Leadership Transition

Prepare to thrive with your next key leader.

Our Approach to Navigating Transition

Is your organization experiencing leadership change? A smooth transition from one leader to another will keep your organization focused on mission. By taking a realistic and thoughtful approach, we can help you create a process for a successful leadership change.

Leadership transition is an umbrella term for the comprehensive approach to preparing the organization for change, conducting a search, and supporting a new hire. Leadership transition can start with the board exploring the organization’s strategic direction and end with a graceful exit of one leader and entry of a new one, whether the exit is planned or unexpected.

A successful transition begins with planning. Our succession planning service, described below, is the first step when you anticipate change in your top board or staff leaders. Ideally, planning begins months before an actual transition.

When the time comes to change leaders, you will be ready to move into Prepare-Search-Thrive. This is the part of our Leadership Transition service where we help prepare your organization for change, conduct a search, and support your new hire. Our objective is to assist you to move through each phase and position your organization to achieve its goals. You may also choose to participate in Prepare or Thrive as stand-alone services.

Our services are designed to help your organization ask critical questions about organizational structure, financial stability, mission results, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are here as mentor, partner, and guide to ensure your mission thrives. Fees for our service will be determined before commitment.

Check out these LT FAQs for more information, or call us at 907-743-1200.

Succession Planning

Is your organization planning ahead for leadership change? We can help you prepare for the inevitable transitions that every organization experiences, whether it’s an executive, board member, or staff leader.

Attention to leader succession makes all leadership transitions easier on the board and staff while ensuring organizational continuity and mission success. We customize our services to your budget, size, and operational complexity. Our goal for you is to thrive, not just survive during change.

Our succession planning provides:

• Executive and board succession planning
• Organizational sustainability review
• Attention to the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Seamless integration to Prepare-Search-Thrive.

Our team is ready to lead you through the process of writing a succession plan that reflects your organization’s purpose, core values, and goals.

If you are currently experiencing a leadership change or know that leadership transition is imminent, our Prepare-Search-Thrive services are appropriate for you.

For more information on how we can help, use our contact form or call us at 907-743-1200.

Phase I: Prepare

Be clear about your core purpose and priorities before you choose your next leader. The Prepare Phase includes an organizational sustainability review that will help you determine what you need from your next leader and key staff.

This phase is completed when the board has a clear understanding of both its role and relationship to the next leader and of the organization’s strategic direction. Alignment of board and staff on the skills and attributes desired in their next leader is also a key step.

Every “Prepare” phase includes an opportunity to:

  • Ensure the board and staff are aligned in their role, strategic goals, transition issues, and priorities
  • Examine the organizational structure (bylaws, policies, staffing structure)
  • Review and stabilize, if needed, the organization’s financial position
  • Engage board, staff, and key stakeholders through interviews or surveys when required

When the time is right, the next steps will include:

  • Developing a profile of the ideal candidate, including skills, experience, and connection to mission
  • Developing a search plan with timelines and targets
  • Aligning salary and benefits to community and job classification benchmarks

For more information, use our contact form or call us at 907-743-1200.

Phase II: Search

We will help you recruit, screen, and select highly qualified candidates who are aligned with your core purpose, values, and goals when leadership transition occurs.

Recognizing the accelerating turnover rate in our nonprofit community, we have a suite of services including recruiters and a comprehensive database to identify, track, and recruit your next leader. The search phase includes:

  • A focused outreach campaign to attract a diverse pool of candidates both inside and outside Alaska
  • Resume and application management
  • Cross reference to existing qualified applicants in our database
  • Screening, research, and multi-stage interviews process
  • Background and reference checks of top candidates

For more information on how we can help, use our contact form or call us at 907-743-1200. 

Phase III: Thrive

Once you’ve identified your preferred candidate, we will help you take the next steps to complete a successful transition.From working closely with you on contract negotiations, to integrating your candidate into your organization, to continued training, we are with you every step of the way.

After working closely with you through the prepare and search processes, we have learned a tremendous amount about your organization and the individual needs of your team. A successful transition is not complete when the search is over, but in many ways is just beginning. The services we provide through the transition include:

  • Developing an announcement and rollout plan to introduce your new hire to your stakeholders
  • Creating and implementing an orientation plan that develops a strong foundation for the new hire and the relationship with the board, staff, and key stakeholders
  • Assisting the new leader in creating effective communication strategies and building a network of support

Our goal is to continue supporting your organization into the future with additional services, such as:

  • Ongoing strategic planning and organizational development after the hire
  • Leadership, board, and staff training
  • Succession Planning

For more information, use our contact form or call us at 907-743-1200.

