In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy speaks with Tommy Thomas, lead partner of  JobfitMatters, and board member and managing director of SIMA International. Tommy specializes in cabinet-level retained executive searches for nonprofits. In his discussion with Jeff, Tommy shares:

• emerging trends in regard to the executive search, particularly in fundraising.
• advice for the mid-level fundraising professional who aspires to become a chief development officer.
• key attributes of a successful chief development officer.

About our guest

Tommy is lead partner of  JobfitMatters  as well as a board member and the managing director of SIMA International, JobfitMatters’ parent organization.  He specializes in cabinet-level retained executive searches for nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Tommy has been with SIMA since 1996 and is widely regarded as one of the premier leaders in Christ-centered executive search.

With an extensive network of contacts and connections in faith-based organizations, Tommy has led more than 150 cabinet-level searches, many of which have included some of the largest and most well-known Christian institutions in the U.S. He has also served on the adjunct faculties of the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Southeastern Institute of Technology, Samford University and Omega Graduate School.

Tommy holds a doctorate in philosophy from Omega Graduate School, a master’s degree in business administration from Samford University, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University. He is the author of “The Perfect Search: What Every Nonprofit Board Member Needs to Know About Hiring the Next Chief Executive” and a contributor to “Christian Leadership Essentials – A Handbook for Managing Christian Organizations.”