DRG Search Places CEO at NORWESCAP
April 18, 2018 – The non-profit sector has gained economic strength in recent years, making it the third largest employer in the country. Nearly two million not-for-profits employ 10.7 million people and produce $1.9 trillion in revenue. In the past decade, employment in the sector grew by 17 percent. With demand for non-profit talent at an all-time high, search firms have plenty of work looking for candidates.
Recently, DRG Search helped place Mark Valli as the new CEO of the Northwest New Jersey Community Action Partnership (NORWESCAP) in Phillipsburg, NJ. Terry Newhard is retiring after more than 30 years with the organization. DRG vice president Sue Waterbury led the assignment.
Mr. Valli, a seasoned senior executive with demonstrated results in diverse fields, has shown commitment to achieving long-term, sustainable change. His career has been focused on creating opportunities for under-served children, families and communities. Previously, Mr. Valli was CEO of a K-8 public charter school in Paterson, NJ that served 900 students in three campuses. In that role, he created a $15 million statewide organization operating in over 120 schools.
He also formerly served as a founding CEO of New Jersey After 3 (NJA3), a unique statewide non-profit intermediary organization that operates a statewide network of evidence-based afterschool programs. NJA3, a $15 million non-profit corporation, served upwards of 75,000 children in over 120 schools. Prior to that, he was VP of NJCDC, a community development group in Paterson.
NORWESCAP, established in 1965, is a non-profit community action agency that works to improve the lives of low-income individuals and families in need in Northwest New Jersey. The organization primarily offers, refers or collaborates with others to provide programs and education which help foster self-sufficiency in the following domains: economic & employment building, nutrition & healthy living, child & family development, and housing. The organization’s 300 employees, 1,200 volunteers and $32 million budget serve more than 32,000 low-income people.
Charity-Focused Recruiters
DRG Search, founded in 1987, has conducted searches for senior executives at many of the major national charity groups, including the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Hillel International, Birthright Israel, NEXT and the Jewish Funders Network.
Ms. Waterbury’s practice focuses on identifying CEOs, CFOs and senior fundraising professionals for organizations in the areas of children and family welfare, healthcare and wildlife conservation.
Some of her most recent placements include leadership positions for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, West Side Campaign Against Hunger, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and the Environmental Defense Fund. Ms. Waterbury previously spent more than 20 years working in the financial sector, her last role being VP in emerging markets at Goldman Sachs.
Here’s a sampling of recent search work for top non-profits from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
McCormack+Kristel has been retained by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to lead in its search for a chief financial officer and a chief program officer. Managing partner Joseph McCormack and partner Michelle Kristel are leading both assignments. LAHSA is an independent public agency created by the city and county of Los Angeles …
Gilman Partners has been selected by Kentucky-based non-profits Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions and the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission to find new executive directors. Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions has built a reputation over its 134-year history for working to strengthen the lives of children through its programs and services focused on …
BoardWalk Consulting helped in the placement of Jennifer Blatz as president and CEO of StriveTogether, a national non-profit working to improve education for children. The search was conducted by an eight-person search committee of StriveTogether board members, long-time investors, executive directors of two local partnerships as well as BoardWalk Consulting.
Diversified Search has recruited Freda Fung as East Asia president of Special Olympics, the largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities. She takes over from Mary Gu Shuhang. Jason León, managing director in the recruiter’s Washington, D.C. office, led the assignment.
Human Capital Consultants places John W. Sigmon as new CHRO of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation. The Washington, D.C.-based search firm completed the engagement in under two months. As one of the largest not-for-profit organizations in the Washington, D.C., area, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation employs more than 2,200 individuals across the U.S.
Easterseals has selected Angela F. Williams as its new president and CEO. Non-profit recruiting specialists Koya Leadership Partners conducted the search. Easterseals is the country’s leading non-profit provider of services for people with disabilities, including veterans and their families.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
