The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) has announced ByalaSearch will lead the nonprofit’s search for its next president. The boutique firm specializes in executive search and placement in the nonprofit and education sectors.
In December, Langley Shook announced his intention to retire as CBMM’s President. Shook became CBMM’s fourth President in 2009 after serving on the museum’s Board of Governors for one year. He accepted the position with a five year commitment, shortly after retiring as a partner with Sidley Austin from nearly 35 years of law practice in Washington, D.C. Shook will remain as CBMM’s President until a successor is named.
CBMM’s search committee includes volunteer and staff leaders who reached consensus in selecting ByalaSearch after a series of personal interviews with five executive search firms. Those considered included sole practitioners as well as international and boutique firms from within the mid-Atlantic region.
“While we celebrate Langley’s accomplishments over these last four-plus years, this committee recognizes the selection of CBMM’s new president as the single-most important contribution each of us may make to this institution,” commented CBMM Chairman Tom Seip.
“Over 48 years, CBMM has become a multifaceted organization and will continue to grow,” said Search Committee Chair Dick Bodorff. “So our committee took great measures in personally interviewing these five firms and evaluating the strengths of each against our needs. Lisa and Isaac of Byala have the deep nonprofit experience and compelling approach we were looking for.”
ByalaSearch Founder and Principal Lisa Byala has thirteen years executive search and recruitment experience, including five years in the not-for-profit and education practices of global executive search firms Heidrick & Struggles and Spencer Stuart. A cum laude graduate of Barnard College with degrees in Spanish and French, Byala earned her master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American literature from the University of Virginia. A former board member of the Tuesday Evening Concert Series in Charlottesville, Va. and volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Byala currently serves as a trustee of New York City’s Sutton Place Synagogue.
ByalaSearch Principal Isaac Lustgarten has counseled not-for-profit organizations and their trustees on governance matters and managed fundraising and political campaigns at the local, state and national levels. Prior to his executive search work, Lustgarten’s corporate and securities law experience includes serving a two-year appointment as counsel to the International Monetary Fund. Lustgarten is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University and earned his law degree from Columbia University School of Law. He is a past board member of White Columns and the Swiss Institute, and currently serves on the board of Independent Curators International.
Shook began his presidency with managing the museum through a challenging economic period. During Shook’s presidency, CBMM’s annual fund almost doubled in size, with more donors and new all-time fundraising records set each successive year. Shook also was instrumental in carrying out the historic restoration of the skipjack Rosie Parks, resulting in her relaunch at CBMM’s OysterFest 2013.
The search and candidate interview process is expected to take six months, beginning with a series of internal interviews this February with ByalaSearch and CBMM staff, volunteers, and peer organization leaders. Once the interviews are completed, the job requirements will then be posted to CBMM’s website at www.cbmm.org, with all candidate inquiries directed to [email protected].
