Executive Transition Consultants, N-Z

Michael Negrón

Michael Negrón began working with Third Sector New England in 2007. He has over 10 years’ experience in non-profit consulting and expertise in leadership development, coaching, diversity initiatives and workshop facilitation. Additionally, over 20 years of operational, corporate and international experience complements Michael’s non-profit knowledge and provides a unique perspective to executive transition needs. His clients have been from a variety of non-profit sectors including domestic violence, creative arts, youth and family, community development and membership associations.

Michael has served as the interim CEO to the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and on the boards of NextGenLeaders (PeaceJam Foundation affiliate), Rotary International and NSHMBA. Current board positions include the United Way and Dreaming with Cameras.

Michael holds an MBA from St. John’s University, a BBA from Bernard M. Baruch College (CUNY), and several certifications in non-profit leadership and consulting in executive transition management, succession planning, leadership competencies, emotional intelligence and diversity, and resiliency factors.

“The Network Against Domestic Abuse had the privilege of working with Michael Negrón as our consultant. Michael provided a thorough review and report with recommendations that will enhance our agency’s ability to perform on a higher professional level. It was a great pleasure to work with an expert such as Michael Negrón. Our board, staff and I would recommend him for any consulting task.”

Kathy Barron
Executive Director
Network Against Domestic Abuse

Martey Rhine

Martey Rhine has been with the Executive Transitions Program since 2004 and has been consulting with nonprofis for more than 20 years. In addition to facilitating executive transitions, her non-profit experience includes board development, organization development, strategic planning, leadership succession planning, conflict resolution and serving as an interim executive director.

Martey has worked with clients of various sizes and non-profit sectors including supportive housing, health and human services, neighborhood groups, higher educational, museums and foundations. She has been a founder, board chair and board member of non-profit organizations.

Prior to her consulting career, Martey earned a reputation as a corporate manager with talents as a troubleshooter and team builder. Martey brings this approach, as well as her strengths in mediation, to affect positive outcomes in her executive transitions. She is trained in appreciative inquiry, results based accountability (RBA), non-profit strategic restructuring and transformative mediation. She holds mediation certificates from the University of Connecticut and the Baltimore Mediation Center.

Roosevelt Smith

Roosevelt Smith joined the Executive Transitions Program in 2009 and has over 15 years of experience in leadership roles with nonprofits. Roosevelt is a seasoned non-profit consultant and administrator with proven success in managing start-up, transition and capacity building phases for non-profit organizations. His diverse client list includes youth development, housing, child and family services, human rights and arts administration.

Prior to joining our consultant pool, Roosevelt served as a leader at two non-profit youth development organizations in Boston, as the founder and executive director for the Mo Vaughn Youth Development Program and as the executive director for Urban Dreams, Inc. These organizations were responsible for assisting thousands of at-risk Boston youth in graduating from high school, attending college and becoming productive community members.

An expert in financial education and literacy, Roosevelt has also delivered numerous trainings, workshops and seminars to youth and adults considered unbanked, under-banked and/or asset poor.

Active in his community, Roosevelt is the vice chairman of the board for Building the Out-of-School Time Network (BostNet) and an official mentor for the Boston University Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership. He has been recognized and awarded with various honors for his service to youth and families throughout Boston.

Roosevelt attended New York University as a Martin Luther King Scholar. He earned certificates from the Harvard University Executive Education Program and the Boston chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals.

Ann Thomas

Ann E. Thomas has been with the Executive Transitions Program since 2004. Her broad-based experience includes a business background combined with more than 25 years of practical experience in non-profit governance and management as a senior executive, board leader and consultant. She consults with local, regional and statewide social service, child development, advocacy, cultural and historical organizations with budgets ranging in size from $100,000 to more than $15 million.

Since 1995, as an interim CEO, interim financial executive or transition consultant, Ann has worked with both board members and staff members to help facilitate successful executive transitions at numerous nonprofits. She brings her extensive organizational assessment and financial management assessment experience to each assignment.

Accomplishments during these transitions include summarizing and communicating the results of organizational and board self-assessments; helping a board transition to a new governance model; working with search committees to develop the position description, identify the skills and experiences needed to lead the organization into the future, and interview and evaluate candidates; assisting with the development and implementation of plans for orienting the new chief executive and introducing him/her to the community; and working with board and staff members to strengthen organizational capacity in areas such as governance, planning, financial management and technology.

Ann holds an MBA and a B.S. from the University of Michigan, is a graduate of CompassPoint’s Institute for Nonprofit Consulting and has completed Harvard Business School’s Governing for Nonprofit Excellence.

Ann has been a very active community volunteer for more than 30 years. She is currently a member of the boards of The Wheeler Clinic and the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation.

“Ann Thomas quickly won the trust of our stakeholders and skillfully guided us through a much-needed organizational self-assessment. Our search for a new executive director yielded many highly qualified candidates. The beauty of the process is that it seemed like we did it all ourselves, but we could not have done it without her.”

Eric Rennie
Chair, Transition Team
Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter

Donna Zalichin

Affiliated with the Executive Transitions Program since its inception in 2004, Donna W. Zalichin has over 25 years' experience in the development, management, and evaluation of social service programs and non-profit agencies. An expert in organizational assessment and leadership transition, she has guided numerous organizations through strategic planning processes, facilitated mergers, and led retreats for boards of directors, professional staff and special interest groups. Donna’s clients have included such diverse organizations as mental health clinics, arts and environmental groups, housing development agencies, statewide associations, substance abuse treatment facilities, shelters, senior services, domestic violence programs and schools.

Donna has held a variety of administrative and research positions in non-profit organizations. She was a founding staff member of the Victim Services Agency in New York City and helped guide its growth from a staff of 3 to a staff of 250 at 20 locations. Donna also served as director of administration of the Young Presidents' Organization, as senior program analyst with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and as Research Associate with the Vera Institute of Justice.

Donna holds degrees from Columbia University, Graduate School of Business, and from Sarah Lawrence College. She has served as president of the board of trustees of the Long Ridge School and as vice president of the St. John's Community Foundation. She is a board member of the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut and an active volunteer with Planned Parenthood of Connecticut. Donna sings with and serves on the board of the New Amsterdam Singers, a critically acclaimed chorus in New York City.

“We have only high praise for the insightful guidance our TSNE consultant [Donna Zalichin] gave us during a time of crisis and uncertainty. Our transition in leadership involved some unexpected challenges, but Donna’s competent and collaborative style helped us hire a very capable interim ED and complete a successful search. Her finesse in working with the transition committee and the board prepared us for our next stage of growth and renewal.”

Judy Grossman
Board President
Dress for Success