended to suggest that Soles4Souls execs were involved in the thefts. VNC has requested an interview with Elsey.