Mang Sonna became the Executive Director of Bethel Neighborhood Center in May 2009. He is a visionary and dedicated nonprofit executive with over 17 years of leadership experience in multicultural settings. Since stepping into this role, he has spearheaded growth for the organization, expanding its annual operating budget from $350,000 to $1.4 million. As a transformative leader, he and the Bethel board successfully engineered the center's first-ever capital campaign, raising more than $5 million to renovate and expand the Bethel facility and its community programs. Under his strategic oversight, the organizational infrastructure has scaled to meet growing community demands, increasing the full-time staff from three to eight employees and expanding part-time personnel from six to thirteen. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, he built a deep foundational understanding of the center's mission while serving as its Assistant Program Director for two and a half years, leveraging his creativity and cultural competence to manage diverse community services.

Mang’s executive capabilities are built upon a rich international background in academic administration and a profound lifelong commitment to serving marginalized populations. Before immigrating to the United States, he spent five years in Lamka, Manipur, India, driving institutional success and policy implementation as the Vice Principal and subsequent Principal of Rayburn College. His professional ethos is driven by a deep conviction that every human being is created equal with a special purpose, which he translates into actionable, boots-on-the-ground advocacy. On a daily basis, he utilizes his advanced language and leadership skills to oversee comprehensive community programs, travel for high-level donor relations, deliver public speaking engagements, and act as a vital interpreter and advocate for refugees and new immigrants in their new country.

Academically, Mang bridges rigorous research with practical community application, holding a multi-disciplinary educational background. He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in December 2021 from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, where his doctoral dissertation, "Christian Hospitality to Marginalized Persons: A Case Study of Bethel Neighborhood Center in Kansas City, Kansas," directly analyzed and optimized methods for welcoming and empowering inner-city populations. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree from the same seminary in May 2004, alongside a Master of Science degree in Geography from North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. This unique blend of advanced theological and secular studies, and executive expertise allows him to efficiently deploy resources while offering hope, help, and an empowering voice to the voiceless.

Mang’s leadership is anchored in the belief that all individuals possess equal value and a distinct purpose. He views his work at Bethel as a strategic investment in urban empowerment, driven by a commitment to cross-cultural connection. For Mang, an inner-city community center serves as an essential vehicle for inclusivity, providing unconditional acceptance and support to diverse populations. By championing a non-discriminatory approach to service delivery, he focuses on eliminating barriers and fostering a collaborative environment where residents of all backgrounds are equipped to thrive.

To achieve this vision, Mang has established three strategic priorities for Bethel’s future. First, he is focused on securing long-term financial stability through diversified funding and sustainable fiscal management to protect core programming. Second, he aims to maximize the organization's impact on youth by expanding targeted development, mentorship, and educational initiatives. Finally, he seeks to advance Bethel's core mission of offering hope by creating an inclusive environment of renewal and support that effectively serves all age demographics across the community.