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Search Success: Sher Omerovic Named JVS’ New Chief Program Officer!

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JVS Boston and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, the appointment of Sher Omerovic to the position of Chief Program Officer.

This is a well-deserved promotion from Sher’s most recent role with JVS as Senior Vice President of Programs. Sher joined JVS in 2016.

Reporting to JVS’ CEO, Kira Khazatsky, Sher will lead the core of JVS’ work – the development, quality, and delivery of JVS’s services. Sher will provide strategic leadership to the programmatic Vice President team to ensure alignment with the organization’s mission and goals, and support and develop the programmatic VP team to achieve programmatic outcomes. She will collaborate with other principal executives to ensure long-term strategic planning and board management align with the organization’s mission and goals.

Sher brings extensive program, workforce development and leadership experience to the Chief Program Officer role. Prior to JVS, she worked at the Fish Family Foundation, where she developed and implemented a statewide citizenship initiative partnering with multiple community organizations, immigration attorneys, and volunteers to organize large-scale citizenship events across the commonwealth, and held roles in immigration and employment with Catholic Charities of Boston and in grants with United Way. Sher earned her master’s degree in nonprofit project management from Northeastern University and her bachelor’s degree in international relations and modern languages from Beloit College.

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.

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Search Success: Michelle Bleau Has Been Named Director of Housing Development With ONE Neighborhood Builders

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ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) and Pillar Search and HR Consulting are excited to share that, following an extensive search, Michelle Bleau has been named Director of Housing Development.  In this role, she will lead housing development activities, supervising a team of project managers who advance projects through pre-development, construction, and into leasing. Michelle will represent ONE|NB and its interests externally, collaborating with consultants, project partners, financing entities, and others to successfully build high-quality housing. 

Michelle originally joined ONE|NB in 2022 as Project Manager for Real Estate Development. Michelle’s work in that role focused on deal sourcing, acquisition, design, community and partnership engagement, permitting & approvals, financing, consultant procurement, and construction.

Prior to joining ONE|NB, Michelle worked for a private development firm headquartered in Boston, where she was responsible for managing and overseeing the daily operations and correspondences associated with acquisitions, predevelopment, permitting, design, development, marketing, leasing, and sales of large scale multifamily and condominium projects in the Greater Boston area. Throughout her project work, Michelle collaborated with many nonprofit organizations and community development corporations, helping to source and allocate funding for community benefits, as well as forming partnerships to create affordable and mixed-income housing.

Michelle attended Roger Williams University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She attended Boston University, Commercial Real Estate Certificate Program, NAIOP of Massachusetts, Continuing Education in Commercial Real Estate Program, and Freedom Trail Realty, MA Salesperson Licensing Program. 

ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS: ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) is a nonprofit community development leader in Rhode Island that is expanding its work to the broader Greater Providence area while maintaining its deep roots in its historic home of Olneyville. ONE|NB’s mission is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. Since its founding in 1988, then as Olneyville Housing Corporation, ONE|NB has developed 466 affordable apartments; 130 for-sale homes for low- to moderate-income homebuyers; and nearly 34,000 square feet of commercial and community space—totaling more than $135 million of investments. ONE|NB is the convening entity of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions. As the convener, ONE|NB is the backbone organization of this collective-impact initiative to increase economic mobility for residents in Central Providence. ONE|NB also created the first free community wireless network in Rhode Island, providing high-speed broadband to nearly 3000 unique users in the Olneyville neighborhood. For more information about ONE|NB, please visit their website.  

ABOUT PILLAR SEARCH & HR CONSULTING: A woman-owned business and Certified Diversity Recruiter 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 our website. 

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New Search! Director of Housing Development with ONE Neighborhood Builders

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POSITION SUMMARY

Pillar Search is honored to partner with ONE Neighborhood Builders on the search for their new Director of Housing Development. This position is based in Providence, RI.

