Search Success: Rob Jacobs Joins Sandy Hook Promise as Vice President of Technology!

Sandy Hook Promise and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Rob Jacobs to the position of Vice President of Technology. Rob joined the organization on January 30, 2023.

As Vice President of Technology, Rob will lead technology strategy, objectives goals vision, priorities, and technology decisions. He will define and bring to life the best technology solutions that meet the needs of the organization today and establish the right foundation for future growth and ability to scale, while also leading a team of IT professionals, building on a best-in-class culture with big-picture thinking that is adaptable and able to respond to the needs and goals of the organization effectively and efficiently. Rob will develop, implement, and evaluate technology projects and new processes and systems in line with organizational objectives, and build Project Management expertise to manage these initiatives.

Most recently, Rob was Director of IT with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Prior, he was the Chief Information Officer of the Capital Good Fund. Earlier in his career, he was the Chief Information Officer of Kappa Alpha Theta and Senior Director of IT with Herff Jones, as well as a consultant with The Integrity Practice.

Rob earned his master’s degree in organizational management & development from the Fielding Graduate School and his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Morehouse College.

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its lifesaving, evidence informed Know the Signs prevention programs, Sandy Hook Promise educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. Sandy Hook Promise is a moderate, bipartisan organization that supports sensible policy solutions that address the human side of gun violence and make schools safer. Sandy Hook Promise is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. For more information about Sandy Hook Promise, please visit https://www.sandyhookpromise.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Search Success: Chelsea Lynn Joins Fab Foundation as General Manager!

Fab Foundation and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Chelsea Lynn to the position of General Manager. Chelsea joined Fab Foundation on January 4, 2023.

As General Manager, Chelsea will oversee the daily operations and administration of the organization, coordinate with the K-12 Education team, the Academany teams, and the International Operations teams to ensure the steady functioning of the organization across all portfolios. She will help design better and more efficient workflows and operational strategies for the organization.

Prior to joining Fab Foundation, Chelsea was the Local Health Liaison Team Manager with Partners in Health, working to implement the Community Tracing Collaborative contact tracing program during the COVID-19 pandemic in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Earlier in her career, Chelsea was a Procurement Specialist in Washington, DC and New Delhi, India with XLA, a firm that
provides technical and administrative solutions to the federal government.

Chelsea earned her Master’s in Women Peace, and Security from the London School of Economics, a Master’s in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College of London, and her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from American University.   Chelsea currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.

About Fab Foundation: The mission of the Fab Foundation is to provide access to the tools, the knowledge, and the financial means to educate, innovate, and invent using technology and digital fabrication to allow anyone to make (almost) anything. They create opportunity. Learn more about Fab Foundation at https://fabfoundation.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Search Success: Rodney Williams Joins Fab Foundation as Program Manager!

Fab Foundation and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Rodney Williams to the position of Program Manager. Rodney joined Fab Foundation on January 4, 2023.

As Program Manager, Rodney will manage and implement educational outreach projects with corporate and private partners.  Rodney will primarily be responsible for US-based projects and select international projects.  In this role, he will develop key stakeholder relationships for the various partnerships formed for the relevant outreach projects and manage the overall day to day operation of the program(s). Rodney will work closely with project personnel, such as instructors, lab managers, teachers and others to implement outreach projects.

Prior to joining Fab Foundation, Rodney was the Director of Marketing and Communications with The Ancona School and began his tenure with the school as the Technology Integration Coordinator. Earlier in his career, Rodney was the Technology Specialist with the William K. New Sullivan Elementary School.

Rodney earned his Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, his Master of Science in Applied Technology from DePaul University, and his undergraduate degree in Youth Development from DePaul University. Rodney resides in Chicago, IL.

About Fab Foundation: The mission of the Fab Foundation is to provide access to the tools, the knowledge, and the financial means to educate, innovate, and invent using technology and digital fabrication to allow anyone to make (almost) anything. They create opportunity. Learn more about Fab Foundation at https://fabfoundation.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Search Success: Kasey L. Johnson is Building Futures’ New Employer Relations Manager!

Pillar Search & HR Consulting and Building Futures are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, that Kasey L. Johnson has been named the new Employer Relations Manager. This is a well-deserved promotion; Kasey was most recently the Apprenticeship Program Coordinator at Building Futures.

As Employer Relations Manager, Kasey will manage the Employer Relations Associate, and will be responsible for developing relationships with employers to build new high-quality Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs that meet the current needs of employers in Rhode Island. In addition, Kasey will be responsible for providing strategic guidance, operational support, and on-going technical assistance for developed Registered Apprenticeship programs to ensure quality operations. She will work to integrate Registered Apprenticeship career pathways with related credit-bearing instruction at institutes of higher education in Rhode Island.

Kasey brings an impressive background to the Employer Relations Manager role. Prior to joining Building Futures in 2019, Kasey was a Case Manager with Tri-County Community Action, and prior was Graduate! Rhode Island’s Program Coordinator and Student Services Coordinator with The Education Exchange. Kasey earned her master’s degree in American Studies from Youngstown State University and her undergraduate degree in Sociology from University of Rhode Island. In addition, she has a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice and is Project Management for Development Professionals (PMD Pro) Level 1 Certified.

