Search Success! Leslie Scales Joins Accompany Doula Care as Executive Director!

Accompany Doula Care and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Leslie Scales to the position of Executive Director.

In her role as Executive Director, Leslie will move Accompany Doula Care to the next stage of development to a sustainable and growth-oriented organization. Leslie shares that the “mission to expand access to compassionate, evidence-based doula support, especially for families facing systemic barriers to maternal health equity, deeply resonates with my values and professional experience. What excites me most about Accompany Doula Care is the opportunity to advance maternal and child health by addressing inequities in access to care.”

Leslie’s professional background includes working with diverse populations who face barriers to healthcare and social support. She has consistently championed initiatives that improve outcomes through education, advocacy, and direct service. Mos recently, she was the Executive Director of the Metrowest Free Medical Program, a fully volunteer-staffed free medical clinic offering women’s health, general medicine, and vision care for those without coverage. Earlier roles have included Executive Director of New England Affordable Housing Management Association and the Northeast Regional Director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center. She spent several years consulting as Director of Leadership Dynamics, where she was instrumental in launching the International Leadership Institute for Women. Leslie is a graduate of Babson College.

About Accompany Doula Care: Accompany Doula Care (“Accompany”) is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit (501c3) doula collective working to integrate doula support into healthcare systems to increase access for families who otherwise face barriers to doula support. They have a team of amazing, diverse community doulas who support clients from a variety of backgrounds across Massachusetts. Through their work, they hope to expand access to doula services to birthing people of color and populations most at risk of birth and maternal health inequities. Accompany Doula Care is different in that they do not currently take private or self-pay doula clients. They work with contracts tailored for healthcare institutions (insurance providers, hospitals, clinics, and others) who primarily serve MassHealth/Medicaid-eligible clients and/or other clients who have high risk factors. All referrals come through these contracts and doula services are provided at no cost to families. Learn more about the important work that Accompany Doula Care does in Massachusetts here.

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.

New Search! Executive Director, Accompany Doula Care

Opportunity Overview: 

Accompany Doula Care is seeking its first full-time Executive Director as part of its exciting growth trajectory. Are you an experienced leader in the nonprofit or public sector with a passion for disrupting the status quo? This is a compelling opportunity for an experienced nonprofit or public sector leader to help make a significant and lasting impact, making doula care and quality maternal health accessible to all across Massachusetts while building an organization that supports those efforts now and for future generations.

About Accompany Doula Care: 

Accompany Doula Care (“Accompany”) is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit (501c3) doula collective working to integrate doula support into healthcare systems to increase access for families who otherwise face barriers to doula support. They have a team of amazing, diverse community doulas who support clients from a variety of backgrounds across Massachusetts. Through their work, they hope to expand access to doula services to birthing people of color and populations most at risk of birth and maternal health inequities.

Accompany Doula Care is different in that they do not currently take private or self-pay doula clients. They work with contracts tailored for healthcare institutions (insurance providers, hospitals, clinics, and others) who primarily serve MassHealth/Medicaid-eligible clients and/or other clients who have high risk factors. All referrals come through these contracts and doula services are provided at no cost to families.

Learn more about the important work that Accompany Doula Care does in Massachusetts at: https://youtu.be/Br0qRolYIx8?si=qFfalhVkYIreUNCn and https://youtu.be/UV_I613Qd4A?si=Hyv8U3wT99mUpefu, as well as their website at Accompany.

About Accompany Doula Care:

Accompany Doula Care is looking for an Executive Director to support the growth and sustainability of the organization. This is a full-time position reporting to the Board of Directors.

Since its founding in 2017, Accompany has accomplished an incredible amount in a short period of time – paid contracts with MA healthcare payers allowing its team of outstanding doulas to provide high-impact service to women and birthing people across the state; a key seat and voice at the table for doula policy and advocacy discussions in MA (and nationally); and an important leader in critical doula-related research studies. Internally, the organization consists of a small and committed administrative team and a high-impact, mission driven racially & culturally diverse staff of doulas. Their culture is caring, supportive, collaborative, and equity centered, and values the ability to be both strategic and “roll up your sleeves”.