The Director of Housing Development is one of three directors in ONE|NB’s housing division, all reporting to the Vice President of Housing. The Director leads the department’s housing development activities, supervising three project managers who advance projects through pre-development, construction, and into leasing. The Director represents ONE|NB and its interests externally, collaborating with consultants, project partners, financing entities, and others to successfully build high-quality housing. The ideal candidate is a mission-driven, entrepreneurial, highly skilled financial analyst with verifiable real estate development acumen.

ABOUT ONE|NB

ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) is a nonprofit community development leader in Rhode Island that is expanding its work to the broader Greater Providence area while maintaining its deep roots in its historic home of Olneyville. ONE|NB’s mission is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. Since its founding in 1988, then as Olneyville Housing Corporation, ONE|NB has developed 466 affordable apartments; 130 for-sale homes for low- to moderate-income homebuyers; and nearly 35,000 square feet of commercial and community space—totaling more than $135 million of investments. ONE|NB is the convening entity of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone (CPO-HEZ), which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions. As the convener, ONE|NB is the backbone organization of this collective-impact initiative to increase economic mobility for residents in Central Providence. ONE|NB also created the first free community wireless network in Rhode Island, providing high-speed broadband to nearly 3000 unique users in the Olneyville neighborhood.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

In June of 2020, ONE|NB established the following strategic direction. ONE|NB is poised to soon reveal its 2023-2028 updated strategy. This new strategy builds on the organization’s recent successes and will not reflect a significant departure.

Robust Housing Development and Quality Real Estate Management

ONE|NB will expand the availability of affordable, high-quality homes through the production, preservation, and acquisition of residential and mixed-used properties within their historic home of Olneyville and across Greater Providence.

Addressing Root Causes of Health Disparities

ONE|NB will engage residents and community-based organizations in their nine Central Providence neighborhoods to generate the social and economic conditions that prolong life expectancy and work to eradicate systemic barriers that lead to health disparities.

Embracing Innovation and Building the Community Development Field

ONE|NB will emerge as a thought leader in the field by distilling the lessons learned from developing and managing housing and convening residents and community organizations. They will participate in local and regional community development conversations, produce research and case studies, and amplify the impact of their community partners.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY

ONE|NB has developed 598 affordable rental and for-sale homes in historically-disinvested neighborhoods since 1990 – of which 187 have been developed in the last five years alone. The organization presently owns 454 apartments, providing high-quality, affordable housing for Rhode Island families. ONE|NB has completed 11 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects, totaling over $136 million of investment.

ONE|NB’s housing development pipeline includes projects in four municipalities (Providence, East Providence, Central Falls, and Cumberland), totaling 433 rental apartments and 20-for sale homes. These projects utilize the 4% LIHTC, 9% LIHTC, HOME, CDBG, and a variety of RI state and municipal “soft second” sources, and debt. These new projects will begin coming on-line in winter 2023, with the last development having an anticipated completion date of spring 2027. When completed, this influx of new housing will represent a near doubling of our existing portfolio.

ONE|NB’s pipeline projects include the development of service-enriched housing for persons experiencing homelessness, medically frail older adults, and youth aging out of foster care. ONE|NB develops these service-enriched projects in concert with social service partners. The development and integration of service-enriched apartments in larger mixed-income projects (serving <30%AMI to market-rate) is an important element to ONE|NB’s approach to housing development.

While ONE|NB’s real estate work is not exclusively affordable residential development – commercial development as well as moderate-income and market-rate residential development are also components of our work – this is the primary focus of the position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

This full-time position is charged with leading ONE|NB’s Housing Department’s housing development activities in close collaborative with the Vice President of Housing and the President & CEO.

