Campbell & Company Assists Outreach International with CEO Search
March 20, 2024 – Campbell & Company has assisted in the recruitment of John Herron as the new president and CEO of Outreach International in Kansas City, MO. The assignment was led by Dan Nevez, vice president, executive search, Alexandra Catuara, senior consultant, and Angèle Bubna, consultant. “Throughout his career in both academic and nonprofit sectors, John has developed collaborative partnerships and secured philanthropic support to deliver mission-driven programs and operations,” said Shelley Scherer, chair of the Outreach International board. “We are confident that John’s holistic approach to leadership and his strategic orientation will build on Outreach International’s extraordinary success and further advance its essential mission to create lasting solutions to chronic poverty through community-led development.”
Dr. Herron brings a wide range of experience to Outreach as a non-profit visionary with a focus on innovation. With a background in academics, receiving his PhD in history from The University of New Mexico, he has held various prestigious positions in education, including a professorship at Tufts University, and various roles at the University of Missouri at Kansas City including associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate vice provost for innovation.
Dr. Herron comes to Outreach from the Kansas City Public Library, where he served as CEO, leading that organization as it served a metropolitan population of 2.2 million. Within its 10 locations and over 2 million items in circulation, the library provides literacy and digital literacy programs, refugee and immigration services, health improvement, and public programming.
In his new position, Dr. Herron will lead Outreach on its path toward growth as the organization works to spread the methodology of community-led development in its work to fight poverty around the world. “I’m so excited to join Outreach International on its path of growth and innovation,” he said. “The methodology of community-led development is such an effective approach to lifting people out of poverty, and I look forward to building on the already strong foundation this organization has built. It’s truly a privilege to lead such an expert and dedicated team, as we all look forward to a future where Outreach is making a greater impact in the fight against poverty than ever before.”
Since 1979, Outreach International has facilitated community-led development to solve poverty-related issues around the world. They currently work alongside their international program partners in 10 countries. Their efforts help communities establish sources of clean water and sanitation, address food and income insecurity, solve health concerns, and more.
Non-Profits Specialists
With offices around the country, Campbell & Company offers counsel in advancement planning, fundraising, marketing communications, and executive search for non-profit organizations in the education, health and medicine, arts and culture, environment, social service, and professional society fields.
Related: Six Recruiting Trends Effecting Non-Profits
Mr. Nevez has more than 30 years of professional experience in higher education, arts and cultural institutions, and retained executive search. As a search consultant, he has successfully placed more than 200 senior executives at regional and national non-profits and associations. Mr. Nevez has extensive experience partnering with CEOs and boards as well as extensive, diverse networks that enable him to best serve his clients.
How Non-Profits Can Identify and Recruit Their Next Great Leader
Thanks to younger generations, interest in and support of mission-aligned organizations is surging. According to the Better Business Bureau, seventy-five percent of millennials believe that a business should have a higher purpose beyond generating capital. For Gen Z, the desire is even greater, according to a recent report from Johanna Vargas, vice president and senior associate at BroadView Talent Partners. “That’s good news for non-profits,” she says. The same purpose-driven organizations that younger generations are supporting with time and resources are the ones they hope to work for one day, according to Ms. Vargas.
Ms. Catuara brings a blend of international giving and a range of non-profit experience to her executive search work at Campbell & Company. She partners with organizations and institutions to think through hiring decisions.
Ms. Bubna contributes to the Campbell & Company’s executive search team’s work through executing targeted research, networking and sourcing, and implementing strategies to match an organization with senior talent.
Active Search
Campbell & Company was recently enlisted to find the next president and chief executive officer for the Friendly Center, a non-profit that provides free programs and services for low-income families and individuals in Orange County, CA. “The Friendly Center’s new president and CEO will join an organization that has a solid financial base, an excellent reputation, and is poised for continued growth,” said Campbell & Company.
Founded in 1924, Friendly Center is a comprehensive family and community resource center dedicated to improving the lives of children, adults, and seniors by helping them move toward self-sufficiency through immediate aid and a variety of educational and life skill programs. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization’s vision is to end generational poverty.
Related: 3 Ways to Nurture Talent for Future Leadership in Non-Profit and Social Impact Organizations
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
