ExecSearches Assists PKD-Free Alliance with Chief Implementation and Operations Officer Search
June 3, 2025 – ExecSearches has assisted in the recruitment of Kevin Schnurr as the first chief implementation and operations officer (CIOO) of PKD-Free Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to generational health and a PKD-free future. F. Jay Hall, managing director, and Karen Alphonse, senior search solutions leader, led the executive recruitment process. “May 2025 marks 11 years since I donated a kidney to my late wife Jo, who is the inspiration for the PKD-Free Alliance,” said Richard Kellner, founder of the PKD-Free Alliance. “This year, May represents an important moment for PKD-Free. We welcome Kevin Schnurr to our team. He is bringing to the PKD-Free Alliance the experience and knowledge we need to reach and support more families impacted by PKD. He understands our mission and how important it is to advocate for proven methods to end the disease in families.”
“Kevin brings exceptional expertise to the role, having built his reputation as a thought leader in the kidney health space,” said Mr. Hall. “He has frequently contributed to conferences and panels hosted by major organizations like the National Kidney Foundation and the American Kidney Fund. Kevin’s experience working with a rare disease non-profit, coupled with his strong community connections, makes him a perfect fit for PKD-Free Alliance’s mission. This was a truly rewarding search, executed through a meticulous, hands-on process. It generated a fantastic pool of finalists, and we are thrilled to have delivered a result that exceeded our client’s expectations.”
Mr. Schnurr joins the PKD-Free Alliance with over a decade of non-profit leadership, patient engagement, and rare disease advocacy experience. His connection to kidney disease began in 2012 when, at 26, he faced renal failure due to Alport syndrome. “After two years of dialysis treatment, Kevin received a living donor kidney transplant in 2014,” PKD-Free Alliance said in a release. “These experiences drive his commitment to supporting the rare disease and kidney communities. A thought-leader in kidney health, Kevin is known for his innovative approaches and expertise, inspiring both patients and medical professionals.”
Mr. Schnurr was previously with Alport Syndrome Foundation, where he held roles from patient outreach coordinator to managing director. There, he launched patient-centered programs and advocacy initiatives, building and expanding relationships with medical professionals, industry partners, and organizations like the National Kidney Foundation and the American Kidney Fund.
Reporting directly to Mr. Kellner, Mr. Schnurr will play a vital leadership role and support the growth and mission of the organization. The PKD-Free Alliance provides needed support and grant funding to families seeking to use IVF and PGT-M to achieve their dream of having a PKD-free child.
“After being diagnosed with end-stage renal disease due to Alport syndrome in my twenties, I understand how life-changing a chronic kidney disease diagnosis can be,” Mr. Schnurr said. “Serving the Alport syndrome community was an honor. During that time, I worked with thought leaders, advocacy organizations, geneticists, researchers, and key stakeholders in the kidney community. I immediately connected to PKD-Free’s mission and I am prepared to use my skills and knowledge to assist impacted families.”
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PKD-Free Alliance is committed to enhancing generational health by ensuring a PKD-free future. PKD-Free partners with medical professionals, reproductive specialists, genetic testing providers, PKD Centers of Excellence, not-for-profits and individuals to raise awareness about the solutions for preventing PKD. The organization focuses on providing grant support to qualified financially challenged families that wish to have PKD-free children.
Serving Job Seekers Since 1999
ExecSearches.com’s job board has been serving the non-profit, government, education, and health sectors since 1999. Non-profit and government employers of all sizes use ExecSearches.com to fill executive, mid-level, and fundraising positions. The company is an online talent source with more than 87,000 active members in its member registry. Job postings start at $99 and there are never any additional fees when a job is filled through us. The site is entirely free and confidential for job seekers. F. Jay Hall is the founder and president.
After working in higher education for five years, Mr. Hall joined Isaacson Miller, an executive search firm dedicated to finding leaders for mission-driven organizations. In this role, he helped major non-profit organizations find the executive and fundraising talent they needed. ExecSearches.com was rooted in trying to find the best way to help smaller organizations without the budget for traditional search.
Ms. Alphonse is a search solution leader and executive coach with ExecSearches. She joined the firm to spearhead its search consulting practice. Most recently, she served as a strategic advisor, confidant, and career coach to thought leaders in financial services, legal, education, and mission-driven organizations. Ms. Alphonse identifies talent through social media, job postings, referrals, and targeted research. Her interactions with hundreds of candidates and executives have shaped her creative interview techniques and ability to conduct behavioral assessments, take expert references, and understand candidates’ strengths.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
