BoardWalk Consulting Assists Community Connections with CEO Search
March 6, 2025 – Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Damien Cabezas as the new president and CEO of Community Connections, Inc. in Washington, D.C. Director Cynthia Moreland and senior associate Diane Westmore led the assignment. “Community Connections has long been a trailblazer in behavioral health, consistently setting the standard for innovation and excellence in the field,” said Dr. Mark Smith, chair of the CEO Search Committee. “We sought a leader with the vision, courage, and expertise to guide the agency to even greater achievements. We found that leader in Damien Cabezas, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
“Damien Cabezas brings the skills, experience, and heart needed to lead Community Connections into an even brighter future,” said Maxine Harris, co-founder and current CEO. “His leadership will ensure we continue to expand our compassionate and impactful work, taking the agency to new heights with both flair and resolve.”
Mr. Cabezas brings extensive experience as a national leader in healthcare and behavioral health, having served in leadership roles in both academic and community based non-profit settings with VIP Community Services, Abilities, Inc., and The Fortune Society in New York and Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County in San Jose, CA. Mr. Cabezas also served as CEO of Horizon Behavioral Health in Lynchburg, VA, and president of Mercy Care in Atlanta, GA, a federally qualified health center. As CEO of Horizon Behavioral Health, he measurably improved the organization’s impact as a critical regional provider of health services in Central Virginia through the growth and diversification of programming and funding, quality improvement strategies, reduction of turnover, and enhancement of community outreach and engagement.
During his career, Mr. Cabezas has spearheaded large-scale medical, behavioral health, criminal justice, workforce development, affordable housing, and health equity initiatives centered on ensuring access to high-quality, affordable care and opportunity for underrepresented communities. In 2018 governor Ralph Northam appointed Mr. Cabezas to serve on the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission, in 2021 he served as a member on The National Quality Forum, CMS Health Equity Advisory Group, and in 2023 he was appointed to the 988 Commission by the Secretary of Health & Human Services of Massachusetts.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to step into the role of president and CEO of Community Connections,” said Mr. Cabezas. “This bold organization, much like the city it serves, is steeped in rich traditions while embracing the possibilities of a rapidly changing world. Our success will be measured not only by the positive impact we have on Washington, D.C., but also by how we reflect and elevate the aspirations of our communities. Together, we can foster an equitable and thriving ecosystem where individuals and communities flourish.”
“I am optimistic about joining this incredible team at Community Connections,” Mr. Cabezas added. “Join us as we advance our mission and continue to make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve.”
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Founded in 1984 by Dr. Maxine Harris and the late Helen Bergman, MSW, Community Connections has been a pioneer in providing pathways to deinstitutionalization for individuals facing behavioral and mental health challenges. The organization’s work has empowered countless individuals to navigate the complexities of community living with dignity and support.
Serving Mission-Driven Organizations
BoardWalk Consulting, based in Atlanta, is a national executive search firm that recruits CEOs and senior leadership for mission-driven non-profit organizations. Founded in 2002, the firm leads executive searches for clients from across the non-profit sector with global, national, regional, and local missions. Many of the firm’s team members have previously served as non-profit executives, grant makers, and board leaders. BoardWalk Consulting is also an active partner in Panorama, the global network of independent executive search firms.
BoardWalk Consulting was founded by Sam Pettway, a 30-year search veteran. Over his career in executive search, he has worked with hundreds of board members and leadership teams with entities ranging from start-ups to mature multinationals in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Since founding BoardWalk in 2002, Mr. Pettway has served clients as varied as international relief agencies, national foundations, regional trade associations, and local agencies in dozens of markets.
Ms. Moreland is an experienced non-profit leader with more than two decades of non-profit leadership experience. She has been executive director of four non-profits in her native Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Collectively, these organizations addressed issues of child and family welfare, community development, educational access, and youth development. Ms. Moreland’s clients at BoardWalk include global non-profit organizations like Food for the Hungry and the Asian & Pacific Islander Health Forum.
Ms. Westmore has over 30 years of search experience recruiting president/CEO, vice president and senior-level executives spanning all functional areas. She joined BoardWalk after 12 years at Spencer Stuart, where she partnered with a broad range of consultants working across multiple practices. Before that, she spent 15 years at Bowman & Associates, a boutique search firm specializing in venture-funded medical technology companies, leaving as a vice president. She began her career at La Crosse Lutheran Hospital/Gunderson Clinic in marketing.
Related: BoardWalk Consulting Retained by the Lumpkin Family Foundation for Executive Director
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
