Harlem Children’s Zone
Kwame Owusu-Kesse, chief operating officer, will be its next CEO. He joined the youth group in 2008 as a fellow.
He will succeed Anne Williams-Isom, who is stepping down effective July 1 after six years as CEO and 11 years total at this group that offers services for needy children and families in New York. (See how the group prepared for the transition that led to Williams-Isom’s succeeding the group’s founder, Geoffrey Canada, in 2014.)
H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation
Christopher McGuire, who was previously vice president of programs, is now president of the $481 million family foundation in Palm Desert, Calif. He succeeds Ronald Auen, who recently stepped down after leading the foundation for more than 30 years.
Auen died on November 7 at age 87. He became president in 1988 following the death of the organization’s founder, H.N. (Norwood) Berger, who made his fortune in real estate and banking.
George Gund Foundation
Alesha Washington, vice president of government advocacy at the Greater Cleveland Partnership, will join the George Gund Foundation as its senior program officer for economic development and community revitalization. She will begin her new job at the $563 million grant maker in January.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Sarida Scott, executive director of Community Development Advocates of Detroit, has joined the $8.6 billion grant maker as a program officer and leader of its Detroit team.
More New CEOs
Glenn Easton, executive director at Chizuk Amuno Congregation, is now executive director of Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park. He succeeds Sheldon Grosberg, the nonprofit Jewish cemetery’s founding executive director, who held the position for 20 years until his death on September 1.
Scott Ellner, president and CEO of Centura Health Physician Group in Colorado, will now serve as CEO of the Billings Clinic. He succeeds Bob Merchant and John Schallenkamp, who have served as co-interim CEOs since Randall Gibb was dismissed in May.
Christine Sow has been appointed president and CEO of Humentum, a global network of organizations working in development, humanitarian, civil society, and other international social-sector groups. Most recently she was senior director for country programs in health at Palladium.
Other Notable Appointments
Michael Barry, executive director of the Organization for Nonprofit Executives, will now also serve as director of capacity building at the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits.
Dawn Koenning has joined the University of St. Thomas Houston as chief development officer of university advancement. Most recently she led her own strategic consulting firm, working with clients across Texas.
Jennifer Koma, chief operating officer and deputy scout executive at the Boy Scouts of America’s Simon Kenton Council, in Columbus, is now chief operating officer at A Kid Again, which works with families who have children with life-altering conditions.
Yvonne Maher, executive vice president at the Pittsburgh Foundation, has been appointed vice president for advancement and community engagement at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.
Khadija Walker-Fobbs, executive director at the New Foster Care, was named chief strategy officer at the Judson Center, a human-services agency in Farmington Hills, Mich. She has served on the agency’s Board of Directors since 2013.
Departures
Cheryl Taylor, president and CEO of the Foellinger Foundation since 2001, will step down on May 31. She has worked at the $182 million grant maker in Indiana since 1990.
Send an email to people@philanthropy.com.
M.J. Prest has been writing about major gifts, grant making, and executive moves for the Chronicle since 2004. Email M.J.
