BoardWalk Consulting Assists the Lumpkin Family Foundation with Executive Director Search
September 3, 2025 – Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting has assisted in the placement of Heidi Dusek as executive director of the Lumpkin Family Foundation. Founder Sam Pettway and senior research associate Lysondra Somerville led the assignment. Bruce Karmazin, the foundation’s executive director since 2001, told the board of his intention to retire this summer. “Deep appreciation is also given to the search committee, chair Steve Shirar, president Ila Duncan, Natalie Beck, Debbi Gillespie, Pam Keon, and Michael Smith for their commitment and insight during this process; and to the BoardWalk Consulting team of Sam Pettway and Lysondra Somerville, who led the search effort,” the non-profit said. “The Foundation and the members of the Lumpkin family share their sincere congratulations and gratitude to retiring executive director Bruce Karmazin for his 24 years of leadership and innovation, and for positioning the Foundation to transition seamlessly to this next era with Dusek at the helm.”
“Dusek’s values, leadership style, and creative energy are a strong match for the foundation’s mission, and for the next chapter of its work with grantees and funding partners in the promotion of health and wellness through sustainable food systems, mental health initiatives and regenerative agriculture, along with other community-based initiatives which support the overall mission,” the Lumpkin Family Foundation continued.
Ms. Dusek has spent more than 20 years leading cross-sector efforts at the intersection of community development, philanthropy, and systems change. Her background spans grantmaking foundations, research and evaluation, public health, and K–12 education—offering a broad perspective on how lasting change takes root across diverse communities. She specializes in aligning vision with action, helping organizations bring bold ideas to life through thoughtful strategy, operational discipline, and collaborative leadership.
Prior to her intentional pause and consulting work, Ms. Dusek served as executive director of the J.J. Keller Foundation, a family foundation in Wisconsin, where she led strategic refresh efforts, strengthened the focus on social innovation and capacity building, and evolved collaborative funding models. She brought greater intentionality to the foundation’s portfolio and infrastructure, while cultivating partnerships across public, private, and non-profit sectors to advance community-driven solutions.
“What excites me most is the foundation’s heart for community,” Ms. Dusek said. “As my family and I settle into the Mattoon-Charleston area, I’m looking forward to listening, learning, and building relationships. It’s a privilege to step into this role and work alongside the Lumpkin family, our partners, and local leaders to help strengthen the places people call home.”
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The Lumpkin Family Foundation has been a beacon for healthy, sustainable communities in East Central Illinois and beyond for over seventy years. The foundation is situated in Mattoon, IL, a rural/industrial community on the main line of the Illinois Central Railroad, where Iverson Lumpkin, the family patriarch, made his home in the late 1800s. With an annual grantmaking budget of about $2.5 million, The Lumpkin Family Foundation has evolved from a responsive local grant-maker to a strategic philanthropic organization.
Non-Profit Specialists
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.
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Mr. Pettway is 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. Somerville has worked as a corporate consultant, product manager, and marketing expert. She brings a decade’s worth of experience in various business, marketing, and management roles. Ms. Somerville is an accomplished corporate strategist with a deep understanding of organizational management and operational effectiveness.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