While there is a strong foundation for the continued execution of their mission and vision, they are at the point where they need a dedicated, full-time Executive Director to support moving the organization to the next stage of development to a sustainable and growth-oriented organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Development & Financial Sustainability: 

  • Develop a fundraising strategy (including annual goals) and engage in fundraising activities in partnership with the Board, staff and external resources as appropriate and explore and steward opportunities for support through local foundations, public funders, and individual donors relevant to the mission. Serve as Accompany’s primary professional fundraiser and strategic relationship manager with key partners and funders, securing the financial resources required for the organization to deliver on its mission and be on a path of long-term sustainability.
  • In cooperation with the Board and Leadership Team, ensure the organization’s fiscal integrity. Develop and monitor annual budget and work with Leadership Team to negotiate and secure annual doula service contracts and amendments to existing contracts and expand into new contracts.
  • Represent Accompany effectively internally and externally, becoming a respected thought partner in the maternal health arena.

Strategic Planning: 

  • In collaboration and with support from the Board and potential consultants, lead Accompany’s strategic planning process for the short and long term to support the strategic vision of the organization and set annual goals to move that work forward.
  • Communicate the vision and strategy for Accompany among relevant internal and external stakeholders.
  • Represent Accompany effectively internally and externally, becoming a respected thought partner in the maternal health arena.

Leadership & Team Management:

  • Lead with a human-centric and collaborative approach, fostering an inclusive, engaging and positive team culture, and building an inclusive environment between the administrative and doula teams. The administrative team currently has five (5) employees and there are twenty-five (25) doulas working through Accompany Doula Care.
  • Responsible for optimizing organizational design in line with strategic goals and hiring additional capacity for the organization (consultants, employees, etc.) as needed.
  • Develop a fundraising strategy (including annual goals) and engage in fundraising activities in partnership with the Board, staff and external resources as appropriate and explore and steward opportunities for support through local foundations, public funders, and individual donors relevant to the mission.
  • Comfortable making decisions balancing both a collaborative approach where input from others is sought while still being comfortable making and implementing decisions in the best interest of the organization’s current and future well-being.

The above is an overview of the primary responsibilities of the Executive Director role, though as a small, entrepreneurial organization with team members wearing many hats, additional responsibilities may be assigned. 

Required Skills and Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 8 years of nonprofit or public sector senior leadership experience, ideally as an entrepreneurial and hands-on administrator at a growth-oriented organization.
  • A best-in-class leader skilled in key areas such as strategic relationship management, project management, leading multiple departments including public-facing and internally facing support teams, strong communication and presentation skills, and someone who is proactive, organized, efficient, and a logical and rigorous thinker.
  • Passion for maternal health, public health, reproductive health, women’s health, women’s rights, gender equality, or social justice strongly preferred.
  • Deep understanding of and direct experience in organizational management and strategic planning strongly desired.
  • Experience managing budgets of, at minimum, $500K.
  • Must be based in Massachusetts and willing to work virtually with periodic in-person meetings across the state. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required, as well as occasional travel required across the state of MA and nationally as needed.
  • Preference for a candidate who has a demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and experience creating new programs/initiatives and/or helping to significantly grow a nonprofit or public sector organization.
  • Track record of setting strategic goals and aligning resources, human capital, and organizational structures to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Experience supporting and managing diverse teams with a commitment to racial justice and equity. A personal commitment to diversity, equity, justice, inclusion, cultural competency, and a willingness to do the self-work within those areas necessary to exemplify this value to all internal and external stakeholders.
  • Track record of developing and executing diverse fundraising strategies and building the required infrastructure to support organizational sustainability.
  • Experience working with and/or reporting to a nonprofit Board of Directors to effectively provide strategic input and steward financial resources for an organization.
  • Ability to make decisions in collaboration with key stakeholders and create/manage change management processes.
  • Above all, the ideal Executive Director will have all of the above as well as a can-do, “if we can dream it we can do it” attitude to help propel Accompany Doula Care forward.

Additional Information: 

The salary range for the Executive Director is $95,000-$105,000 annually, as well as benefits including health and dental insurance and paid time off.

To Be Considered: 

Accompany Doula Care has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for the new Executive Director. Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter, highlighting experience across the primary responsibilities of the role, to jo**@**********ch.com. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until final interviews are conducted.

Accompany Doula Care’s Statement on Their Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:Accompany Doula Care acknowledges the history of structural racism and its impact on maternal/reproductive health and the role that reproductive healthcare organizations (including us) have played in that history. We are committed to improving the birthing experience for all our clients while eliminating inequities caused by racism. At Accompany, we see racial justice as a process, not a destination. Through our relationships, our shared values and much trial and error, we are building a culture of racial justice, and we expect everyone on our team to join in that effort.”

