Sterling Martin Associates Assists the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy with CEO Search

April 18, 2025 – Sterling Martin Associates, an executive search firm which specializes in recruiting talent for associations and other non-profit organizations, has assisted in the recruitment of Celia Zamora as the new executive director of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) in Alexandria, VA. “We are thrilled Dr. Zamora is joining the team,” said Kimberly Varnado, ACAPT president of the board of directors. “She brings dynamic ideas for leveraging technology to support and connect members of the ACAPT community. Dr. Zamora deeply understands and embraces ACAPT’s mission to champion innovation, inclusion, and inquiry in academic physical therapy.”

Dr. Zamora has extensive experience working with associations, boards and volunteers in education. With a commitment to strategic planning, inclusion, membership engagement, and operational excellence, she will be instrumental in guiding ACAPT through its next phase of organizational growth and impact.

Prior to joining ACAPT, Dr. Zamora was the director of professional learning and certification at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ATCFL), where she was an empathetic and empowering leader, creating a pro-bono mentoring program for young professionals in underserved communities. She also served as the inaugural chair of the new CAE Registered Provider Committee, chair of the task force on neurodiversity for the ASAE Research Foundation, and is a certified association executive.

“Just as I approach marathon running—with perseverance, strategy, and a commitment to the finish line—I plan to lead ACAPT with that same drive, ensuring we continue to push boundaries, set new standards, and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our physical therapy academic community,” said Dr. Zamora.

The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy has organization membership for nearly 95 percent of all higher education institutions (colleges and universities) with Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs. ACAPT is a component of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and strives for excellence in academic physical therapy.

Sterling Martin Associates, established in 2006, focuses on finding leaders for associations and non-profit organizations. The firm has been engaged by over 150 clients throughout the U.S. Its staff consists of professionals located in Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Orange County, CA. Eighty-five percent of the firm’s searches are for roles at the CEO/executive director level with the balance being for senior staff.

CEO and managing partner David S. Martin guides the firm’s overarching business strategy while maintaining a lead role on multiple national projects each year. For over 30 years, he has led complex executive search projects throughout the U.S. Mr. Martin started his executive search career in 1989 after spending eight years in the corporate world. He has held senior-level positions with such global search firms as Korn Ferry and has launched new offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Irvine, CA.

Using Retained Search Firms for Non-Profit Leadership Recruitment

In the wake of the 2024 election, the dynamic landscape for non-profit organizations has shifted, making the need to secure and retain top-tier leadership more crucial than ever. Recruiters tell Hunt Scanlon Media that strong, effective leadership is now key to driving mission success and ensuring long-term organizational sustainability in an increasingly complex environment. A new report from J. Michael Durnil, director of executive search at Cooper Coleman LLC , and Michelle Alvis, principal owner at Alvis People Solutions, LLC, explains that internal HR functions play a critical role in organization operations and managing day-to-day human resources needs, yet the time required to navigate the complexity and high stakes of executive recruitment often benefit from an external, specialized, and laser focused approach.

Related: Non-Profits Seek New Kinds of Leaders with Help from Search Firms

“Retained search firms who specialize in the social sector and not-for-profit organizations bring a wealth of specialized knowledge, talent networks and experience to the process of search,” the report said. “Unlike general recruitment processes, retained executive search firms are adept at identifying and attracting candidates who not only possess the requisite skills and experience but also align with the unique culture and values of non-profit organizations, including ones that might not be in the hunt for their next position. This alignment is crucial for leadership roles where the impact of a mismatch can be particularly detrimental to a mission driven organization operating with limited resources of capacity, capital, and time.”

One of the significant advantages of partnering with a retained search firm is access to an extensive network of high-caliber candidates, including finding the best passive candidates, according to the Cooper Coleman report. The notes that many organizations use the strategy of “post and pray” in hopes of attracting talented candidates. “Often overlooked as an advantage, retained search firms maintain a variety of proactive strategies to develop a curated candidate pool through intensive research and potential candidate engagement,” the report said. “Additionally, many firms maintain robust databases and relationships with industry leaders, enabling them to tap into a broader and diverse, albeit often passive talent pool. This is particularly beneficial for non-profits, which may not have the same reach, resources, or recognition as their for-profit counterparts in advertising the opportunity or sourcing and screening candidates for a mission critical position.”

“Additionally, most executive talent who are not actively seeking a new role, are not on the job scene or using job boards such as LinkedIn or Indeed,” the Cooper Coleman report said. “While they may be looking for a new executive role, they do not know if an organization is looking for their expertise. An executive search consultant works to close that gap and bring the brightest and best talent to the non-profit.”

To read this full report click here!

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media