• Gershenson managed eight searches in 2022 almost double the average for a given year. This year we shepherded the searches for CEOs, CDOs and a number of Program Directors for the first time. We averaged less than 8 weeks to complete most all of these searches. We worked with Children at Risk, Covenant House, Young Texas Artists, Baker Ripley and Catholic Charities to name a few.

• We are pleased to begin our work with Mission Squash Houston – who purpose is to engage under-served middle and high school students in competitive squash and supplemental educational support activities geared to help these students get into college. They have an incredible track record of success. We have been engaged to provide Capacity Building and high level Board training and also to shepherd the search for their next Executive Director/CEO. The search will commence in early January with a completion schedule for mid-February. Preliminary work has already begun and the job posting will be distributed in the first week of January 2023.

It’s true, Elliot and Alyson Gershenson have moved to Florida – but Houston is still homebase for Gershenson Consulting, LLC.

We were excited to be engaged to find Seven Acres’ new Chief Development Officer, and we are pleased to announce that Marilu Garza was selected and has begun her duties. Marilu is one of Houston’s premiere development professionals and was the CDO at The Center prior to her new position. Seven Acres is Houston’s Jewish organization serving seniors in Assisted Living at The Medallion and in nursing care in their long-term facility. Seven Acres is one of Houston’s most highly regarded senior care facilities. Marilu will oversee all development activities which include Annual fund development; their incredible annual Gala, as well as Capital and Endowment fund development. Marilu was recently recognized by the Houston Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) as one of two “fundraisers for 2020” which is quite an honor.

Gershenson Consulting, LLC manages searches for C-suite professionals. We are affordable and dedicated to providing outstanding service to our clients. We average less than 10 weeks for most searches.

• Texas Network of Youth Services, TNOYS, Texas’ state-wide network of youth service organizations is pleased to announce the engagement of Fedora Galasso as its new Executive Director. After an extensive search, Fedora was selected to lead TNOYS into the future.

  Fedora comes to TNOYS with over twenty years of experience serving youth in a variety of settings. She is an accomplished public policy advocate, has strong coalition-building skills and is a strong program management focus, with experience in both government and nonprofit settings.

  Fedora told the TNOYS leadership that her “entire career has been devoted to ensuring the safety, well-being and economic opportunity of children and youth. Beginning with my first job working directly with families and children in the child protection system in rural Texas to my most recent job ensuring that young people were involved in policy making impacting their live, I have been passionate about empowering young people and communities.”

  TNOYS serves organizations that care deeply about social equity and assuring that the voices and needs of young people are heard at all levels of government and policy making arenas. We are excited that Fedora will join our wonderful staff, board and community partners to continue building impact throughout Texas. Fedora looks forward to succeeding Christine Gendron, who over the past 8 years has build TNOYS reputation as an outstanding provider of network services and built an incredibly strong organization.

  Fedora has both a Master of Public Affairs, with a concentration in Social and Economic Policy from the LBJ School of Pubic Affairs and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Community and Administrative Leadership. Described as a strong leader and collaborator, and a deep listener, Fedora will use her skills to assure that organizations serving Texas youth will have the financial capacity and legislative support to assure that every young person has the chance to build strong lives.
  Fedora began her role on August 20^th. The search was completed in only seven weeks!

Over the course of my 45+ years as a nonprofit CEO and consultant, I’ve learned a few things. I like to distill concepts to their most basic principles, finding that by doing so, processes become clear and success is more likely. If you focus your work on these four principles, I think you will have less frustration (and so will your staff and volunteer leadership) and more success. They are: Big Think; Raise a Lot of Money; Put Great People Around You; and Get Out Of The Way.

READ MORE