Bethesda Foundation

In need of a new President and CEO, the Bethesda Foundation engaged Smith Beers Yunker to conduct a nationwide executive search. Foundation board chair Edmund W. Jones, M.D., who also chaired the Search Committee, says the organization, planning and scheduling of the entire process was very smooth and expedient. “Jim Yunker’s ability to prepare the search committee was very helpful.  I particularly appreciated the clarity of the memorandum of understanding that set things in place and gave structure to the process from the start.  We also benefitted greatly from the process of developing the position description, as it gave us great insight into ourselves and motivated us to look closely at our organization to determine exactly what we needed in a new CEO.”

Echoing these sentiments is Edwin Goldstein, a member of the Search Committee and board leader of Hospice of Cincinnati, a beneficiary of the Bethesda Foundation, who says, “Jim was excellent at keeping the committee focused on the mission without getting in our way. He kept us constantly apprised of next steps and encouraged all of us to remain integrally involved in the process, making it our own.  He was pro-active in anticipating problems and helped us make needed corrections. There is no way we could have achieved such a positive outcome without the expert guidance of Smith Beers Yunker & Company.”

Dr. “Ted” Jones comments further on how the “calm, steady nature of  Jim Yunker kept the committee members on an even emotional plain and set a positive tone for in-depth discussions with candidates. I also was impressed with his creativity as he challenged the five finalists to learn more about the Bethesda Foundation and offer their insight into ways we could improve our communications, programs, and performance.”

As a result of this process, the Bethesda Foundation now has a new president and CEO who was unanimously and enthusiastically selected by the search committee. Speaking for the committee, Edwin Goldstein states that all committee members were pleased with the process and adds that “it was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding business experiences I’ve ever had. Other committee members who had previous experience said this was also their best experience with such a process.”