Peña Search Seeking CFO for Visit Dallas
December 9, 2024 – Peña Search was recently retained by Visit Dallas to lead in its search for a new CFO. Travis Hillier and Cindy Maloney are leading the assignment. With Visit Dallas financially stable and well-positioned for success due to strong relationships with the city, the organization requires a dynamic CFO to bring its multi-year strategic plan to fruition and continue the charge to position Dallas as a premier destination for leisure and business alike. With the necessary policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance and transparency with its diverse funding sources, Visit Dallas’ next CFO must be an effective communicator who understands the relationship-driven nature of the destination marketing organization industry while maintaining vigilant safeguards.
Recognizing that Visit Dallas’ effectiveness is dependent upon its relationships with external stakeholders, this executive possesses finance and accounting acumen along with an innovative approach and inclusive style.
Reporting to the CEO of Visit Dallas and supervising a team of five, the CFO has responsibility for the strategic planning, implementation, and management of all finance activities for The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, including Visit Dallas, the Dallas Sports Commission, and the Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office. This leadership role includes monitoring cash flow, recommending best practices for finances, and developing strategic plans to improve the overall financial health of the organization. The position’s core objective is to develop and implement best practices that ensure a well-controlled yet flexible organization that has strong fiscal management.
Those applying for this role must have the ability to delegate tasks, motivate team members, and make good decisions using facts and in alignment with the organization’s vision and mission. They should have a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, including the ability to look beyond the moment to see the possibilities that could come to fruition through new ideas, innovation, and positive change. A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management is required. Seven years of senior management experience, including supervision of a team in an organization with an annual budget greater than $20 million is essential. Experience in fields requiring a high level of financial transparency and the oversight of restricted funds, such as destination marketing organizations or higher education, is strongly preferred.
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The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is comprised of Visit Dallas (the primary DBA), the Dallas Sports Commission, the Dallas Film and Creative Industries Office, and the recently launched Dallas Music Office, is an independent, not-for-profit sales and marketing organization contracted with the City of Dallas to promote Dallas as a premier business and leisure travel destination. The organization’s collective efforts generate economic impact, jobs, and state and local tax revenues, benefiting the community and improving the quality of life for all residents.
Serving Non-Profits
Headquartered in Dallas, Peña Search’s specialties include: non-profit organizations, mission driven organizations, foundations, higher education, independent schools, religious organizations and educational institutions, human services organizations, museums, collective impact organizations, professional and trade associations, art culture and humanities organizations, environment and animal welfare organizations, fundraising, chief financial officers, chief executive officers, healthcare organizations, chief development officers, and advocacy organizations.
The SAFE Alliance Taps Peña Search to Find Chief Development Officer
The SAFE Alliance (SAFE) recently retained Peña Search to lead in its search for a new chief development officer. Holly Sherman Peña and Carlos González Peña are leading the assignment. The chief development officer is a critical member of SAFE’s executive and senior leadership teams. In collaboration with the CEO and others, the CDO will help co-create, articulate and implement the strategic vision of SAFE. This executive is responsible for all fundraising and development activities.
Mr. Hillier joined Peña Search in 2015. He conducts and supports searches at many different levels, and is committed to finding and placing the right leaders that will have a demonstrable impact in their communities and organizations. Mr. Hillier has search experience across a broad array of sectors and positions, bringing expertise to searches on behalf of educational organizations, those with religious affinities or affiliations, and agencies with international programmatic or fundraising components. He has also carved out a niche on the Peña Search team for his skill identifying development officers.
Since joining Peña Search, Ms. Maloney has worked on a variety of assignments, primarily focusing on C-suite executives, academic administrators, and fundraising positions. She has diverse knowledge of both the for- and non-profit sectors. Her expertise was honed not only through positions in financial services and revenue management at large companies such as American Airlines and Sabre Corp., but also in her volunteer experience on The Lamplighter School’s parent’s association board and with organizations such as Reading Partners.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