Responsibilities include:

  • Lead and manage the housing development team in developing and maintaining an active project pipeline.
  • Develop project proposals, determine feasibility, and seek project financing, including LIHTC, New Markets Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, and the range of other state and municipal “second soft” sources, as well as equity and debt.
  • Select and manage project teams in conjunction with Vice President of Housing and housing development team.
  • Engage, build, and maintain partnerships and on-going communication with lenders, investors, and other financing partners.
  • Collaborate with the Vice President of Housing and other team members to engage other local organizations, government officials, and community stakeholders in efforts to support affordable housing development.
  • Coordinate with the Directors of Asset Management and Resident Services to ensure interdepartmental information flow and collaborate as needed to advance the organization’s goals.
  • Remain attuned to emerging ideas in the affordable housing development field and contribute to the exploration of novel financing approaches.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will be an experienced, results-oriented professional with an exceptional work-ethic, committed to racial equity and advancing anti-racism practices, and to the vision and values of ONE|NB. In addition, the following attributes will generally define the successful Director of Housing Development:

  • Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree in a related field is a plus (business administration, real estate finance, or public administration)
  • Minimum of 10 years of related professional experience including experience managing all stages of the development process. Experience with Low-Income Housing Tax Credit deals required.
  • Experience managing a team of high performing professionals in the real estate and/or nonprofit arena required;
  • Proven ability to build strong relationships with external stakeholders and partner with internal teams to lead to successful outcomes;
  • Enjoys fast-paced and challenging work environment and collaborating with a broad diversity of staff and partners;
  • Adaptable, highly organized, and skilled at multi-tasking;
  • Mission-driven and passionate about ONE|NB and related constituencies;
  • Good sense of self and strong personal presence;
  • Willingness to work hard and creatively solve problems for which the answers are not always obvious; and
  • Knowledge of Rhode Island community development field and key stakeholders desired.

Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.

The Director of Housing Development will be required to work a full-time schedule with some flexibility required on nights and weekends. This role offers flexibility to work remotely an estimated two times per week initially and greater flexibility once established in the role.

ONE|NB offers a robust benefits package (including health, dental, and vision insurance), a retirement plan with matching contribution, a generous allotment of paid holiday and personal/vacation time, and an inspiring and innovative organizational culture. The salary range for this role is $100,000 – $125,000 annually. Compensation range is competitive and is commensurate based on experience.

Candidates are not required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, though vaccination is strongly recommended.

ONE|NB works to dismantle all forms of discrimination. We fight the systems that oppress people from a vast range of identities and experiences. Cultivating a team that embodies the diverse experiences of Central Providence communities is essential to these aspirations. We strongly and sincerely encourage applications from people of color; immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals; people with disabilities; members of LGBTQQ+ and gender non-conforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy Joyce, Pillar Search & HR Consulting, via email to cindy@pillarsearch.com.

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Search Success: Alia Peera Joins Aim High as Director of Partnerships!

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Aim High and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Alia Peera to the position of Director of Partnerships. Alia joined the organization on July 17, 2023.

Alia will be a great addition to the team, advancing Aim High’s mission and vision forward with energy and passion. Alia’s background includes building deep relationships with partners and donors, working with educational partners and school districts, expanding nonprofits into new regions, and project management.

Most recently, Alia served as the Regional Partner for Northern California at Wildflower Foundation and previously as the Managing Director of System Partnerships at The Achievement Network. She is currently a member of the Nexus Fellowship Cohort with The Equity Lab.

Alia lives in the Bay Area and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She will be based in the Aim High’s San Francisco office.

About Aim High: Aim High embraces the raw beauty of early adolescence by focusing on middle school (ages of 11 to 14), a vital stage of maturation. It is also critical to educational trajectories: improving the college and career readiness skills students possess by eighth grade has the largest impact on high school graduates’ ultimate level of college and career readiness – even more than any single high school-level enhancement. Summer programs are particularly effective in mitigating the inequity caused by systemic barriers in education. Despite its importance, just 1.1% of the 5.5 million middle school students from low-income communities nationwide have access to free summer enrichment programs. Aim High’s multi-year, five-week summer program combines pedagogical rigor with emotional depth to ignite the boundless potential within young people navigating systemic barriers. They envision every middle school student having access to joyful summer learning, inspired and innovative teachers, and the support they need to succeed in school and life. Aim High was founded on the belief that every student has the right to a quality education. In 1986 they launched at one site in San Francisco with just 50 students. Over the last 35 years, they have expanded across the Bay Area in every direction, as far as Napa and Tahoe-Truckee. Along the way, their transformative summer enrichment program has empowered thousands of middle schoolers from low-income neighborhoods, igniting their love of learning and yielding real results – 98% of Aim High alumni graduate and go on to college. Learn more at https://aimhigh.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. Pillar’s founder, Cindy Joyce, is a Certified Diversity Recruiter. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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Search Success: Bree Arsenault Joins the Maine Community Foundation as Vice President of Philanthropy!

