Recent Placements

We recently placed executive directors at the following nonprofits. Congratulations to the organizations, new leaders and the transition consultants who led the process.

Adrienne Cochrane

Urban League of Greater Hartford

Following a national search, the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Greater Hartford announces that Adrienne W. Cochrane has been selected as the new president and chief executive officer for the organization. This search was conducted by Third Sector New England’s Executive Transitions Program with Transition Consultant Michael J. Negrón.

“We are delighted to welcome Ms. Cochrane to Connecticut. Given her very successful track record with the Urban League affiliates in both Florida and Illinois in addition to her proven leadership abilities, we are confident that her talents will be a great addition to the Hartford community,” said Rich Barry, chairman of the board.

Cochrane brings strong program, advocacy, fund development, budgeting and community building talents to the table. As chief program officer for the Urban League of Broward County since 2007, Cochrane has overseen 15 community programs, 5 departments and a staff of 45. From 2004 until 2007, she was the vice president and chief operating officer of the Quad County Urban League in Aurora, Illinois, where she managed program development and had oversight of a wide range of educational, employment, counseling and human services programs.

Cochrane earned both her Bachelor and Master degrees from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Saint Louis University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ferdinand Fuentes

Latino Policy Institute of Rhode Island

The Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University (LPI) and its board of directors has hired Ferdinand “Fred” Fuentes as its first executive director. The selection of Fuentes marks the successful culmination of a national search launched by the institute. Fuentes brings with him a solid background including more than 12 years of experience in educational research, community building, civic engagement and organizational development.

Fuentes holds a master’s degree in divinity from Andover Newton Theological School and is currently completing his doctorate in education at Johnson & Wales University. He has also served on a number of boards and organizations including the Educational and Personal Advisory Council, the Massachusetts Redistricting Committee, the New Bedford Human Relations Commission and various other groups.

“We are very excited to have someone with Fuentes’ credentials leading the important work of the institute. He was chosen for his leadership skills, understanding of the community and deep commitment to the issues laid out in LPI’s business plan. Fuentes’ experience as an academician, administrator and educational leader makes him uniquely qualified to direct the Institute,” said Jorge Elorza, cochairman of the LPI board of directors.

Robert Griesmer

The Children’s Museum (West Hartford, Conn.)

Robert Griesmer has been selected by the Board of Trustees at The Children’s Museum as its new President and CEO.

Mr. Griesmer served as chief operating officer for the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, a 147,000 sq. ft. $40 million dollar aquarium, museum and IMAX theater complex. He is credited with having expanded its attendance from approximately 375,000 to nearly 600,000. He brought the exclusive New England appearance of Titanic Science: The Real Artifacts, the True Stories that garnered national attention to the Maritime Aquarium in 2002.

Mr. Griesmer is delighted to be joining The Children’s Museum. “This is an exciting transformational time for The Children’s Museum. I am excited and feel privileged to have been offered the opportunity to lead and work with a talented board and staff in charting the next stage of growth.”

He holds a master’s degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His professional background includes both domestic and international banking and project management experience.

“Bob Griesmer’s extensive experience in the museum field will allow him to reinvent our institution for the next 20 years,” said Rick Liftig, DDS, chair of the Museum’s board of trustees. “Bob has extensive planning and management experience which fits in beautifully with our plan to move to Elmwood. It’s wonderful when the right person appears.”

Jack K. Hasegawa

4-H Education Center at Auer Farm

The 4-H Education Center at Auer Farm in Bloomfield is very pleased to announce the appointment of Jack K. Hasegawa, of Woodbridge, as its new executive director. Mr. Hasegawa has had a long career in educational administration, board development, diversity training and fund development management.

Prior to his work in educational administration, Mr. Hasegawa spent more than 10 years as chief executive of Dwight Hall at Yale University, where he managed a major endowment campaign to fund student service and action projects. He has also been active as a community organizer in Atlanta, Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood, and in low income neighborhoods in Osaka and Kyoto, Japan.

