Kathy Kraushar of Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC is currently at the final stages of its search for a new president and CEO for the Kalamazoo Nature Center in Michigan. The CEO is responsible for all financial, operational, administrative, and legal/compliance aspects of organizational management, including but not limited to public relations, financial management, fundraising, organizational development, and staffing. This executive leader liaises with and coordinates the contributions of diverse groups of trustees, donors, staff, volunteers, and community groups. The CEO works under authority granted by the board of trustees and will have the full support of this active and engaged board, according to Cooper Coleman.
The Kalamazoo Nature Center’s ideal CEO will be a decisive, charismatic, mission-driven executive leader, a proven fundraiser, and a seasoned people manager. They are inspiring, authentic, and diplomatic; financially and operationally savvy; experienced in managing and overseeing complex programs, including those funded by grants. Candidates will possess a well-developed executive presence and an ability to externally represent the Kalamazoo Nature Center confidently, skillfully, and strategically, elevating the organization’s profile throughout its various communities of current and prospective funders, clients, and partner organizations.
Those applying for this position will have the humility and curiosity first to observe and learn the vastness of its programs and services, recognizing the strength and effectiveness of the professionals leading those various departments and programs. They are resilient in the face of challenges, ambiguity, and adversity; they are adaptable and decisive. Cooper Coleman notes that the next CEO is a systemic thinker and problem-solver who exercises irreproachable integrity and judgment when addressing organization-level challenges and opportunities. The ideal candidate will be a transformative thinker, a compelling, long-term visionary who inspires, motivates, and empowers those in their charge.
Kalamazoo Nature Center is an environmental services company holding responsibility for over 1,500 acres of land. It has over 15 miles of trails to explore, camp programs, event rentals, special exhibits, and public programs.
Founded in 2020, Cooper Coleman is a full-service executive search and consulting firm partnering exclusively with non-profit organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions to drive meaningful growth. Its team moves organizations forward by placing “the right leaders in the right roles at the right time” and helps to strengthen their management and fundraising capacity to amplify their mission and impact.
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Johnny Cooper, co-founder and CEO of the firm, has more than 16 years of leadership experience throughout the social sector. He partnered with his father-in-law, William B. Coleman, to establish Cooper Coleman as a firm that “prioritizes making the essential services of executive search accessible to organizations across the social sector, knowing the transformational impact having the right leaders in the right roles can have on an organization and its mission,” the firm said. Mr. Coleman has more than 25 years’ experience in retained executive search, including leading his own firm, Coleman Search Consulting LLC, for more than 10 years until its sale in 2018.
Following an extensive national executive search that began in August, Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC has assisted in the recruitment of Avery Belyeu as the new CEO of the Montrose Center in Houston, TX. Past CEO Ann J. Robison recently retired. “We are so excited to select Avery Belyeu to lead the Montrose Center for the next generation,” said Tara M. Kelly, president of the board of directors. “Her accumulation of experience and enthusiasm for our future will serve the center and all our communities well.”
“The board of directors and staff of the Montrose Center express their excitement and warm welcome to Avery Belyeu as she assumes the role of CEO in February,” the non-profit said. “Her extensive experience, leadership acumen, and genuine passion for LGBTQ+ health and wellness make her an invaluable asset to the organization and its mission. With experience in leadership, grant-writing, fundraising, and advocacy, Avery Belyeu will be an invaluable asset to the Montrose Center.”
Bill Coleman, co-founder and principal, has worked with publicly and privately held corporations in the recruitment of C-level operating, finance, human resources, sales/marketing, supply chain, and technology executives. Prior to Cooper Coleman, Mr. Coleman founded and led Coleman Search Consulting LLC, for more than 10 years before selling the firm.
Ms. Kraushar is vice president of executive search. She has built an extensive career as a business development professional strategizing with executive leadership at major health systems across the country to achieve operational alignment and financial success. Ms. Kraushar brings a background in non-profit leadership as well.