DRiWaterstone Human Capital Seeking New CEO for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
December 10, 2024 – Arlington, VA-based DRiWaterstone Human Capital was recently called in by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) to find a new president and CEO. IREC seeks a CEO to lead and direct the organization, ensuring a positive, team-based, goal-oriented culture. This executive is the face of the organization and is responsible for the overall successful operation and fiscal integrity of IREC through demonstrated ethical leadership and management.
Reporting to and working closely with the board of directors, the CEO oversees an annual budget of approximately $7.5 million and leads a team of 35+ employees including seven direct reports. This executive works with senior management to set priorities and has the responsibility to lead IREC’s mission and vision, create and implement strategic plans, and identify and execute actions to meet objectives. The CEO shall act as the spokesperson for IREC to other clean energy organizations, government entities, businesses, and the public. They will also serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the board of directors.
DRiWaterstone notes that the ideal CEO candidate will be an innovative, pragmatic, and compassionate leader who brings vast experience in the renewable energy sector. They will be passionate about making real change to advance a clean energy future, removing barriers to clean energy adoption and energy justice, and unafraid of stepping in to lead a highly respected nonprofit organization.
Preference will be given to candidates with exceptional leadership backgrounds particularly as it relates clean energy workforce development, regulatory and policy engagement, and community building and access. The successful candidate will combine a rich array of experiences in both technical aspects of renewable energy policy and workforce and community development expertise.
For over 40 years, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council has made clean energy possible for millions of Americans through cutting-edge solutions that advance renewable energy, electric grid modernization, and energy efficiency. In 2021, IREC merged with The Solar Foundation, a national nonprofit that has led the advancement of solar energy and solar-compatible technologies since 1977. The IREC team is passionate about expanding access to clean, affordable solar energy.
Created through a recent merger between DRi and Waterstone Human Capital, DRiWaterstone Human Capital is a culture-centric executive search, leadership advisory, and human capital firm focused on helping mission and purpose-driven organizations across the U.S. build high performance teams and cultures. The firm’s team of talent management professionals has placed over 1,000 exceptional executives since it opened in 2001.
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The firm offers executive search services focused on helping clients achieve sustainable organizational and cultural growth by finding leaders who align to the organization’s purpose, and who can help take the organization and its culture to the next level. DRiWaterstone Human Capital also offers a full portfolio of cultural talent management and leadership advisory services (including culture assessment, culture measurement, and culture curation) – to help organizations put culture at the center of strategy and drive success.
New CEO
DRiWaterstone recently appointed Doug Trout as its new CEO succeeding Jennifer Dunlap, who has served as president and CEO since the organization opened its doors in 2001. “DRiWaterstone is in excellent hands with Doug Trout,” said Ms. Dunlap. “His extensive experience in, and passion for, the nonprofit industry coupled with the relationships he has built throughout his four years as a senior consultant and most recently a managing director, make Doug the right person to drive the company’s growth and success moving forward. I’m confident that DRiWaterstone, its clients, and its team will thrive under Doug’s leadership.”
DRiWaterstone Human Capital Seeking Chief People Officer for the Union of Concerned Scientists
DRiWaterstone Human Capital was recently retained by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to lead in its search for a chief people officer. Doug Trout, CEO of DRiWaterstone, is leading the assignment. The chief people officer is responsible for developing and executing human capital strategy in support of the organization’s plan and strategic direction, specifically in employee relations, talent management, change management, performance management, training and development, compensation, and succession planning. In collaboration with the Union of Concerned Scientists’ leadership, the chief people officer will implement policies and practices to build and maintain a unified work culture that exemplifies UCS values, thereby positioning the organization to effectively carry out its mission.
Mr. Trout joined DRiWaterstone in 2020 and has led the non-profit search practice since 2022. His practice areas for the firm have focused on the clean energy sector, public policy centers, research and cultural institutes, and higher education. Before joining DRiWaterstone, Mr. Trout served as acting president and executive vice president at The Montpelier Foundation. Previous roles include executive director at the Miller Center Foundation, director of the graduate fellowship program for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, and director of development at the UVa Center for Politics. He currently sits on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Washington, D.C. Chapter, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, and the James Madison University Center for Civic Engagement.
“I am excited about the future of our company and about working with the DRiWaterstone team to grow the organization, and to support the human capital needs of the nonprofit and social impact sectors,” said Mr. Trout. “Our two co-founders, Jennifer Dunlap and Nancy Racette, built an incredible company – one that is solely committed to purpose and mission-driven organizations and partnering with them to build high-performance teams. I look forward to continuing that vision and expanding DRiWaterstone’s partnerships in the industry.”
Related: The Association of Fundraising Professionals Taps DRiWaterstone Human Capital to Find New Leader
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