Search Success! Matthew Cooney Joins Cooperative for Human Services as Vice President of Programs & Services

Cooperative for Human Services (CHS) and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Cooney to the position of Vice President of Programs and Services.

As Vice President of Programs and Services, Matthew will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for all CHS residential and individual supports programs and service areas and will be responsible for strengthening programs and services and ensuring an impact is made in the communities that CHS serves while fostering an organizational culture of accountability.  He will build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization including individuals, families, community partners, volunteers, and Commonwealth entities while continually reinforcing CHS’ mission, vision, and values. A member of the leadership team, Matthew will report to CHS’ CEO, Kevin Leahy.

Matthew is an experienced nonprofit leader and change agent with an entrepreneurial spirit who offers unparalleled execution and leadership skills with the ability to propel organizational goals, policies and metrics to a higher level. He joins CHS from RFK Community Alliance where he was the Vice President of Youth Services, providing leadership and oversight of youth treatment programs for at-risk youth and families within a dynamic non-profit organization.  Prior, Matthew was the Executive Director of Brookline Teen Center, a non-profit organization entirely funded by private donors that provides a safe place for teens to connect with one another, gain access to valuable academic support and engage in unique learning opportunities. Earlier in his career, he was in roles with Walker, Germaine Lawrence, and Boston College.

Matthew completed his undergraduate degree in Sociology at Colorado State University and completed his Master of Social Work (MSW) at Boston College. In addition, Matthew has a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University.

About Cooperative for Human Services:  Founded in 1981 with headquarters in Lexington, MA, the Cooperative for Human Services Inc. (CHS) is a multi-service organization that provides residential services, independent living supports, and guardianship services for people with intellectual and other related disabilities. Their mission is to empower, support, and expand the knowledge, skill, and natural capacities of the people they serve to direct and live full and meaningful lives within their community. CHS has a mission to fulfill – to ensure that every person with special needs served by them lives a truly happy and fulfilling life and is a respected citizen of the community. Learn more about this amazing organization at https://cooperativeforhs.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.

Search Success! Judy Pineda Neufeld Joins the Boston Athletic Association as Chief Community Officer

The Boston Athletic Association (the “B.A.A.”) and Pillar Search & HR Consulting, a nonprofit executive search firm,  are pleased to announce the appointment of Judy Pineda Neufeld to the position of Chief Community Officer.

As the inaugural Chief Community Officer, Judy will engage with community members and organizations throughout Boston, the various cities and towns on and surrounding the Boston Marathon course, and beyond, creating and advancing an inclusive community strategy and related programming in alignment with the B.A.A.’s mission and vision. She will report directly to the B.A.A.’s Chief Executive Officer, Jack Fleming, and be part of the organization’s leadership team.

Judy’s first job out of college was as a community organizer and she has taken her organizing skills into her day-to-day work throughout her career. Through her time with the national nonprofit Emerge and the National Democratic Training Committee, Judy recruited, trained, and supported thousands of women and people of color to run for office. Most recently, she spent 10 years as a nonprofit leadership consultant, advising mission-driven organizations across the country on strategy and impact. Judy was also an entrepreneur and local small business owner, running women’s leadership workshops, trainings, and retreats with her business, Spark Sisterhood. Until June 2025, Judy served as the City of Somerville’s Ward 7 City Councilor and City Council President.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Judy moved to Greater Boston in 2001 to attend Tufts University, where she graduated cum laude, and completed her MBA with honors at Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business with a certification in Leadership Development.

Judy became a runner in 2013, and since then has participated in 27 half-marathons and 4 full marathons, including the 2018 Boston Marathon.

About the B.A.A.: The B.A.A. is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. is committed to a world where all people can access and benefit from running and an active lifestyle. The B.A.A. advances its mission and vision in a variety of ways, such as organizing mass-participatory running events like the Boston Marathon, creating or supporting community fitness events, and sponsoring a running club that serves the greater Boston area.

The B.A.A. is committed to fostering a workplace, community and events that celebrate differences, and create a sense of inclusion and belonging for all. To learn more about this wonderful organization, please visit www.baa.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.

Search Success! Emma Concepcion Joins UTEC as Chief People Officer

UTEC and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce that, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, Emma Concepcion has joined UTEC as their new Chief People Officer.