According to Tony Drapelick, the 4-H Education Center’s board chair, “We are delighted to welcome Jack Hasegawa as our new Executive Director. He brings a great breadth of knowledge and expertise, a deep commitment to experiential education and a long family history of farming.” 

Georgia D. Katsoulomitis

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is pleased to announce that, after a nationwide search, the MLRI Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Georgia D. Katsoulomitis to become the organization's next executive director.

Georgia comes to MLRI with significant leadership experience, a deep understanding of antipoverty strategies and a passion for social justice. She brings an array of skills and expertise to lead MLRI in its critical mission of high impact legal action, education and systemic advocacy on behalf of low-income individuals and families. A graduate of Tufts University and the Catholic University School of Law, she began her professional career with state and federal judicial clerkships in Washington D.C., then advanced to a White House appointment in the United States Department of Labor.

Upon returning to Boston, she served as the managing director of the Boston Bar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Boston Bar Association, where she oversaw its grantmaking, fundraising and advocacy initiatives, and later also oversaw the BBA's access to justice policy and advocacy efforts. Additionally, she has provided consulting services in non-profit management, communications and development for MLRI as well as for other nonprofits serving low-income and underserved populations— including Greater Boston Legal Services, the Disability Law Center, and the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston— and also serves as the pro bono legal advocate at The Women's Lunch Place. Georgia is a LeadBoston 2004 Fellow and is active in many legal, community and public service organizations.

Gina Malloy

Little Compton Community Center

The Little Compton Community Center, Little Compton, R.I., has named Gina Malloy as its new executive director.

Gina is an attorney, a graduate of Boston University School of Law and was formerly the executive director of the Washington D.C. Council of Lawyers, a voluntary bar association that promotes the practice of pro bono and public interest law.

No strangers to Sakonnet, Gina and her husband, Liam Malloy, were married in Little Compton and have spent their summers and holidays there for the past 15 years. Liam is joining the economics faculty at U.R.I. this fall and the Malloy family, including two young daughters, is preparing to become year-round Little Compton residents.

The search was conducted by Transition Consultant Patricia Duarte. Interim leadership during the transition was provided by Stewart Lanier. Stewart helped with organizational development, policies and procedures, and improving day-to-day operations. The Community Center has benefited immensely from his guidance and thanks Stewart for his valuable contributions.

Brian Miller

United for a Fair Economy

United for a Fair Economy is extremely pleased to announce the hiring of Brian Miller as the new executive director of United for a Fair Economy (UFE), who will begin his new role on August 19, 2009. UFE is a national organization whose mission is to raise awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy, corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide and tear communities apart. UFE supports and helps build social movements for greater equality.

UFE conducted a thorough process involving the UFE board, staff and external stakeholders of the organization and, with the assistance of Third Sector New England, conducted a nationwide search for an executive director that brought in applications from over 100 candidates. What set Brian apart was the depth of his experience as the executive director of an economic justice organization.

Brian comes to UFE from Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT), where he has served as executive director since 1997. During his 12 years of leadership, TFT more than quadrupled in size and can now boast of a lasting public policy impact for progressive taxation in Tennessee. Among the assets that Brian brings to UFE is his extensive organizing experience, having worked as an organizer with the Louisiana Coalition for Tax Justice, Louisiana Citizen Action and the Community Farm Alliance. Brian has a long history with social justice activism and popular education methodology as tools for policy change.

Ronald H. Pitz

Knox Park Foundation

Catie Curran, president of the board of directors, has announced the appointment of Ronald H. Pitz as executive director of Knox Parks Foundation, effective immediately.

