Case Studies

The behavioral health field, especially community based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment organizations, is facing an unusual wave of personnel changes at the highest levels as many CEOs and senior leaders of community based behavioral health organizations near retirement age.This generation of leaders began their careers when nonprofit health and welfare positions were abundant and encouraged in the spirit of President Kennedy’s “Ask not what... read more

by Ted Ford Webb Finding the Perfect Match:  A Governor’s Guide to Executive Recruiting Introduction A strong management team doesn’t just happen.  Building an effective team requires a thoughtful process of recruitment, screening, and decision-making.  The challenge is particularly difficult for a new governor-elect who will be expected to make dozens of key appointments within a few weeks or months.  Experienced governors urge governors-elect to... read more

by Ted Ford Webb  Remember the scene in The Wizard of Oz when the all-knowing Oz is revealed to be an uncertain man behind the curtain? So often the instinct of organizations when embarking on a chief executive search is to remain behind that curtain and declare that all is as it should be…when it isn’t. Absent Toto tugging on the curtain, the conversation with chief executive... read more

by Ted Ford Webb “A problem well defined is half solved.” –Edwin Herbert Land, inventor of Polaroid instant photography Editors’ note: One of the more interesting benefits of being an organizational development consultant is the stories you accumulate. They are all full of intentional and unintentional legacies, intrigue, relationship issues, passion, and complexity–like soap operas. This is the stuff of which our organizations are made. When... read more