Via Near Southside
Megan Henderson and Mike Brennan.
Near Southside, Inc.’s board of directors has announced a leadership succession plan that will take effect in April, marking a new chapter for the Fort Worth nonprofit after two decades of steady growth.
Under the plan, Mike Brennan, who is completing his eighth year as president and his 20th year with Near Southside, will transition executive responsibilities to longtime colleague Megan Henderson. Henderson currently serves as NSI’s cultural director, overseeing a wide range of community, cultural, and business support initiatives across the district.
The two leaders have worked closely since Henderson joined the organization in 2013, a partnership the board says positions NSI for a smooth and deliberate transition.
The organization followed a similar succession model in 2018, when Brennan was elevated to president after 12 years as planning and development director, succeeding former president Paul Paine.
“My top priority, after 20 years with NSI, is to set the organization up for long-term stability and continued momentum,” Brennan said in a statement. He credited Henderson as “the right person at the right time to steer the next era of the Near Southside.”
Henderson said the district’s growth reflects Brennan’s long-term commitment and leadership, noting that she is honored to build on that foundation as NSI’s next president. Brennan will remain involved as president emeritus, serving as an advocate and advisor.
Board chair Jack Clark said the transition highlights the organization’s depth of leadership and institutional strength.
To complement Henderson’s background, NSI plans to hire a development & TIF director to work with city staff, private developers, and the board overseeing the Southside Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. NSI administers the Southside TIF through a contract with the city of Fort Worth.
“We are pleased to welcome Mike to Trinity Metro,” said president and CEO Richard Andreski, in a statement, calling Brennan “a key strategic leader as we unlock the full potential of transit-oriented development to drive regional growth.”
Said Trinity Metro board chair Jeff Davis: “The secret sauce for any community is quality economic development. Mike has decades of experience and achievements in this arena, and he has the respect of everyone he has ever worked with. We are so pleased to have him as a team member.”