Successful Search: Kevin Parham Joins JVS as Senior Director, Career Center Operations!

JVS Boston and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Kevin Parham to the position of Senior Director, Career Center Operations. Kevin joined JVS on November 1, 2021.

As a member of the Career Services management team, will be responsible for the management, compliance, and operating functions at the MassHire Career Center to ensure that high quality, workforce development and labor exchange services are provided to Boston employers and job seekers.

Kevin brings extensive workforce development and leadership experience to the role with JVS. Most recently, Kevin was the Manager of Workforce Development Programs at Community Work Services, where he was for their workforce development programs. Prior, Kevin was the Executive Director of the Career Collaborative. Earlier in his career, Kevin was in senior roles with the cities of Quincy and Lawrence, also focused on career readiness and workforce development.

Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree from Salem State College. He is a published author and professional musician.

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.

Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR)

Pillar Search & HR Consulting

I am pleased to announce that today I became a Certified Diversity Recruiter (CDR), which will help me to continue my work of helping nonprofit and mission-driven organizations to create and execute successful hiring strategies with a focus on building pipelines of talent, including from diverse and underrepresented groups. The AIRS Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter course provides executive search and recruiting professionals the opportunity to develop strategies to create and improve diversity and inclusion talent acquisition practices. 

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 leaders and boards to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

 

Certified Woman Business Enterprise

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I am pleased to share that Pillar Search & HR Consulting, a consulting firm that works with nonprofit organizations, has been certified as a Woman Business Enterprise in the categories of executive search, recruiting, and human resource consulting by the City of Boston’s Equity and Inclusion Unit of the Office of Economic Development.  Pillar is proud to be part of the vibrant Boston small business community!

Search Success! Shelley Levy Joins Planned Parenthood as Vice President, Human Resources

Search success! Pillar Search and HR Consulting, an executive search firm that works with nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, is pleased to announce the placement of Shelley Levy as the new Vice President of Human Resources at Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley

Shelley brings extensive nonprofit human resources and leadership experience to this role. Most recently, she was the Director of Talent and Human Resources at Ednovate, a high-performing network of free public college preparatory high schools in Southern California. Prior, she was the Director of Human Resources at Uncommon Schools and Human Resources Associate at Room to ReadShelley received her undergraduate degree from University of California San Diego

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned 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.

Pillar Search Named to Non-Profit Top 60 Rankings

Pillar Search Named to Non-Profit Top 60 Rankings! I am proud to announce that Pillar Search & HR Consulting has been named to the Hunt Scanlon list of the Top 60 ranking of executive search firms partnering with nonprofits. Learn more here.  A woman-owned 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. Pillar works 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.

Nonprofit Human Resource Management Course at Harvard Extension School: Registration Now Open!

Harvard Extension School Cindy Joyce

I am happy to announce that Harvard Extension School will again offer the Nonprofit Human Resource Management course in the Spring 2021 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 Tuesday from 5:10 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. ET from January 26, 2021 – May 11, 2021.  This is a live, web-based course and will include a combination of class lectures, discussions, activities, and several nonprofit executives as our 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 9, 2020 for Nonprofit Human Resource Management MGMT E-4241 (25940). 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.

How to Support Restaurants as Temperatures Begin to Dip

Grab a Blanket and Show Restaurants Our Love!

I am frightened for the future of our restaurants and the impact that losing them will have on the vibrancy of our communities.

Just over a week ago, some friends and I were having dinner in our home city of Boston, MA at Orfano, which is owned by our friend Tiffani Faison. Two of us had walked about a mile to get there, walking through the neighborhoods of Back Bay, Kenmore and Fenway. Several restaurants were permanently closed, some already closed for the night at 5:45 p.m., and those that were open were not overly crowded.

We started talking about the need to support our local restaurants. They give us a place to celebrate, to feel supported in harHow to Support Restaurants as Temperatures Begin to Dipd times, to meet up with loved ones, to unwind after a tough day, and to be nourished, physically and sometimes even psychologically.

Restaurants are a pivotal part of our communities and have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. Add the arrival of fall and the impending winter (which in Boston can be brutal) and restaurants are in dire need of patrons who can embrace a creative approach.

In Norwegian culture, they embrace winter in a big way, and have a saying that “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. They suggest enjoying outdoor life in the “vinter” months with layers, a focus on woolen materials, and topping it off with a wind-resistant layer. Essentially, pretend you’re heading off to your favorite ski slope. Then pretend it’s apres ski time outdoors and enjoy a meal.

My friends and I decided that evening to establish the Boston Blanket Brigade to mobilize fellow Bostonians to help save our restaurants. Our mission is to blanket restaurants in love and support with flash mob dining. Each week, we will announce a restaurant that we are visiting, sitting outside with our friends, with our blankets to stay warm while helping to fill tables. Join us, or create your own brigade elsewhere, any day of the week in any city or town, at the restaurant of your choice.

We had our kickoff event this past Sunday, returning to Orfano since it was where this idea was generated, and I am thrilled to say that was a terrific success.

Not in Boston? There are several different ways to get involved:

  • Follow Boston Blanket Brigade on Instagram at @bostonblanketbrigade
  • Host a DIY Blanket Brigade at your own favorite restaurant, at a time or day of the week of your choice, no matter what city or town you are in. Be sure to take a photo and tag us. It will be fun to see how far the brigade reaches!
  • Make a donation to support the effort to save independent restaurants. The Independent Restaurant Coalition is working tirelessly to save them.
  • Make a donation to support restaurant industry workers. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation Hospitality Industry Relief Fund was created to support industry workers who are experiencing hardship from the COVID-19 crisis and will provide emergency relief grants based on need to workers who have lost employment due to the shutdown for the pandemic.

Think of it this way: when a vaccine comes out and we are able to congregate again, where will you want to meet up with your friends and family? Chance are, many of you said a restaurant. Let us blanket them in our support now to ensure that they are there when we return en masse.

This article was originally published on Thrive Global