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Surf’s Up: What Surfing Can Teach You about Your Job Search

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The “Memories” feature on our phones is a wonderful thing, reminding us of people and places in our lives. This morning’s collection was from fourteen years ago when I and two cousins paddled out for the first time. What a joy that was! A few years later, I wrote an article about how surfing is similar to the job search and am reposting it here for those in job search mode. Have a “swell” day! 

I am a surfer, or at least aspiring to be one.  Recently, I was out on my board in York, Maine on a day with few good waves and plenty of downtime to ponder this gleefully addicting sport and life in general and began to realize that there are many parallels between the job search and surfing.

Like the job search, surfing depends as much on one’s skill and experience as it does a host of conditions that we have zero control over.  Weather.  Crowded surfing areas and beaches.  Wave size and frequency.  Swell direction.  The list of potential challenges may seem endless, just as it is when you are seeking a new job in a competitive market or industry.

Once you have decided to get in the water (or start looking for your next career opportunity), you paddle out and try not to bump into others.  In the job search, this can be those baby steps that are really critical to overall success, such as writing your resume, crafting solid cover letters, beefing up your LinkedIn profile, and letting people in your network know that you are open to a new opportunity.

Experienced surfers will have multiple boards to choose from to suit their mood or the conditions. Savvy candidates will do the same. Perhaps your “board” will be resumes that highlight different skills and career objectives depending on the jobs you are interested in, or cover letters that will be your differentiator. Knowing yourself and the tools that are available to you is key to success.

Like choosing the right job to apply to, choosing the right wave is essential.  It would be physically and emotionally exhausting to paddle out, attempt to get in the right spot at the right time, pop up, and stay balanced if surfers went after every wave that came along.  Be selective in the job search so that you are fresh and energized when the right one comes along.

Hang ten.  Surfs up.  Cut the curl.  These are not sayings that you will hear on a golf course, tennis court, or basketball court. They are specific to the sport of surfing. An industry will have its own language and catch phrases.  Do your research so that you can communicate in a way that resonates with the people you are interviewing with, as it will help gain their trust and confidence.

Enjoy the ride, even if it is not the perfect wave.  There are days that I get out on the board, and I am just not feeling it, but I still enjoy being out there.  The same can happen in an interview when the job and company look great on paper, yet in the light of day you just do not feel that spark.  Relax.  Every interview is an opportunity to practice and a chance to expand your network.   Surfers talk about catching the perfect wave, but in reality, we try and try and keep getting back on the board, even after falling or not doing our best.

Having a good surfing instructor helps.  Even the most experienced surfers sometimes need a fine tuning on their technique, someone who can help them to look at their style and approach and make suggestions.  In the job search, working with a specialized career coach or recruiter can be invaluable, as they will take a fresh look at your resume and help you to identify the skills and experiences that you should highlight in the interview.

Ultimately, you may need to try a few waves before you find the ideal one, but in the end, there is no feeling as satisfying and euphoric as catching that perfect wave.  The same holds true for the job search.  Keep at it, and you will catch the right job and have the ride of your life.

P.S.: If you are in the York, Maine area and want to try surfing, I highly recommend the team at Liquid Dreams!

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! Christie Yonkers Joins Sandy Hook Promise as Vice President of Operations!

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Sandy Hook Promise and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce that, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, Christie Yonkers has joined as Vice President of Operations.

Reporting to Sandy Hook Promise’s Chief Operating Officer, Dawn Lyons, Christie will be responsible for translating Sandy Hook Promise’s strategy into high-quality, scalable execution across the organization and ensure that day-to-day operations, systems, and cross-functional processes are effective, efficient, and aligned to organizational priorities.

Christie has spent 25 years in nonprofit leadership. Most recently, she was Executive Director of the Sandra Hoskins Legacy Foundation, which she built from scratch and through which she deployed $6.7 million across dozens of partners focused on affordable housing. Before that, she led a financial turnaround at Towards Employment, ran cross-enterprise foundation relations at Cleveland Clinic, and held leadership roles at The Temple-Tifereth Israel, Beech Brook, and the ACLU of Ohio. Throughout her career, Christie has helped mission-driven organizations translate ambitious goals into effective execution by building systems, aligning teams, and creating structures that allow good work to happen consistently and at scale.

She holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and is an Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Fellow.

