The League of Women Voters of the United States Retains BoardWalk Consulting to Find New Leader
March 12, 2024 – Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting was recently retained by The League of Women Voters of the United States in Washington, D.C. to lead in its search for a new CEO. Managing director Kathy Bremer and senior research associate Lysondra Somerville are leading the assignment. Reporting to the board of directors and the League of Women Voters Education Fund board of trustees, the CEO has overall responsibility for leading and managing the organization and advancing its vision and priorities. The CEO will be passionate about the mission of the League, with lived experience and proven success advancing equity, inclusion, and organizational transformation.
In addition, BoardWalk Consulting notes that the CEO will have held leadership roles in large, complex, dispersed organizations and be knowledgeable about nonpartisanship, membership, and the context of (c)(3) and (c)(4) organizations. They will have experience with voting rights, democracy, civil rights or other relevant movements, and activist and/or organizing expertise. The League seeks a strategic, visionary leader who can navigate the unique dynamics of a tri-federated structure with a significant volunteer component. The CEO will present a powerful, unified League presence and manage transformational change.
The CEO will embody the mission, values, ambitions and spirit of the League, and will lead by example. Personal assets will include leadership skills that center equity and inclusion as well as the ability to advance vision, trust, and commitment. Candidates should have deep personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They must have the ability to build consensus, make tough decisions, and take action as necessary.
The League of Women Voters of the United States is the longest-running, most trusted voting rights organization in the country. The organization is democracy in action—a powerful, nonpartisan grassroots organization that empowers voters and defends democracy. It centers diversity, equity and inclusion throughout its work and programs. As it enters its105th year, the League is growing, transforming, and rising to the challenge of building a more perfect democracy. Its tri-federated model connects the $22 million national office with over 750 state and local Leagues.
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BoardWalk Consulting, based in Atlanta, is a national executive search firm that recruits CEOs and senior leadership for mission-driven non-profit organizations. Founded in 2002, the firm leads executive searches for clients from across the non-profit sector with global, national, regional, and local missions. Many of the firm’s team members have previously served as non-profit executives, grant makers, and board leaders. BoardWalk Consulting is also an active partner in Panorama, the global network of independent executive search firms.
Experienced Non-Profit Recruiters
BoardWalk Consulting was founded by Sam Pettway, a 30-year search veteran. Over his career in executive search, he has worked with hundreds of board members and leadership teams with entities ranging from start-ups to mature multinationals in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. Since founding BoardWalk in 2002, Mr. Pettway has served clients as varied as international relief agencies, national foundations, regional trade associations, and local agencies in dozens of markets.
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Ms. Bremer joined BoardWalk Consulting in 2007 after eight years as head of Porter Novelli Atlanta. Prior to that, she served as senior vice president of fundraising and marketing for CARE. Earlier in her career, Ms. Bremer was a senior executive at three New York ad agencies, where she led assignments for Procter & Gamble and other client work. Prior to these roles, she worked as a journalist and writer in Tokyo. She has led numerous executive searches for clients including ADL, Heifer, Save the Children, CDC Foundation, Oxfam, HIAS, Research!America, Jane Goodall Institute, TSNE MissionWorks, The Trustees, and many others.
Ms. Somerville has worked as a corporate consultant, product manager, and marketing expert. She brings a decade’s worth of experience in various business, marketing, and management roles. Ms. Somerville is an accomplished corporate strategist with a deep understanding of organizational management and operational effectiveness.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