Reporting to UTEC’s CEO, Emma will be responsible for leading UTEC’s people and talent strategies, managing and mitigating organizational risks, and continuing the development of their human resource-related strategies, policies, and procedures. She will be a strategic advisor to senior leadership on a variety of issues, including employee relations, leadership development, organizational culture, and talent management, and will be play a key leadership role in supporting UTEC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of management and embodying UTEC’s DEI vision in their work and workplace culture.

Emma joins UTEC from Bay Cove Human Services, where she was their Vice President of Human Resources and earlier was the organization’s Director of Human Resources. As a member of the Bay Cove leadership team, she established the workforce development team, was Co-Chair of the DEI committee, designed and implemented HR initiatives, enhanced staff retention and engagement, and aligned HR strategies with organizational objectives. While Emma was Bay Cove’s Vice President of Human Resources, the organization achieved recognition as one of Boston’s Top Places to Work for five consecutive years. Prior to her tenure in Human Resources at Bay Cove, Emma spent a decade as their Director of Housing. In addition to her human resources and human services expertise, Emma also has extensive mediation experience, as she spent several years participating in court mediation and mediation training as a member of the Harvard University Mediation Program, handling cases related to civil, housing, and harassment prevention orders.

About UTEC: UTEC is a nationally recognized program for justice-involved young adults. The program starts behind the walls of correctional facilities and intensive street outreach/gang peacemaking and transitions into an intensive program in the community post-release. The nature of their educational services, wraparound supports and counseling, social enterprise/workforce development, organizing/policy work, training institute, and innovative partnerships creates a variety of impacts in the lives of the individuals and communities they serve.

Last year, UTEC served over 600 young adults including a range of outreach activities, and approximately 150 young adults intensively through their comprehensive program. During this fiscal year, 75% of young adults at UTEC avoided arrest. With over 20 years of experience, UTEC is a catalyst, innovating in the way they serve young adults (ages 17-25) who are criminally and/or gang involved in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley. Learn more about UTEC at https://utecinc.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.

Search Success: Maridel Perdomo Joins Families First as the Senior Director of Programs!

Families First and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, that Maridel Perdomo has joined Families First as the Senior Director of Programs.

This is an exciting time for Families First, as they are seeing incredible outcomes from their programs and are in the process of expanding across the state. With the launch of a 5-year business plan, the organization looks toward significant growth in the coming years.

Reporting to Family First’s Executive Director, Sue Covitz, Maridel will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of Families First’s regional programming in Greater Boston and Western MA. Through this work, she will prioritize Families First’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by engaging parents and the Families First team to inform regional and programmatic growth as the organization expands.

In addition, she will oversee Families First’s alumni services, support the evaluation and quality strategy, and support the program curricula and training strategy. She will serve on the leadership team to advance organizational goals and cross-departmental priorities and will execute and monitor expansion plans as a part of the 5-year business plan.

Maridel joins Families First from Schools for Children, where she was the Director of Extended Learning Programs. There, she was responsible for multi-site programs for 200 students and leading 30 staff members. Prior roles have included Site Director of YMCA at Gardner Pilot Academy, Preschool Director at Pine Village Preschool, and roles as Job Developer and Youth Program Director with Centro Latino. Maridel earned her master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University, her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salem State University, and also holds a degree in Human Resource Administration from Cecilio Acosta University in Caracas, Venezuela. Recently, Maridel served on the Board of Trustees of Watertown’s New Rep Theatre, where she was a member of the Diversity Committee and was involved in fundraising, budgeting, and the annual planning process.

About Families First: Families First’s mission is to partner with parents to amplify their power so they can positively impact the lives of children and communities through their groundbreaking programs. Their model includes parenting education and support, parent leadership, family engagement, and alumni services.

For more than 35 years, Families First has been a leader in providing parenting education across the Greater Boston area. The organization was founded in 1988 with the goal of helping parents navigate the diverse challenges of raising children by providing research-based parenting education services.

Today, Families First provides Massachusetts’s most comprehensive model for early childhood parenting education, family engagement, and parent leadership: The Power of ParentingTM program and The Ripple Program TM.

As a result of Families First’s high-impact, multi-tiered program model, parents will support the development of their children’s social-emotional and cognitive skills, embrace their role as the most important force in their children’s learning and well-being, and gain new skills and resources to support and advocate for their children as they grow. Learn more about this amazing organization at www.families-first.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.

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

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.