Majors Marshall and Carolyn Gesner served the Greater Houston region from 2006 to June 23, 2009.

Last month, two of Houston’s most prominent nonprofit leaders stepped down from their reign as Area Commanders for one of the local region’s longest-standing charitable organizations as they prepared for the next stage of their lives: retirement.

Majors Marshall and Carolyn Gesner, who have also been married for 40 years, walked into The Salvation Army’s headquarters on the 1500 block of Austin Street as the nonprofit agency’s top brass for the last time on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.  

One day later, Houston’s new Area Commanders for The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command, Majors Chris and Sandra Flanagan stepped in.

Arriving from the Kentucky-Tennessee Division of the international nonprofit organization, Majors Chris and Sandra Flanagan have spent over 28 years serving the faith-based organization through assignments as corps officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Waynesboro and Hampton, Virginia; Enid, Oklahoma; and Ocala, Florida. 

Majors Chris and Sandra Flanagan follow in the footsteps of the Gesner's as Houston's new Area Commanders of The Salvation Army of Houston.

“We are honored to be following in the footsteps of Majors Marshall and Carolyn Gesner.  They are a class act that truly exemplifies what it means to be an officer of The Salvation Army,” says Major Chris Flanagan.  “We know God has placed us here in Houston for a reason, and we are glad to continue doing his work…in his name.”

After three years of dedicated service to the residents of Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties through the administration of 17 different facilities, the Gesner’s leave behind an enviable track record of success. 

Since arriving in June of 2006, the duo oversaw a variety of changes including a significant increase in the agency’s ability to serve more people, the growth of individual community corps centers, the administration of Hurricane Ike disaster relief efforts, the launch of a $21.6 million capital campaign, and the redesign of The Salvation Army’s local website, among many others. 

In fact the couple is credited with bringing the organization into the 21st Century.

Major Carolyn Gesner also served as the Coordinator of Women’s Ministries and was The Salvation Army officer responsible for The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary in the Houston metropolitan area.  The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary is the philanthropic group responsible for organizing the annual Reflections on Style Boutique & Fashion Show.

Major Sandra Flanagan will now assume that responsibility as well.

“The Gesner’s have laid the foundation for the successful growth and future of The Salvation Army in this community,” adds Major Flanagan.  “We will pick-up the mission where they left off and continue serving the most people in the name of God.” 

Majors Chris and Sandra Flanagan have two children.  Their son Christopher resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and works for the local Salvation Army Area Command.  Their daughter Jill is a sophomore in college and lives in Louisville, Kentucky and works for the Kentucky-Tennessee Divisional Headquarters of The Salvation Army.