PRESS RELEASES

Cenetta Baker Joins Pearl Street as Senior Research Consultant

Pearl Street, the search firm with purpose, proudly welcomes Cenetta Baker to our national team as Senior Research Consultant. Drawing on her executive search expertise and hands-on experience in arts and social justice nonprofits, Cenetta excels at building diverse, thoughtfully curated talent networks for clients in the education, healthcare and nonprofit spaces.

Before joining Pearl Street, Cenetta served as a Senior Research Associate at Koya Partners, where she supported searches spanning diverse missions and functions, and built a track record of enhanced operational efficiency and stakeholder engagement. Prior to her transition into executive search, Cenetta excelled in fundraising operations, event planning, grants management, nonprofit compliance, and grassroots advocacy with organizations such as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Cathedral Arts Project, and the New Georgia Project. This foundation of expertise continues to shape her work and deep commitment to the sector.

Cenetta earned a bachelor’s in dance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a master’s in public administration from Valdosta State University, and a bachelor’s in business administration from Valdosta State University. She also holds certifications in Raiser’s Edge and eTapestry.

“We’re thrilled to have Cenetta Baker joining our research team,” said Maeve Clifford, Pearl Street Managing Partner. “Her mission-driven background gives her firsthand insight into the complexities and possibilities our clients and candidates navigate every day, particularly in the development arena. That, paired with her natural curiosity, ingenuity, and collaborative spirit make her an ideal hire for us,” added Clifford.