PRESS RELEASES

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta names CEO

ATLANTA, GA, February 13, 2018 – The board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, a nonprofit that leverages the power of mentors on behalf of metro Atlanta’s youth, Feb. 13 announced the appointment of Kwame Johnson as its new CEO.

Johnson, the executive director of the greater Atlanta region for PowerMyLearning, succeeds Janice McKenzie-Crayton, who retired last fall after more than a quarter century as CEO, and interim CEO Peter Lauer, a board member. He will start in mid-March.

“This is truly an exciting development for the young people of our region,” board chair David Clark, general manager (executive vice president) in charge of FreeWheel, a Comcast company specializing in advanced advertising technology for the TV and video industry, said in a news release.

Gerard Gibbons, co-chair of the search committee and president of enterprise sales for UPS, said in a news release, “Kwame Johnson prevailed over an exceptionally strong slate of contenders. His record of growth and impact on behalf of Atlanta area youth was most persuasive, as was his experience with creative collaborations with a variety of business, academic and nonprofit partners.”

Duriya Farooqui, search co-chair and executive director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, said in a news release, “Kwame’s energy is infectious, and his career-long passion for helping young people reach their full potential is exactly what BBBS Atlanta needs in a leader. It’s a great day for powering mentorship!”

A native of Syracuse, New York, Johnson is the son of two educators; his mother was the first African-American elected to the local school board. He left college to work under his first professional mentor, the founder and CEO of The Woodson Center, an organization committed to “transforming lives, schools and troubled neighborhoods.” A condition of his hiring was he had to complete his college studies while working full-time. During his seven years at Woodson, Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Maryland.

“Becoming CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta feels like the role I have been preparing for my entire life,” Johnson said of his appointment. “I know first-hand the power of mentorship and how relationships change lives. BBBS Atlanta is already well known for its impact on thousands of area youth. It’s an honor indeed to be asked to help extend that impact to the thousands more whose lives could be enriched by a sustained relationship with an adult mentor.”

Under Johnson’s leadership, the Atlanta region of PowerMyLearning doubled its revenues and in-kind computer and software donations in less than three years, in part by narrowing its focus and partnering with over a dozen leading foundations and corporations to increase the impact on youth being served. It now operates in 15 area schools, up from five three years ago, and currently serves some 1,500 students. It is regularly cited as a top program partner by Atlanta Public Schools.

Johnson’s appointment at Big Brothers Big Sisters follows an extensive executive search conducted in partnership with BoardWalk Consulting, a national search firm. In addition to Clark, Gibbons and Farooqui, the search committee included Big Brothers Big Sisters board members Amy Agami and Mark Tipton as well as partners Penelope McPhee (The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation) and Curley Dossman (Georgia-Pacific Foundation).

Johnson previously served as senior director of donor-advised services with the Charities Aid Foundation of America and director of corporate relations with Communities in Schools, both based in Washington, before moving to Atlanta in 2015. He and his wife reside in Alpharetta with their 4-year-old son.

About BoardWalk Consulting

BoardWalk Consulting is a national executive search firm that recruits CEOs and senior leadership for mission-driven nonprofit organizations. Founded in 2002 with a passion to serve organizations that do good in the world, BoardWalk leads executive searches for clients from across the nonprofit sector with global, national, regional and local missions. Our team of professionals are passionate about nonprofit leadership and many have previously served as nonprofit executives, grant makers and board leaders.

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