The Knox Parks Foundation was founded by philanthropist Betty Knox in 1966 to help improve the City of Hartford. Using horticulture as a catalyst, Knox Parks works in partnership with residents, businesses and government to build stronger, greener and more beautiful communities in Greater Hartford, with a special emphasis on the capital city itself. Throughout its 40-plus year history, Knox Parks has helped ‘green’ the city and build stronger communities by connecting people with horticulture, reestablishing the tree canopy, providing youth with job skills, establishing community gardens and beautifying neighborhoods.

Mr. Pitz joined Knox Parks in 1994. Most recently, he has served as the interim executive director. He has also served as the horticultural and AmeriCorps program director. In that capacity, his responsibilities included day-to-day management of the Green Crew, a team of out-of-school young adults trained in landscaping and gardening. The program teaches marketable skills while improving the appearance and productivity of Hartford’s green space. Prior to joining Knox Parks, Mr. Pitz founded, developed and managed New Leaf Landscapes, a successful Bloomfield-based landscape design, management and construction company.

“Ron shares a personal passion for the grass-roots community work that we do and is an active and hands-on leader,” said Ms. Curran. “His combination of non-profit management and entrepreneurial skills are just what the organization needs to move forward.”

Douglas Rae

Animal Rescue League of Southern Rhode Island

After the completion of a national search, the Animal Rescue League of Southern Rhode Island has announced that Douglas Rae has been named executive director. Doug has more than 7 years' experience managing animal sheltering facilities and has successfully managed shelters with more than 5,000 intakes per year and annual budgets up to $3.6 million.

Doug will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the League including the shelter, located in South Kingstown. He will also be in charge of fundraising on behalf of the League, as well as coordination of all volunteers. Ilanna Ball, board president, stated, "Doug brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization. He is well versed in animal sheltering and I am confident that he will bring new and innovative ideas to our organization that will help us grow."

Doug has extensive experience working with volunteers and with building large teams of active volunteers. Doug also has an impressive record of increasing adoption rates by up to 109 percent. With such a noteworthy achievement, the board of directors is confident that Doug’s expertise in this area will assist the League in better accomplishing its mission to find permanent and suitable homes for many more homeless animals.

"I am thrilled to be returning to New England where I was born and raised,” said Doug. The League's future is filled with great promise and it will be a tremendous honor to lead this agency and its dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters, as we continue the mission that we are all so passionate about." Doug will be moving to Rhode Island from Indiana with his wife and 5 dogs, all rescues.

Raymond E. Riddick

Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Raymond E. Riddick, an accomplished business and community leader in the Merrimack Valley, has been appointed executive director of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, the board of directors announced on June 9, 2011. Dorothy Chen-Courtin led the executive transition for the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. “Ray is the experienced leader the GLCF needs to take our organization to the next level and address the many philanthropic needs in our region,” says Steven Joncas, president of the board.
 

Josephine Shagwert

Fuerza Laboral

Fuerza Laboral has hired its new executive director, Josephine Shagwert, with the assistance of Third Sector New England’s Executive Transitions Program. Fuerza Laboral is a Rhode Island-based organization of immigrants and low-income workers who organize to end exploitation in the workplace. They train workers in their rights, develop new community leaders and take direct action against injustice to achieve real victories.

Alejandra St. Guillén

¿Oíste? 

¿Oíste? is pleased to announce Alejandra St. Guillén as its next executive director. Alejandra was chosen for her energy, vision and leadership, and the board is confident she will lead ¿Oíste? into its second decade, expanding its mission.

Alejandra has been ¿Oíste?’s program manager for the Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership (IDCL) for the last 3 years. She has been instrumental in building the foundation and continued support for IDCL, ¿Oíste?’s largest program. She has shown leadership in representing ¿Oíste?, has demonstrated a strong commitment to social justice, and has worked tirelessly as an educator, community organizer and non-profit leader.

Alejandra is a graduate of Wesleyan University, has a Master in Education from City University of New York, and is scheduled to complete a second Master in Public Policy from Tufts University in May 2011. She currently serves on the board of La Alianza Hispana, and has a long history of civic engagement across Massachusetts. She was voted one of the 100 Most Influential Latinos in Massachusetts in 2009 by El Planeta.

