Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits CEO for OneOC
August 31, 2026 – Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has placed Bonni Pomush as the new president and CEO of OneOC. She will succeed Tim Strauch, who will remain president and CEO through December 31, 2026, before retiring from OneOC after 19 years of service and leadership.
“Bonni’s record of organizational transformation, collaborative leadership, and community engagement makes her exceptionally well suited to guide OneOC forward,” said Micah Jindal, board chair. “The board is confident she will build on OneOC’s strong foundation while expanding our ability to accelerate non-profit success across Orange County Throughout the fall, Bonni and Tim will work together on a thoughtful transition while remaining fully committed to their current organizations. OneOC looks forward to welcoming Bonni as the organization prepares for its next chapter of service and impact.”
Ms. Pomush most recently served as CEO since 2021. During her tenure, she expanded the organization’s reach, strengthened its culture, and advanced a strategic plan for sustainable impact. Ms. Pomush brings more than 25 years of government and nonprofit leadership experience, deep relationships across Orange County and an established connection to OneOC through her service on the Nonprofit Advisory Council.
“I am honored to join OneOC and deeply respect the organization, its talented team, and the enduring impact it has created,” said Ms. Pomush. “I look forward to listening, learning, and working with our partners to strengthen the nonprofit community and advance OneOC’s mission.”
OneOC envisions a community in which non-profits possess an abundance of resources, skills, and connections to deliver on their missions effectively. For over 65 years, it has worked to turn that vision into reality. Founded in 1958 as the Volunteer Bureau of Newport Harbor by the Junior League, OneOC has evolved from its initial focus on volunteerism into a multifaceted capacity-building organization that supports non-profit organizations, companies, and community stakeholders through an integrated, increasingly sophisticated suite of services.
Shelli Herman and Associates Inc. serves trailblazing clients across the corporate, non-profit, and higher education sectors. The firm’s long roster of clients includes the Annenberg Foundation; the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation; BENlabs; The Capital Group Companies/American Funds Distributors; City Year, Los Angeles; the Fresno Chaffee Zoo; the Griffith Observatory Foundation; Jewish Family Service LA; Laguna College of Art and Design; Loyola Marymount University; Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium; P.S. ARTS; the Saint Louis Zoo; Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County; the University of California System; the Whitney Museum of American Art; and YWCA Greater Los Angeles.
Related: Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits CEO for the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Shelli Herman, who has more than 25 years of executive recruitment experience, has a strong record of leading searches and building upper management teams for a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies. She has completed senior-level assignments in many industries, including consumer products, healthcare, high technology, and finance, as well as for non-profit, conservation, and cultural organizations. Additionally, she brings an in-depth understanding of the unique cultural environment of academia that was gained while she held significant management positions at the University of Florida and Loyola Marymount University.
Mystic Aquarium Search
Shelli Herman and Associates was recently selected by Mystic Aquarium to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. The organization seeks an experienced, mission-driven CEO to lead the organization into its next chapter, defined by expanded conservation impact, philanthropic growth, and deeper community relevance. Reporting to the board of trustees, this leader will set the strategic direction, build organizational capacity, and ensure Mystic Aquarium is well-positioned to advance its mission to protect aquatic life and empower communities to save our oceans.
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The ideal candidate will bring strong management skills and genuine business acumen and be able to translate compelling goals into sustained, measurable outcomes. Beyond operational expertise, this leader must be a visionary who looks at an institution with a proud, more than 50-year history, an extraordinary animal collection, a nationally recognized rescue program, and a deeply loyal community, and sees, with clarity and conviction, the remarkable organization it is becoming.
Founded in 1973, Mystic Aquarium has grown from a coastal destination along Connecticut’s scenic shoreline into a nationally recognized leader in marine science, animal care, and immersive public engagement.
Related: Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits Chief Experience Officer for the Saint Louis Zoo
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
