The Hawkins Company Seeking CEO for the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga
November 4, 2024 – The Hawkins Company, a Los Angeles-based executive recruitment firm, has been selected by Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (ULGC) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Vice president Todd Hawkins is leading the assignment. Candidates should possess a high level of integrity and skills that influence and demonstrate a vision of positive change for the benefit of disadvantaged communities and the Urban League’s team. Candidates must be dedicated to advancing racial, social, and economic equity within the region and have a proven track record of effective leadership, fundraising, organizational development, program management, advocacy and policy development.
The CEO will serve as the primary representative and leader of ULGC as guardian of the mission, driving the organization’s strategy aligned to its strategic plan set forth by the board of directors. They will lead the day-to-day operations typical of a nonprofit organization. This role involves acting as the chief fundraiser, public spokesperson, and advocate for ULGC, ensuring that the organization remains a vital and influential voice within the community, sustaining and growing its funding streams to impact economic inclusion and offering quality programs and services through its aligned empowerment centers.
The role also involves staying informed on issues affecting African American and minority communities and fostering dialogue across diverse groups through our organization’s policy platform and research. The candidate should also have a willingness to embrace technological advances and automations that can enhance the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness.
The winning candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, social work, public administration, finance, law or a related field is required (a master’s degree is preferred). They should have at least five years of senior management experience in the non-profit or for-profit sector, including experience in developing and implementing service programs, program evaluation, advocacy, public education, fiscal management, strategic planning, and resource development.
ULGC stopped taking applications for this role last week. The final candidates will be invited to participate in the National Urban League’s comprehensive certification process.
Serving as one of 90 affiliates of the National Urban League (NUL), ULGC’s mission is to enable African Americans, other ethnic minorities and underserved communities to achieve economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights. The organization accomplishes this mission through three empowerment centers boasting of a comprehensive range of program offerings, initiatives, and strategic collaborations that impact between 10,000 – 13,000 individuals annually
Related: The Hawkins Company Recruits Chief Race & Equity Officer for the City of San Diego
Established in 1984, The Hawkins Company is a management consulting firm specializing in executive recruitment. While recognized for its expertise in diversity recruiting, the firm is a general practitioner that focuses on achieving the executive level staffing objectives of private, public, educational and non-profit clients. Early on, The Hawkins Company focused exclusively on private sector recruiting. Over time, it was requested to conduct searches for government agencies and became nationally recognized for its ability to apply private sector search strategies to meet the recruitment needs of public sector clients.
Serving Educational Institutions and Non-Profit Organizations
Today, its client base includes educational institutions and non-profit organizations. The firm has conducted over 700 national, regional, and local executive searches for CEOs, COOs, CAOs, CFOs, and other officers, directors, senior managers and professional staff.
The Hawkins Company Assists Los Angeles Urban League with CEO Search
The Hawkins Company has assisted in the recruitment of Cynthia Mitchell Heard as its new president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL). Michael A. Lawson recently announced he is retiring as CEO. Yonnine Hawkins Garr, Todd Hawkins, and Adrienne Montgomery led the assignment. Ms. Heard will become the first woman to assume this leadership role since Katherine Barr, the LAUL’s president in the late 1920s until 1931. “I am thrilled that the Los Angeles Urban League has selected Cynthia Heard as the president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League,” said Mr. Lawson. “I know that the Los Angeles Urban League will grow and thrive under her leadership and her vision. It has been an honor to serve our community under the vision of John Mack. I know that Cynthia will continue the legacy of John Mack and the Los Angeles Urban League presidents and CEOs on whose shoulders we stand. Congratulations!”
A part of The Hawkins Company since 2018, Mr. Hawkins has a vast and varied background in community engagement, brand management and advocacy strategy. His role at the firm is twofold. He concentrates on creating new development opportunities, widening the company’s public engagement and outreach. Mr. Hawkins also conducts executive searches for entrepreneurial enterprises at the C-suite level, as well as for community-based non-profits and has developed a specialized expertise in recruiting fund development executives, helping to ensure the organizations he works with are strategically positioned to grow their resources. Mr. Hawkins has held positions on numerous boards in both Southern and Northern California including arts councils, museums, and educational organizations, chairing, and serving on several search committees for these non-profits.
Related: The Hawkins Company Recruits Chief Race & Equity Officer for the City of San Diego
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
