BoardWalk Consulting Assists Trust for Public Land with CFO Search
March 17, 2026 – Crystal Stephens and Terri Kohan of BoardWalk Consulting have assisted in the recruitment of Keysha Bailey as the new CFO of Trust for Public Land (TPL). “Keysha brings a rare combination of financial expertise, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of how to align resources with impact,” said Carrie Besnette Hauser, president and CEO of Trust for Public Land. “At a time when TPL is scaling its work and deepening its impact, her leadership will be critical in growing its strong financial foundation and expanding the partnerships that make this work possible. Just as important, Keysha has a demonstrated track record translating complex financial strategy into a clear and compelling story. This highly relevant experience will inspire both current and future investors in TPL’s vital mission.”
“As we look ahead, delivering on our mission—to connect everyone to the outdoors and ensure communities have access to the spaces they need to thrive—requires disciplined stewardship and the ability to act decisively when opportunity arises,” said Joe Lipscomb, national board member and finance committee chair for Trust for Public Land “Throughout this process, it was clear that Keysha brings the integrity, judgment, and leadership required to strengthen our financial foundation and position TPL to fulfill that mission for decades to come.”
“I am deeply grateful that we’ve found a leader like Keysha at such an important moment for Trust for Public Land,” said TPL national board chair Lucas St. Clair. “Our work to protect the places that define our nation and ensure more people can experience them is more important than ever. Keysha brings the experience, judgment, and values needed to help carry that impact forward.”
“This is a pivotal moment for Trust for Public Land, and Keysha is the right leader at the right time. Her ability to think strategically while staying grounded in execution will help ensure the organization continues to grow its reach and impact,” added Eliot Merrill, Trust for Public Land national board member and chair of the transactions committee.
Ms. Bailey joins TPL at an important moment as the organization advances its new strategic plan, focused on expanding access to the outdoors and to important public spaces, and to strengthening the benefits these shared places provide to communities nationwide. As CFO, she will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and a strategic partner to the CEO, helping shape financial strategy, strengthen operations, and expand the resources and partnerships that power TPL’s work.
With more than two decades of experience across mission-driven organizations and global financial institutions, Ms. Bailey brings a strong track record of building teams, guiding complex organizations, and aligning financial strategy with long-term impact. Most recently, she served as CFO at Calysta, a global agri-biotech company advancing sustainable food systems, where she led financial strategy, governance, and investor engagement across multinational operations. Prior to that, she was CFO at Rocketship Education, a national public charter school network, where she oversaw finance, legal, and real estate operations and supported the organization through a period of significant growth.
Trust for Public Land is a national non-profit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors.
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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.
Non-Profit Specialists
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. Stephens is managing director and CEO. Over the past 13 years, Ms. Stephens has led many of the firm’s most complex and high-profile searches, earning the trust of such national organizations as Earthjustice, ACLU, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Trust for Public Land, and Year Up United. Her impact in Atlanta is evidenced in the leadership of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Gateway Center, and the Betty & Davis Fitzgerald Foundation. Ms. Stephens joined BoardWalk in 2012, bringing extensive sales, marketing, and recruiting experience with top-tier organizations such as IBM.
Ms. Kohan, senior associate, collaborates closely with internal teams and client stakeholders to execute C-suite and leadership searches for non-profit and mission-driven organizations. She is an accomplished executive search professional with over 30 years of experience in retained executive recruitment across domestic and international markets. Her expertise spans all facets of senior-level talent acquisition for both non-profit organizations and corporate entities across diverse industries.
Related: BoardWalk Consulting Assists the Lumpkin Family Foundation with Executive Director Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
