An update from the Board of Trustees: Selecting leadership advisory firm Spencer Stuart to search for Kauffman’s next CEO

As we settle into the New Year, we are pleased to begin our intentional work of identifying a new CEO to carry the important work of the Foundation forward.

Our work prioritizes Kansas City and the surrounding region, championing initiatives, organizations, and communities that test innovative solutions and seek to change conditions that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am delighted to share that we have selected globally respected leadership advisory firm Spencer Stuart to lead the search for the Foundation’s new President and CEO.

The search comes after Wendy Guillies’ retirement in Fall of 2022. Wendy was President and CEO for eight years of her 22-year career with the Foundation.

The search committee, comprised of trustees Susan Chambers, Karen Daniel, Miriam Rivera, Paul Schofer, and myself, reviewed firms local and national, big and small, and felt that Spencer Stuart could best help us define our needs and determine the right candidate to honor Mr. Kauffman’s commitment to, and legacy in, Kansas City.

We believe Spencer Stuart’s approach to listening to communities served, its ability to draw upon diverse networks, and its collaborative approach with our board is the combination we need to find the leader for the next generation of the Foundation.

The search will begin immediately with a series of community listening sessions, stakeholder interviews, and internal feedback sessions with Foundation associates.

Following that process a job description will be posted, and the Trustees expect a very diverse pipeline of applicants drawing from the Kansas City region and nationally.

A specific timeline for the selection process has not been set. The Trustees are focusing on finding the right candidate to carry the important work of the Foundation forward.

Trustee Susan Chambers will continue in her interim role as President and CEO, ensuring all the functions of the Foundation continue to run smoothly. 

Those interested in the President and CEO position can send their information to kauffmanCEO@spencerstuart.com.

Any questions about the search or Foundation priorities can be directed to Larry Jacob, vice president of Public Affairs.