Alejandra said, “It is a true honor to be named the next Executive Director of ¿Oíste? I am so proud to join the incredible family of Executive Directors here in Massachusetts and look forward to our continued collaboration on issues critical to the Latino community and communities of color across the state. 2011 is going to be a very exciting year for all of us with the release of the census numbers, redistricting opportunities, and municipal elections. ¿Oíste? will continue to be a forceful advocate in those decisions.”

Susan Stathoplos

Pathways to Wellness

Pathways to Wellness (Pathways) has named Susan “Demie” Stathoplos as its new executive director. Pathways began in 1989 as the AIDS Care Project, an all-volunteer organization of acupuncturists who banded together to provide free acupuncture treatments to people with HIV/AIDS. Today, Pathways has grown to become one of the largest public health holistic therapies clinics in the world.

Each year Pathways provides 12,000 affordable acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and shiatsu bodywork treatments to 3,000 patients from diverse demographic and socio-economic backgrounds throughout Massachusetts and continues to provide free acupuncture treatments to people with HIV/AIDS.

Stathoplos comes to Pathways from Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass., where she has served as director and executive director, Health & Healing Services, since 2004. While there she led one of the largest integrative health practice groups in the country overseeing a wide variety of health practitioners, including medical doctors and nurses, acupuncturists, psychologists and social workers, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, physical therapists and healing energy practitioners. Prior to her position at Canyon Ranch she worked as a therapist for several community organizations and served as executive director of the Washington, D.C., office of Habitat for Humanity.

Stathoplos has a background in financial and marketing management and holds a Master’s degree in business from the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is also a licensed clinical social worker, with experience as a child and family therapist.

“Demie brings a unique blend of talents and capabilities in the areas of clinic operations, holistic wellness, non-profit and for-profit management, social work, marketing and customer care,” said Devan Dewey, president of Pathways to Wellness’ board of directors. “She demonstrated that her unique combination of skills would be the best fit for the current needs of our agency, and we are very excited to have her join Pathways.”

Marlene Warner

Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling

Rodney Hoffman, president of the board of the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, has announced that Marlene Warner, a resident of Salem, has been named the new executive director of the organization. Roosevelt Smith led the executive transition for the Mass. Council on Compulsive Gambling. "We have no doubt that Marlene will continue to build upon the council’s leadership in the field to promote awareness, prevention and treatment, but most of all to help people experiencing problems with gambling,” said Hoffman.

Jeffrey N. Weiser

Homes with Hope/Interfaith Housing Association

Homes with Hope/Interfaith Housing Association, Westport, Conn., has named Jeffrey N. Weiser as its new president/CEO.

Jeff assumed his responsibilities in late March replacing the recently retired Peter R. Powell who had led Homes with Hope for the last 22 years. Jeff has a long association with Homes with Hope, having served on the board in 1989-1990 and from 1995 until just before his recent appointment. He was board chair from 1998-2002. Jeff comes to his new post from a 30+ year career in international banking, where his most recent position was senior relationship manager at HSBC. He previously served as managing director of healthcare at HSBC, and as president of manufacturers, Hanover Bank of Canada.

Jeff is an active member of the Westport community. He is a member of the Westport RTM and has served on the Vestry at Christ & Holy Trinity Church and the boards of Earthplace and Staples Tuition Grants Committee. He is also an advisor with Builders Beyond Borders. He is a graduate of Princeton University and received his MBA from New York University.

According to Board Chairman John Walsh, “Jeff Wieser is the ideal candidate to lead Homes with Hope forward during these challenging times. He is passionate about the agency and the problems of chronic homelessness; he has a proven record of successful community involvement; and he brings strong organizational skills to Homes with Hope.”

The search was conducted by Transition Consultant Donna Zalichin. Interim leadership during the transition was provided by Cathy Cohen.