About Building Futures: The mission of Building Futures, a nonprofit based in Providence, RI, is to meet employer and industry need for skilled workers through the Registered Apprenticeship system while creating family-sustaining career opportunities for low-income, diverse residents. Learn more about Building Futures here.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Search Success! Nick Ferro Joins Building Futures as Social Services Director!

Pillar Search & HR Consulting and Building Futures are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, that Nick Ferro, LICSW, QMHP has joined Building Futures as Social Services Director.

As Social Services Director, Nick will lead, implement, and develop social services at Building Futures for current participants and alumni and establish a robust network of external partnerships to provide services not offered directly. Approximately 100 to 150 individuals per year will be engaged at various stages of the different program interventions. Social services are provided to under-resourced program participants, all of whom are experiencing poverty and other significant employment barriers, to ensure successful completion of Building Futures’ program(s) and gain family-sustaining careers, primarily in union construction occupations.  Additionally, Nick will plan, implement, and manage a new partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), called Bridge to Opportunity (BTO), which will create a formalized reentry pathway to careers in construction for currently incarcerated individuals. With a dual focus on programmatic and participant supports, he will develop new organizational partnerships, provide pre- and post-release case management services, and oversee the development and implementation of the pre-release training program.

Nick brings an impressive background to Social Services Director role. He joins Building Futures from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections where he has worked as a Clinical Social Worker for 6 years, and Envision Behavioral Health, where he has been an owner/operator for two years. Nick’s work experience also includes roles with Open Doors Rhode Island, Lifespan Hospitals, and Child and Family Services of Newport County. Nick earned his Master of Social Work from Rhode Island College School of Social Work and his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island.

About Building Futures: The mission of Building Futures, a nonprofit based in Providence, RI, is to meet employer and industry need for skilled workers through the Registered Apprenticeship system while creating family-sustaining career opportunities for low-income, diverse residents. Learn more about Building Futures here.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Craig Misner Named the New Director of Academic Services with JVS!

JVS Boston and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, the appointment of Craig Misner to the position of Director, Academic Services.

This is a well-deserved promotion from Craig’s most recent role with JVS as Manager of Coaching Services, Academic Services.

Craig will be responsible for executing and leading agency Academic services based on identified needs of clients, employers, funders, and other stakeholders. In collaboration with the Vice President, Craig will manage the performance expectations of Academic Services programs, teams, and staff. He will be responsible for collaborating with the VP around the fiscal health of Academic Services programs, program budgets, and budget modifications, as well as annual revenue and expenditure projections and assisting with development efforts to support academic services.

Craig brings extensive workforce development and leadership experience to the role with JVS. Earlier in his 8-year tenure with JVS, Craig was the Academic Coach and Outreach Specialist with their Bridges to College and Careers Program. Prior to joining JVS, Craig work in Human Resources with a focus on learning and development with Starbucks and Town Sports International. Craig earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts, Boston.

About JVS Boston: For 80 years, JVS has helped tens of thousands of individuals with barriers to economic success secure financial independence through training, education, and employment services.  As the largest provider of adult education and workforce development services in the region, JVS is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, and is a key part of the poverty alleviation strategy for the greater-Boston area.  In order to reach people in need of assistance on their pathway to meaningful employment and financial independence, JVS targets most of its services to low-income individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and to low-wage workers in need of career advancement services.  Many have multiple support needs ranging from limited English proficiency and lack of education to disabilities, criminal records, lack of childcare and transportation.  JVS operates on annual budget of more than $15 million, of which is derived equally from public and private sources. For more information, please visit www.jvs-boston.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Nonprofit Human Resource Management Course – Register Now Through Harvard Extension School!

I am happy to announce that Harvard Extension School will again offer the Nonprofit Human Resource Management course in the Spring 2022 semester.  The course introduces participants to the best practices, policies, and theories related to nonprofit human resource management. Whether you are now or plan to be an HR practitioner or a leader, manager or board member for a nonprofit organization, museum, school, or foundation, this course prepares you with the knowledge and skills needed to manage human capital in a nonprofit setting. This is also a great learning opportunity for those interested in making a career transition into the nonprofit sector.

Class meetings will be held each Wednesday in the spring semester from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET beginning on January 26, 2022.  This is a live, web-based course and will include a combination of class lectures, discussions, activities, case studies, and nonprofit executives as guest speakers.

I originally created and taught this course in the Fall 2019 semester, for which I received a Dean’s Commendation for Excellence in Teaching.

Registration began today, Monday, November 8, 2021 for Nonprofit Human Resource Management MGMT E-4241. Learn more here.

About Harvard Extension School (HES): Harvard Extension School is a fully accredited Harvard school. As one of the 12 degree-granting institutions at Harvard University, they teach to the largest and most eclectic student body. Their students come from every time zone, every culture and career background, every age from 18 to 89. Harvard Extension School students have one thing in common: the motivation to take the next challenging step in their lives. The find that challenge at Harvard Extension School, where academic standards are high and resources extensive. 

About Cindy Joyce and Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned small business founded in Boston in 2015, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. To learn more, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.