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Maine Community Foundation and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Bree Arsenault to the position of Vice President of Philanthropy. Bree joined the organization in June, 2023.

She will lead the foundation’s development department in all new fund and donor acquisitions to drive the organization’s mission to build a better Maine.

Bree joins Maine Community Foundation from the Clinton Foundation, where she was the Senior Director, Development & Philanthropy. Previously, Bree was with Teach for America and The Kennedy Center. Bree is a resident of Maine. She earned her M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and her bachelor’s degree in music and chemistry from Middlebury College. She has held a variety of volunteer roles, including on the Board of Directors of 1% for the Plant.

About Maine Community Foundation: The Maine Community Foundation brings people and resources together to build a better Maine through strategic giving, community leadership, personalized service, local expertise and strong investments. To learn more about the foundation, please visit https://www.mainecf.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston (with roots in Maine!), 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. Pillar’s founder, Cindy Joyce, is a Certified Diversity Recruiter. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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Search Success: Jonathan Karron Joins Sandy Hook Promise as Vice President of Marketing!

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Sandy Hook Promise and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Jonathan Karron to the position of Vice President of Marketing. Jonathan joined the organization on May 22, 2023.

As Vice President of Marketing, Jonathan will leverage his extensive background in brand building, fundraising, and marketing fundamentals to support Sandy Hook Promise, a fast-growing organization that is making a difference and saving the lives of young people. Jonathan will be leading a highly skilled department that is responsible for development, planning and execution of all SHP brand marketing, internal and external communications, media and public relations, web content and digital marketing management, collateral, and graphic design. The team has won two Emmy awards for “Outstanding Commercial” and countless Cannes Lions, Effies, Webby Awards, and other recognitions.

Most recently, Jonathan was the Chief Marketing Officer of V Foundation, a nonprofit that funds cancer research. Prior leadership roles in the nonprofit sector include Vice President, Digital Marketing and Revenue at American Cancer Society and National Vice President, Brand and Digital Strategy at Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Earlier in his career, Jonathan held marketing leadership roles with Herschend Family Entertainment marketing theme parks and attractions including Dollywood and Silver Dollar City and at Turner Broadcasting, working on flagship brands such as Turner Classic Movies, TNT, and TBS. Jonathan has also been an Adjunct Professor at Georgia State University since 2010.

Jonathan earned his MBA with a focus on marketing from Georgia State University and his bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of Maryland. Jonathan’s current volunteer roles include the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta,; Leadership Atlanta; Action Cycling Atlanta, where he formerly served as Board President; and CHRIS 180, where he serves on the marketing and advisory committees. He resides in Atlanta, GA.

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP 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.

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Search Success: Becka Yturregui Joins Maine Community Foundation as Vice President of Donor Engagement!

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Maine Community Foundation and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Becka Yturregui to the position of Vice President of Donor Engagement. Becka joined the organization on May 8, 2023.

Becka will be a great addition to their management team, carrying forward MaineCF’s mission and vision forward with energy and passion. Becka’s background includes donor cultivation and stewardship, community relations, and institutional communications. A skilled strategist and relationship-builder, she brings extensive experience in helping organizations tell their stories and in building deep, impactful relationships in their communities.

Most recently, Becka served as the Vice President of Donor Relations and Philanthropic Impact at CJP – Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

Becka grew up in Maine and is a graduate of Simmons College. She will be based in the Maine Community Foundation’s Portland office.

About Maine Community Foundation: The Maine Community Foundation brings people and resources together to build a better Maine through strategic giving, community leadership, personalized service, local expertise and strong investments. To learn more about the foundation, please visit https://www.mainecf.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston (with roots in Maine!), 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. Pillar’s founder, Cindy Joyce, is a Certified Diversity Recruiter. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.