BoardWalk Consulting Selected by Atlanta Ballet for Executive Director Search
May 21, 2026 – BoardWalk Consulting has was recently tapped by Atlanta Ballet to lead in its search for an executive director. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Demeika Wheaton, and Patti Kish. The executive director will lead Atlanta Ballet’s administrative and business functions in alignment with the organization’s mission and values, while partnering closely with the artistic director and board of trustees.
This next lead will guide the institution through a pivotal period of renewal, ensuring alignment between mission, strategy, resources, and long-term vision, particularly as the organization approaches its Centennial. They will lead the organization toward long-term financial stability through disciplined planning, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue strategy, with an emphasis on diversified funding sources. In addition, they will provide strategic leadership across fundraising, earned revenue, sponsorship, and contributed income, working closely with the Board and advancement team to deepen engagement and support.
Atlanta Ballet seeks an executive director who is a values-driven, externally oriented business leader — someone who brings confidence, credibility, and financial rigor to their work, while holding deep respect for artistic excellence, education, and community impact. This leader understands the responsibility that comes with stewarding a century-old institution and is energized by the opportunity to help it stabilize, renew, and thrive.
The successful candidate will be a relationship-centered leader and proven revenue generator, highly regarded in the community, and trusted by partners and funders. They will lead with humility, invest in people and culture, and balance decisive action with thoughtful listening. The right candidate will bring a proven record of senior leadership and measurable impact, with experience that reflects the scale, complexity, and significance of Atlanta Ballet at this moment.
Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is the oldest continuously operating ballet company in the United States and one of Atlanta’s most enduring cultural institutions. The organization is recognized for its blend of classical ballet traditions and contemporary works, presenting performances that reach audiences across the region and beyond. In addition to its professional company, Atlanta Ballet operates one of the nation’s largest dance education programs.
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 Mr. 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.
Related: BoardWalk Consulting Tapped By Greenpeace USA for Chief Financial and Operations Officer
Ms. Wheaton is a strategist, advisor, and people‑first leader who has spent more than 25 years helping mission‑driven organizations navigate complexity, strengthen their voice, and create meaningful impact. As a director at Boardwalk Consulting, she partners with nonprofits to identify leaders who can advance missions that shape communities and change lives. Ms. Wheaton has guided organizations through high‑stakes challenges, helping leaders make decisions with clarity and confidence while protecting their reputations and ensuring alignment with organizational values. Her expertise spans strategic communications planning, executive counsel, stakeholder engagement, brand storytelling, issues preparedness, and change management.
Ms. Kish, director of research, works closely with search consultants to develop and implement research strategies and proactively recruit senior level executives into non-profit leadership roles. Prior to joining BoardWalk Consulting in 2015, she led full life-cycle talent acquisition for a national search firm that specialized in C-suite executive search for consumer products organizations. She began her career with EDS (now HP) where she spent several years managing the entire talent acquisition organization for the southeast region. A career recruiter, Ms. Kish has placed CEOs, presidents, executive directors, and CFOs for organizations with national and global impact.
Chief People Officer Search
BoardWalk Consulting is also currently seeking a chief people officer for Earthjustice. The incoming CPO will find much to build on. They will shape how Earthjustice works by building structures, practices, and a culture that empowers staff, enables scale, and advances impact without sacrificing the human connection that defines the organization at its best.
Founded in 1971, Earthjustice is a non-profit environmental law organization. The non-profit says it uses the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy and to combat climate change. Earthjustice partners with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage critical environmental issues and bring about positive change.
Related: BoardWalk Consulting Assists Trust for Public Land with CFO Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
