This episode of The Beacon Podcast looks at executive searches, specifically focused on the search for higher education leadership. Finding the perfect leader for your college or university is proving to be more difficult with tenures in development and advancement positions becoming increasingly shorter. The hiring of an executive search firm simplifies the process and increases your chances of finding a candidate who will move your organization forward. Today, Jeff Jowdy speaks with EduSearch President Bob Duckworth and VP, Sr Executive Search Consultant Amie Meyers to discuss:

• Why organizations hire search firms
• What they look for in higher education leadership
• Red flags to watch for
• Advice to higher education leaders wanting to take the next step 
  

About our guests

Amie Myers, Vice President 

Amie graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001 with a bachelor’s of business administration in accounting and finance. Amie is very motivated and detail-oriented, and she has a passion for working with people to accomplish great things. She is excited to be working with a wide range of professionals to help them find the next great opportunity. In her two years with Shannon Talent, she has gained substantial experience in working with high-level professionals in nonprofits across the nation. 

Amie resides in Katy, TX, with her husband, Keith, and their three children, Elise, Luke, and Reed. Keith and Amie are parishioners at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Katy. They have served as a sponsor couple for newly engaged couples and are on Leadership in the Katy area for Teams of Our Lady. 

Bob Duckworth, Vice President 

After graduating from The Citadel, Bob began his career at Blackbaud, where he worked with nonprofit organizations for 12 years. This service led to a position working under Frank Shannon at The Citadel, as director of development of the School of Business Administration on a college-wide $100 million capital campaign. 

While enrolled in the philanthropy and development graduate program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Bob moved into health care philanthropy and spent five years as executive director of the foundation that supports a 630-bed community hospital. 

Bob has spoken on major gift fundraising at conferences in the United States and Canada. He resides in coastal Georgia with his wife and three Eagle Scout sons. Bob is the past president of the Coastal Georgia Chapter AFP and is a Paul Harris Fellow.