Peña Search Seeking Executive Director for To Be Like Me
December 4, 2025 – Peña Search is currently seeking a new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira are leading the assignment.
With high demand for its core program(s) for school-aged children and ample opportunities to engage with corporations desiring to utilize more inclusive business practices, the next executive director will be a thoughtful and strategic architect of TBLM’s growth. Combining visionary leadership with empathy and passion for the mission, the executive director will be instrumental in prioritizing opportunities, identifying and overcoming obstacles, and establishing the infrastructure required to scale.
Given the many growth opportunities on the horizon, To Be Like Me requires an innovator who thoughtfully explores new ideas while prioritizing efficiency with limited resources. Finally, as the face of To Be Like Me, this leader will regularly interact with external partners, volunteers, and funders, necessitating a dynamic presence and an ability to connect with diverse stakeholders.
Peña Search notes that candidates should have at least five years of leadership experience in a non-profit or related organization, ideally including a proven track record of leading sustainable growth. Alternatively, the ideal candidate brings solid experience establishing business infrastructure in a high-growth for-profit company and a passion for the work of To Be Like Me. A background that includes strategic planning, fundraising, managing budgets, facilities improvements, and serving as an external advocate for an organization is preferred.
The organization is seeking a strategic thinker with the ability to translate concepts into action as part of building and inspiring a strong team. They are looking to find tenacious leader who measures her/his success against standards of excellence, who consistently sets challenging but attainable goals, and who brings a track record of meeting and/or exceeding those expectations and goals.
Founded in 2018 by three healthcare professionals, To Be Like Me was born out of a shared realization: many of the barriers people with disabilities face are not just physical—they are human. Through their work with patients and families, the founders saw a lack of community education around disability, which fueled stereotypes, misunderstandings, and exclusion. To bridge that gap, they created TBLM to build meaningful connections between people with disabilities and their communities.
Finding Senior Leaders
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.
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Sherman Peña is founder and CEO of Peña Search. Over a 20-year career in recruiting, she has a track record of successful, high-level placements across the United States and in Mexico. Currently, Ms. Sherman Peña leads many of the CEO-level searches while also managing and assisting team members. She also practiced law for seven years, focusing on cross-border transactions and trade.
Peña Search Seeking Major Gifts Officer for Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep
Peña Search was recently selected by Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep (Cristo Rey Dallas) to lead in its search for a major gifts officer. Cristo Rey Dallas seeks a major gifts officer to join its advancement team at a pivotal moment in the school’s history. As Cristo Rey Dallas enters its second decade of impact, demand for access continues to grow, and philanthropic support is essential to expanding capacity, strengthening student services, and deepening community partnerships.
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.
Mr. González Peña’s fascination with non-profits began while earning a master’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs. It was there that he was exposed to how influential these types of organizations are in improving quality of life across the U.S. He helped found Peña Search in 2009 to serve mission-driven organizations. Mr. González Peña is committed to finding the best cultural fit for each individual candidate and institution. He currently leads many of the CEO-level searches while also focusing on growth and team management.
Mr. Pereira brings extensive talent acquisition experience and a psychology background that fuels her passion for connecting talent with opportunities. She began her career in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, recruiting for roles across sales, finance, IT, marketing, and regulatory affairs, which deepened her ability to assess candidates holistically.
Related: Peña Search Recruits CEO for the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