When speaking about joining the team, Christie shared “Sandy Hook Promise’s mission is deeply meaningful to me. As a parent, I understand how important it is that young people feel connected, supported, and seen — and how critical it is for the adults around them to recognize when someone IS struggling and know how to respond. I am honored to help strengthen the operational foundation that allows Sandy Hook Promise to continue expanding that impact nationwide.”

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise is a nonpartisan organization that was founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook Promise is dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating a culture of inclusivity, safety, respect, and kindness in schools and communities across the United States.

Sandy Hook Promise Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that offers a range of evidence-informed programs and initiatives designed to empower youth, educators, and community members to recognize the signs preceding violence and to take steps to prevent it. Their programs include educational resources for schools, youth leadership programs, and community-based campaigns to raise awareness of the impacts of gun violence.

Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) that champions a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization.

Through its work, Sandy Hook Promise aims to build a movement of individuals and organizations committed to promoting gun safety, mental health awareness, and social and emotional learning. The organization has received widespread support from educators, parents, and lawmakers, as well as celebrities and public figures, and continues to play a vital role in the national conversation around gun violence prevention.

Learn more about Sandy Hook Promise 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 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! Jessica Almeida Appointed Vice President of Programs at Cooperative for Human Services

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Pillar Search & HR Consulting and Cooperative for Human Services are pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica (Jess) Almeida as Vice President of Programs. Jess joined Cooperative for Human Services on July 27, 2026.

Jess is an experienced nonprofit leader in the human service field with a passion for improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. She shared that, “The Cooperative for Human Services mission of providing services that support community inclusion, personal enrichment and quality of life speaks to my passions for supporting people with disabilities to pursue their goals and live life to the fullest in their communities”.

Jes has devoted her career to serving and advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She joins Cooperative from Bridgewell, where she served as their Vice President of Day Habilitation and Community Engagement. Prior to that, she was the Senior Program Director at Vinfen. She began her tenure at Vinfen as the Day Services Program Director. Earlier in her career, Jess worked at BAMSI and Perkins School for the Blind.

Jess holds an MBA with a focus on nonprofit management from Springfield College and a bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education from Lesley University. She also has a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from UMASS Boston. Jess has been actively engaged as both an athlete and volunteer with Boston Roller Derby.

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 support, 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 nationwide, 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 About Pillar Search & HR Consulting – Pillar Search

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Search Success: Lisa Ortiz Appointed Chief of Staff at Sandy Hook Promise

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Sandy Hook Promise and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce that, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, Lisa Ortiz has joined as Chief of Staff.

Reporting to Sandy Hook Promise’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Nicole Hockley, Lisa will serve as a senior organizational and strategic partner, responsible for ensuring internal alignment, leadership effectiveness and disciplined decision-making across Sandy Hook Promise.  She will amplify the CEO’s effectiveness by managing the internal rhythms of the organization, creating the conditions for the leadership team to work well together and for strategic priorities to be executed with clarity and accountability.

Lisa brings strategy, operations, and nonprofit expertise to this new role. Most recently, she operated her consulting firm, Stasis Consulting, and prior to that was with well-known organizations including Braven, Achievement First, and Columbia University Tutoring and Learning Center.

Lisa earned her EdD in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University, her MA in English Composition and Rhetoric from University of Hawaii at Manoa, and her BA in Biology from University of Hawaii at Manoa. In addition, she is a Certified L&D Specialist and a Certified DEIB Specialist.

Says Lisa, “When the opportunity to apply for this role emerged, it felt less like a career move and more like an obvious next step in work I’m already invested in.”

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise is a nonpartisan organization that was founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook Promise is dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating a culture of inclusivity, safety, respect, and kindness in schools and communities across the United States.

Sandy Hook Promise Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that offers a range of evidence-informed programs and initiatives designed to empower youth, educators, and community members to recognize the signs preceding violence and to take steps to prevent it. Their programs include educational resources for schools, youth leadership programs, and community-based campaigns to raise awareness of the impacts of gun violence.

Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) that champions a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization.

Through its work, Sandy Hook Promise aims to build a movement of individuals and organizations committed to promoting gun safety, mental health awareness, and social and emotional learning. The organization has received widespread support from educators, parents, and lawmakers, as well as celebrities and public figures, and continues to play a vital role in the national conversation around gun violence prevention.

Learn more about Sandy Hook Promise 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 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: Suzie Murphy Appointed the CEO of Delta Projects!

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Pillar Search & HR Consulting and Delta Projects are pleased to announce the appointment of Suzanne (Suzie) Murphy as Chief Executive Officer. Suzie joined Delta Projects on April 27, 2026.

