CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC, a leader in retained executive search for the nonprofit sector, is proud to announce the successful placement of Avery Belyeu as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Montrose Center, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ centers. This appointment follows a comprehensive national search led by founder and CEO, Johnny Cooper, and exemplifies our commitment to advancing leadership diversity in the social sector.
Avery Belyeu, a seasoned advocate for mental health and wellness and LGBTQ+ rights, and an experienced nonprofit leader, now leads the Montrose Center following the retirement of its long-time Executive Director. The organization’s first new leader in 35 years, Belyeu’s extensive background in mental health, suicide prevention training, and civil rights advocacy, combined with her nonprofit leadership and consulting experience, make her an excellent fit for this critical role.
Johnny Cooper stated, “Avery's unique blend of skills, passion, and experience in the LGBTQ+ advocacy landscape positions her perfectly to lead the Montrose Center. We are confident that she will honor the organization’s legacy while bringing innovative approaches to meet the evolving needs of the LGBTQ+ community in Houston and beyond.”
Throughout her career, Belyeu has held influential roles in organizations such as Lambda Legal, The Trevor Project, and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Her leadership in advocacy and education has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. Her appointment as the first openly transgender CEO of a major LGBTQ+ center in the U.S. marks a significant milestone in the movement for greater diversity and inclusion in leadership roles.
“Our purpose at Cooper Coleman is to partner with organizations to place leaders who can make a lasting impact,” said Johnny Cooper. “Avery’s appointment at the Montrose Center is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the representation and effectiveness of leadership in the nonprofit sector, particularly in organizations advocating for civil rights and LGBTQ+ issues.”
Tara M. Kelly, Board President of The Montrose Center, said, “We are so excited to select Avery Belyeu to lead the Montrose Center for the next generation. Her accumulation of experience and enthusiasm for our future will serve the Center and all our communities well.”
About Cooper Coleman LLC
Cooper Coleman LLC is a full-service retained executive search and consulting firm partnering exclusively with nonprofit 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.
Cooper Coleman partners with clients spanning the social sector, including those focused on civil rights, global health, performing arts and culture, social services, and LGBTQ+ issues, among others.
Founder and CEO Johnny Cooper has more than 16 years of leadership experience throughout the social sector. He established Cooper Coleman to solve a gap in service delivery to the sector, specifically how search firms represent nonprofit clients and the attention paid to the candidate experience throughout a search—chosen or not. Knowing the transformational impact that having the right leaders in the right roles can have on an organization and its mission, Cooper partnered with William B. Coleman, Jr. to establish Cooper Coleman as a firm that prioritizes making the essential services of executive search accessible to organizations across the social sector. William Coleman has more than 25 years of experience in retained executive search, including leading his own firm, Coleman Search Consulting LLC, for more than ten years until its sale in 2018.
For more information on Cooper Coleman LLC, visit their website at www.coopercoleman.com and find them on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/coopercoleman.
About the Montrose Center
The Montrose Center, established in 1978, has been a beacon of support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in Houston. The Center’s comprehensive services include mental health support, youth and senior services, substance use disorder treatment, gender-affirming care, and HIV prevention and care.
For more information on the Montrose Center, visit www.montrosecenter.org.
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