Latest Leadership Transition Posts

Jun 12, 2025
Foraker partners with REAP to place new Executive Director
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

After months of planning and an extensive search using our comprehensive Leadership Transition services, Foraker has helped place Cady Lister as the new Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP). Ms. Lister was chosen from a large field of highly qualified applicants to lead REAP’s growing team in their mission to increase the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Alaska through collaboration, education, training, and advocacy. Ms. Lister will assume her new role on July 8. She will overlap with REAP’s Founder and current Executive Director, Chris Rose, for 60 days to ensure a smooth leadership transition before Mr. Rose embarks upon his next adventure during his well-deserved retirement. Ms. Lister has over 20 years of experience developing and implementing renewable energy and energy efficiency policies,… Read more »

May 14, 2025
Your Questions Answered: Leadership Transition Services
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

Does your organization anticipate a leadership change in the coming months? A smooth transition from one leader to another will keep your organization focused on its mission. We can help you create a process for a successful leadership change by taking a realistic and thoughtful approach. We’ve created FAQs to help you assess if our Leadership Transition services are a fit for your organization. We are also relaunching our community class – Recruiting for the Long-Term: Finding Leaders that Stay – on June 12 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. If your organization is looking to be more thoughtful about leadership transition, this class is for you. You can learn more about our Leadership Transition services here…. Read more »

Mar 25, 2025
Foraker partners with Mat-Su Health Foundation to place new CEO
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

Following Foraker’s rigorous nationwide recruitment effort using our comprehensive Leadership Transition services, Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has selected Esther Pitts to serve as its next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Pitts is a long-time Alaskan, Mat-Su resident, and currently serves as the Chief Community Impact Officer (CCIO) at MSHF. She will succeed retiring CEO Elizabeth Ripley and formally step into the role on May 1, 2025. Ripley announced last year that she would retire to spend more time with family, travel, and explore other community opportunities. In anticipation, MSHF Board of Directors (Board) engaged with The Foraker Group to lead a thoughtful and thorough selection process. The search spanned the nation, garnering interest from over 75 applicants. Through a series of complex and intensive interviews, the Board narrowed the… Read more »

Mar 4, 2025
Foraker partners with Kodiak History Museum to place new Executive Director
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

After a comprehensive approach using Foraker’s Leadership Transition services, Kodiak History Museum (KHM) has selected Kristin O’Lear as its Executive Director. Ms. O’Lear was chosen from a field of qualified applicants to join KHM in its mission to facilitate the exploration of the natural, cultural, and artistic heritage of Kodiak Island and surrounding communities. She will lead the KHM team in creating opportunities for the public to discover, share, and exchange knowledge through the museum’s collections and resources. Ms. O’Lear brings more than a decade of museum experience and will be joining KHM from Imperial Valley Desert Museum in Ocotillo, CA where she has served as Executive Director since 2021, and head curator before that. During her tenure there Ms. O’Lear successfully led the organization through a period of rapid… Read more »

Feb 25, 2025
Foraker partners with Alaska Airmen’s to place new Executive Director
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

After a comprehensive process utilizing Foraker’s Leadership Transition services, the Alaska Airmen’s Association (AAA) is proud to announce the appointment of Priscilla Ribic as Executive Director of the organization. Ms. Ribic was chosen from an extensive field of candidates in a nationwide search to join the Airmen’s Association in their mission of protecting, preserving, and promoting general aviation throughout Alaska. Ms. Ribic joins AAA with extensive nonprofit leadership experience, having served as Executive Director for USA Powerlifting, an Anchorage-based national nonprofit. A pilot with a strong passion for general aviation, her experience in development and membership growth will help the Airmen’s Association move forward and continue to expand its reach and influence in the aviation sector. Alaska Airmen’s Association Board President Stephen Ratcliff said, “The board is excited to welcome… Read more »

Oct 2, 2024
Foraker partners with JAHMI to place new CEO
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

With support from Foraker’s Leadership Transition team, JAHMI Health and Wellness has selected Dr. Will Jemison to serve as their next CEO. Dr. Jemison joins JAMHI from the brand new Alice Walton School of Medicine where he served as Chief of Staff to the CEO under the school’s development and preparation for opening in September ‘24. In this role, Jemison drove efficiency in operations, structure, and change management strategy through an academic medicine and population health lens. Will Jemison previously served as Chief Administrative Officer for Resurrection Health and Missions in Montgomery, AL. In that role, Jemison led organizational enhancements to better engage and serve a population with similar health outcomes and demographics to those of Southeast Alaska…. Read more »

Sep 18, 2024
Foraker partners with Sprout Family Services to place new ED
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

After a comprehensive process using Foraker’s Leadership Transition services, Sprout Family Services (Sprout) has announced Jonathan McGhee as their new Executive Director. Mr. McGhee was chosen from a field of qualified applicants to join Sprout in their mission of promoting the healthy development of children in partnership with families and community. Mr. McGhee joins Sprout with over 28 years of experience in the human services field, not only in the United States, but in 10 other countries as well. During his more than 22 years in nonprofit leadership, he pioneered and led two non-profits, one in the U.S. and one in the Philippines, and developed the first IPS supported employment program in the State of Alaska. “The board is so excited to welcome Jon as our new Executive Director,” says… Read more »

Jun 24, 2024
Foraker partners with AFN to place new President
Posted Under: Leadership Transition

After a thoughtful process using Foraker’s Leadership Transition services, the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Board of Directors has selected Benjamin Mallott as the organization’s next President. Mallott has been with AFN for more than 11 years and currently serves as the organization’s Vice President of External Affairs. Board Co-Chair Joe Nelson said the board conducted an extensive statewide search before making its selection. “We were fortunate to receive applications from strong and impressive candidates,” Nelson said. “This enabled the board of directors to select a person who is well aligned with AFN’s mission and values. Ben understands AFN’s diversity and has demonstrated steady leadership within the organization for many years.” Nelson cites Mallott’s background in Alaska Native issues and state and federal public policy as key to his selection…. Read more »