Suzie brings a longstanding commitment to Delta Projects, having served as both a Board Member and strategic advisor for several years. In these roles, she contributed meaningfully to the organization’s direction and impact. Her deep understanding of Delta Projects’ mission, culture, and community positions her well to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and innovation.

A visionary and strategic nonprofit leader, Suzie has a distinguished track record in strength-based leadership, organizational strategy, change management, and business transformation. As CEO, she will partner closely with the Board of Directors and executive leadership team to set long-term direction, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and advance high-quality, person-centered services for Delta Projects’ residents. She is committed to fostering an inclusive, engaged culture while ensuring continuous improvement in service delivery.

Suzie joins Delta Projects from Wentworth Institute of Technology, where she served as Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. Prior to that, she was Vice President, Chief People Officer at Simmons University. She began her tenure at Simmons as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, where she led the expansion of national online programs. Earlier in her career, Suzie worked in Global Human Asset Management at The Monitor Group (now Monitor Deloitte).

Suzie holds an MBA from Boston College and a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross. She is a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach and has been actively engaged in volunteer service with organizations including Best Buddies International and the American Red Cross.

About Delta Projects: Delta Projects is more than just a non-profit human service agency. They are a community dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, traumatic and acquired brain injuries, and other developmental challenges. Their 400+ staff members positively impact the lives of over 200 individuals across 20 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts. Delta Projects was founded in 1976 as an innovative program to help families keep children with intellectual disabilities at home and out of state-run residential programs. That early respite and family training program was soon followed by a community-based residential program which, like all programs of its kind, had its origins in the deinstitutionalization movement of that period. Bringing individuals into the community, rather than segregating and isolating them, was the Delta Projects’ mission. Fifty years later, community inclusion is still the cornerstone of their operating philosophy. Learn more at Delta | Every Individual Counts.

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 nationwide, 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 About Pillar Search & HR Consulting – Pillar Search.

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Search Success! Audrey Falk Joins The Arc of Massachusetts as Chief Operating Officer!

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The Arc of Massachusetts and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Audrey Falk, Ed.D., to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Audrey is a visionary and strategic nonprofit leader with a distinguished record of leadership in education, diversity, and social justice.

As Chief Operating Officer, she will streamline internal processes and develop a performance culture among a group of talented and committed employees, consultants, and the 17 chapters of The Arc of Massachusetts. She will work as a trusted partner to the CEO, ensuring organizational priorities are implemented, strengthening relationships with the statewide network of chapters, and overseeing essential operations that support the organization’s success.

Audrey joins The Arc of Massachusetts from Merrimack College, where she was the Founding Director of the Master’s Program in Nonprofit Management and Community Engagement. Notably, Audrey worked for the South Norfolk County Arc (now Lifeworks) earlier in her career as the Director of the Family Support Program and as Director of the Family Autism Center. She began her professional journey as a Peace Corps volunteer in Romania, where she taught at local schools and supported children with disabilities in their homes and youth living in orphanages.

Audrey holds an Ed.M. in Risk and Prevention and an Ed.D. in Administration, Training, and Policy Studies with a specialization in Community Agency Educational Administration and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Educational Policy Research Involving Students with Disabilities at the University of Maryland, College Park.

About The Arc of Massachusetts: The Arc of Massachusetts is passionate about enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families. For over 70 years, through advocacy, programs that promote inclusion, and belonging in the community, The Arc has focused on creating tangible changes in the lives of people with disabilities. The Arc is a nationwide organization with each state running both a statewide chapter and local chapters within the state. The 17 local Chapters of The Arc in Massachusetts work throughout the Commonwealth to provide services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities – such as Down syndrome, Autism, and cerebral palsy – and their families. The mission of The Arc of Massachusetts is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism and their families. They fulfill this through advocacy for community support and services that foster social inclusion, self-determination, and equity across all aspects of society. They represent over 250,000 individuals and their families. Learn more at The Arc of Massachusetts – Achieve With Us.

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 About Pillar Search & HR Consulting – Pillar Search. 

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Upcoming Speaking Engagement: From Surprise to Strategy: Preparing for Nonprofit Leadership Change

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Honored to present alongside Kimberlee Schumacher, MBA, MA, with moderator Zena Lum for The Boston Club on the topic of “From Surprise to Strategy: Preparing for Nonprofit Leadership Change.”

Join us on Wednesday, March 11, via Teams from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Registration and details can be found here.

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