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

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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.

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Search Success! Kimberly Scharf is the New CEO of The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod!

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The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Kimberly (Kim) Scharf to the position of CEO.

Kim brings a deep and unique connection to the organization’s mission. For more than two decades, The Arc has been part of her life—first as a parent, then as a volunteer and consultant, as a member of the leadership team, and most recently as Senior Vice President, Community and Family Services. This personal and professional journey gives Kim a profound understanding of the impact the work has on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the broader community.

During her time at The Arc, Kim has demonstrated strong, value-driven leadership. She has played a key role in transforming programs, building and supporting dedicated teams, and strengthening The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod’s presence and partnerships throughout the community. Her ability to lead with compassion, clarity, and accountability has earned the trust and respect of staff, families, and community partners alike.

According to the Board of Directors, “Kim is the right leader to guide The Arc into its next chapter. Her commitment to our mission, combined with her operational experience and collaborative leadership style, will help ensure the continued strength, sustainability, and impact of our organization”.

About The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod: The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries (ABI), and their families/caregivers.  Through a wide range of services including residential programs and employment services, day programs, family resources and advocacy, The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod ensures that people with disabilities have the tools, opportunities, and respect they need to live full, self-directed lives. The mission of The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod is to empower and support people with disabilities and their families to belong, contribute and thrive. For more information about The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod, please visit The Arc of Plymouth and Cape Cod.

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! Katherine Davis Wheeler Joins Boston Preservation Alliance as Executive Director

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Boston Preservation Alliance and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine Davis Wheeler to the position of Executive Director. Katherine Davis Wheeler (she/they) is a nonprofit leader, public historian, and historic preservation professional with over 18 years of experience working at the intersection of organizational strategy, community engagement, and cultural stewardship.

Her work centers on preservation and adaptive reuse, with a particular focus on the history and evolution of the preservation movement in the United States. Drawing on both academic and technical experience, she approaches preservation as a people-centered, equity-driven field—one that connects policy and advocacy with storytelling, community engagement, and neighborhood-based action.

Katherine joined the Boston Preservation Alliance as Executive Director on August 4, 2025. In this role, she champions the organization’s mission, leads staff and programs, and stewards its fiscal health. Collaborating with the Board of Directors and its committees, she manages day-to-day operations and serves as the Alliance’s principal spokesperson. Highly visible in the community, Katherine builds relationships across sectors to advance the Alliance’s advocacy and education work.

Over the course of her career, Katherine has supported arts, history, and culture-focused organizations through periods of growth and transformation. She has held executive leadership roles and consulted with museums, historic sites, and nonprofits. Her work spans executive coaching, strategic planning, interim management, operational alignment, fundraising strategy, and advising organizations on DEIA practices grounded in accountability and structural change.

She holds an undergraduate degree in art history, a master’s in architecture and design with a focus on historic preservation and adaptive reuse, and a graduate certificate in public history and museum studies from the University of Massachusetts. Katherine has served in volunteer and advisory roles with numerous civic and preservation-focused organizations, including the Amherst Historical Commission, Amherst Design Review Board, Downtown Waltham Partnership, Preservation Massachusetts, and the Northampton Arts Council.

About Boston Preservation Alliance: The Boston Preservation Alliance (The Alliance) is an independent, nonprofit organization that exists to advocate for and empower Bostonians to play an active role in preserving the places and stories that are important to Boston’s history. They envision Boston as a place where the stories of its diverse residents and cultures are reflected in its evolving built environment. Through advocacy and education, they guide thoughtful change that simultaneously stewards the historic character that defines the city.  Learn more at www.bostonpreservation.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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Pillar Search & HR Consulting Turns 10 Today!

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Today, Pillar Search & HR Consulting celebrates 10 years in business, and oh, what a journey it has been! On one hand, it feels like the decade went by in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, it’s been a hard-earned milestone, with so many lessons learned along the way.

I am eternally grateful to Pillar’s nonprofit clients across the country who have entrusted Pillar Search & HR Consulting with their leadership hiring and HR needs, to the wildly talented professionals placed in exciting  roles who have advanced inspiring nonprofits, and to the friends, family, former colleagues, and more who have supported Pillar Search & HR Consulting along the way with referrals, words of encouragement, and sage advice. It truly takes a village.

While today is a time for me to personally reflect on the past ten years, I am also excited and energized for what the next ten years will bring. They say that if you do what you love, you will never work a day, and today – and every day – I know what a gift that truly is.

Thank you for following along on this journey. Onward!

Cheers,

Cindy Joyce, Founder, Pillar Search & HR Consulting

executive search nonprofit boston, executive search nonprofit leadership, nonprofit hiring boston

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

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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.

B.A.A. Chief Community Officer, executive search nonprofit boston, nonprofit exec search firm boston

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

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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.

Nonprofit news, The Arc of the South Shore Liz Sandblom

Search Success! Liz Sandblom Joins The Arc of the South Shore as CEO!

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The Arc of the South Shore and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce, following a very competitive search, the appointment of Liz Sandblom to the position of CEO. Liz joined the organization on February 3, 2025.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, Liz will provide leadership, direction and strategic oversight focused on the achievement of agency goals and objectives. She will be responsible for the development, implementation and execution of policies and programs intended to improve the general welfare of all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the continued success of The Arc of the South Shore.

In accepting this position, Liz shared, “I’m thrilled and honored to accept the position of CEO at the Arc of the South Shore.  To have the opportunity to step into this next chapter of my career in the community I have lived my whole life in is truly an honor.  I am looking forward to contributing to the Arc of the South Shore’s work and ongoing success”.

Liz has dedicated her career to advocating for and empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the organizations that serve them. She joins The Arc of the South Shore from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where she most recently served as Deputy Assistant Commissioner. In that role, Liz oversaw a team of employees dedicated to supporting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to fulfill their vision of living their best lives, fostering partnerships with organizations that provided much-needed services and opportunities, and enhancing service delivery through a self-directed program that individuals had the ability to create and direct their individual service needs. Liz is a graduate of Northeastern University, where she majored in Psychology. She has served on the board of Nurses Care for Haitian Children, where she was a member of the fundraising committee, and has been a volunteer mentor.

About The Arc of the South Shore: Since 1951, The Arc of the South Shore has helped more than 100,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism, live their best lives and achieve high-quality outcomes. Their mission is to empower families and individuals of all ages with disabilities to reach their fullest potential. With the support of their partners, they ensure that people with disabilities live healthy, safe, independent, and empowered lives. The Arc of the South Shore is $16M in operating budget, 200 employees, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers operating in 10 facilities across the south shore. Their primary service areas include Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate, and Weymouth; they also have a presence throughout Greater Southeastern Massachusetts. For more information about The Arc of the South Shore, please visit their website.   

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston and working nationwide, 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. Pillar’s founder, Cindy Joyce, is a Certified Diversity Recruiter. For more information about Pillar, please visit Pillar’s website.