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News From The Field.
Leadership decisions carry lasting implications for institutions, teams, and communities. Here, we share updates from across our work, including new search engagements, completed placements, firm news, and perspectives on leadership in the nonprofit sector. Our work is grounded in the belief that executive search should be both rigorous and deeply human.
All Posts


Cooper Coleman Joins Association of Zoos and Aquariums
CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC announced today that it has joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing excellence in animal care, conservation, education, and public engagement among accredited zoos and aquariums worldwide. Membership in AZA reflects a shared commitment to high professional standards, collaboration, and the long-term stewardship of institutions that connect people to wildlife and the natura

Cooper Coleman
Jan 282 min read


Warning: The Hidden Cost of "Doing the Executive Search Ourselves"
Most boards do not believe they need professional search support until after the first failed executive hire. By then, the lessons are painfully clear.

J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D.
Jan 274 min read


Cooper Coleman Retained to Lead Executive Director Search for CAMP Rehoboth Community Center
CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC has been retained to conduct the national search for the next Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth, a respected LGBTQ+ community center based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The engagement follows the planned retirement of Dr. Kim Leisey, who has served as Executive Director since July 2023. Cooper Coleman previously partnered with CAMP Rehoboth to place Dr. Leisey and has been re-engaged to support the organization through this next leadership tr

Cooper Coleman
Jan 263 min read


Cooper Coleman Announces Appointment of Vanessa Maldonado as Chief Development Officer at Center for Child Protection
CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC announces the appointment of Vanessa Maldonado as Chief Development Officer of the Center for Child Protection (CCP), following the completion of a national executive search led by Founder + CEO Johnny Cooper. Maldonado joins the Austin-based organization as CCP continues to expand its services and engagement across Travis County. For more than 30 years, the Center for Child Protection has provided a safe, child-friendly place where children

Cooper Coleman
Jan 133 min read


Cooper Coleman Announces Placement of KishaLynn Elliott as Executive Director at San Diego Pride
CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC announced today the placement of KishaLynn Elliott as Executive Director of San Diego Pride, marking a significant leadership moment for one of the nation’s most visible and influential LGBTQIA+ civic institutions. Elliott becomes the first Black lesbian to serve as permanent Executive Director in the organization’s more than 50-year history. San Diego Pride is a cornerstone of civic life in the region, advancing LGBTQIA+ visibility, equali

Cooper Coleman
Jan 123 min read


Cooper Coleman to Lead Chief Financial Officer Search, Extending Engagement with Austin's Center for Child Protection
CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC has been retained for an additional engagement with the Center for Child Protection (CCP) in Austin, Texas, to lead the search for the organization’s next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This engagement builds on Cooper Coleman’s ongoing partnership with the Center as it continues to strengthen its executive leadership team in support of its mission to protect children and support families across Travis County. For more than 30 years, the Cen

Cooper Coleman
Jan 93 min read


Cooper Coleman Completes National Search for Fund For A Safer Future; Board Appoints Rob Wilcox As President + CEO
Cooper Coleman LLC today announced the successful completion of a national search for the inaugural President + Chief Executive Officer of Fund for a Safer Future (FSF). The search concluded with the FSF Board’s appointment of Rob Wilcox, a leader in gun violence prevention policy and philanthropy.

Cooper Coleman
Jan 53 min read


Cooper Coleman Places Chief Financial Officer at East Coast Zoological Foundation
CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC, a nationally recognized executive search firm partnering exclusively with nonprofit and social impact organizations, is pleased to announce that David Lamadrid has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF) following a national search led by Johnny Cooper, Founder + CEO of Cooper Coleman. This is the third chief-level executive the firm has placed at ECZF this year following successful searches for t

Cooper Coleman
Dec 7, 20253 min read



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