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Montreat Conference Center Search Committee Retains Consultant
The McAulay Firm, a Charlotte, NC based executive search firm, has been engaged to assist in finding a new president for Montreat Conference Center. “The process will be tailored to meet Montreat’s specific needs and cultural nuances,” said Charles C. Lucas, III, representing the firm. He went on to explain that he would be spending time with the Board of Directors and staff learning what is most important to them and then assisting the search committee in narrowing a large and diverse pool of candidates, all of whom will be capable of doing the job, down to a smaller pool from which the search committee will make its selection.
In a recent question and answer session with the Board of Directors, Lucas was asked what characteristics he felt were important for the new president of Montreat Conference Center to possess. “Passion is most important,” he replied. He added that, although such things as administrative and fund-raising skills are critical, having an understanding of the Montreat culture and possessing the courage to push the institution forward would be vital to the new president’s success. Lucas, who admits his own passion for helping not-for-profit businesses like Montreat Conference Center find strong leadership, referenced the book The War for Talent by Ed Michaels, Helen Handfield-Jones, and Beth Axelrod, stressing that today’s non-profits are no longer insulated from the fierce competition in the business world for first-class executive leadership.
Frank Spencer, chairman of the Board of Directors, added that the Board is seeking as broad and diverse a group of nominees as possible, reflecting the full diversity of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He concluded with his expectation that a new president for Montreat Conference Center would be called before the end of this year. “The search committee will work with Charlie and a group of serious candidates,” said Spencer. “The Board will then have final authority to call the new president.”
Since 1995, The McAulay Firm has completed searches for over 100 different client companies in twenty states, Canada, and Europe. Lucas, who expressed his personal excitement about working with Montreat Conference Center, recalled visiting the conference center as a teen with his church youth group. For additional information or to submit a nomination, you may contact Lucas at cclucas@mcaulay.com.