PFLAG National and Bailey House Tap McCormack + Kristel to Find New Leaders
May 24, 2017 – Executive search firm McCormack + Kristel has been chosen by PFLAG National and Bailey House to lead their searches for new leaders. Managing partner Joseph McCormack and partner Michelle Kristel are spearheading the assignments.
Washington, D.C.-headquartered PFLAG is looking for a new executive director after Jody Huckaby stepped down this past December. Elizabeth Kohm, currently COO, has been appointed interim executive director. At Bailey House, former CEO Gina Quattrochi died this past December after a battle with cancer.
PFLAG
PFLAG, formerly known as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, is the largest organization for parents, families, friends, and allies united with those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ). It has more than 500 chapters across the U.S., with more than 200,000 members and supporters.
The group is seeking a veteran executive director with exceptional fund development skills. The ideal candidate will understand the complexities of leading a decentralized organization such as a chapter-based association or federation. PFLAG said it is looking for a servant leader with exceptional interpersonal skills. The candidate should be driven to raise funds and develop strategies to increase the organization’s impact and ensure the sustainability of its programs. The new executive director is expected to share the group’s view that LGBTQ individuals, family members and allies are stronger together.
PFLAG describes this as an extraordinary opportunity for a visionary leader to leverage the power of a vast national grassroots network of volunteers and allies to advance equality. The successful candidate is expected to focus priorities, refine programs and build resources to lead the organization to its next phase of growth and impact. PFLAG’s new executive director will also be charged with leading a national movement working to ensure that all LGBTQ people are not only valued by society, but take pride in and value themselves.
Demand For Non-Profit Leaders
Nearly two million non-profit organizations employ approximately 10.7 million people and produce revenue in excess of $1.9 trillion. That figure elevates non-profits as the third-largest employer. “One in 10 jobs in America is a non-profit job. It’s a really significant economic contributor as a sector,” said BoardWalk Consulting managing director Kathy Bremer, whose clients include global, national and local non-profits and foundations. Effective leaders in the non-profit sector tend to be creative and innovative visionaries who stay true to their organization’s mission. Above all else, they need to be strategic business minds who can identify and motivate the key stakeholders whose philanthropy pulls everything together ….. Here’s some further reading from Hunt Scanlon Media.
Why Recruiters Fixate On Fundraising Skills
With companies being pressured to find leaders who can play a major role in fundraising, recruiters are scurrying to find talented candidates to satisfy the demand. Pure fundraising will need to pick up more of the burden for sustaining organizations and their missions.
Bailey House
Founded in 1983 by a coalition of compassionate community leaders responding to the AIDS crisis, Bailey House is a community-based organization with a 34-year history of providing housing and essential supportive services to individuals and families living with HIV/ AIDS and other chronic illnesses.
The organization is looking for a chief executive officer to manage an annual budget of more than $18 million and lead its 110-person staff. Bailey House wants an entrepreneurial executive with healthcare and housing expertise. Candidates should have a deep understanding of the impact of healthcare reform on government and Medicaid funded programs, and the business acumen to assess strategies for leading the group in a complex and competitive landscape.
Among the other requirements, the incoming CEO should understand the changing landscape of supportive housing developments in New York City and draw on his or her knowledge of emerging financing models to expand the organization’s reach. PFLAG also wants the individual to be an accomplished public speaker who can effectively engage a variety of audiences and represent the organization across all media. They will be driven to build partnerships and develop strategies to increase Bailey House’s impact and ensure the sustainability of its programs.
McCormack + Kristel
Last year, Mr. McCormack announced the formation of a new business partnership with Ms. Kristel, a former non-profit executive and an associate with the firm since 2013. The new partnership, McCormack + Kristel, provides executive recruiting services for non-profit and philanthropic organizations. The firm’s mission is to ensure that all qualified candidates — especially gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, racial and ethnic minorities and candidates irrespective of age — are given equal opportunity for consideration. It is a unique niche in the executive search field.
“McCormack + Kristel will build upon our 23-year reputation for excellent service and continue to expand our national recruiting practice,” said Mr. McCormack. “Michelle’s experience as a non-profit leader is a great value-add for our clients. Because she has served in and managed many of the positions our clients seek to fill, she has great instincts for finding talent and making successful placements.”
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
