THE PACE GROUP RECRUITS
EXECUTIVE FOR HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL

Situation Analysis

Habitat for Humanity International conducted a worldwide search to identify an executive to become the Vice President of Internal Audit for their world headquarters located in Americus, GA.

Habitat for Humanity Department of Internal Audit

The Department is responsible for the identification and assessment of operational and financial risk for the worldwide Christian ministry. Responsibilities also include: risk management and internal controls assurance; regulatory and corporate compliance assurance; and Sarbanes-Oxley Act assessment and ongoing testing. The Vice President reports to the Audit Committee of the Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and functionally to the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International.

Process Outline

July 15: The PACE Group Interviews with Habitat for Humanity International.

The PACE Group presents their services and experience to Marian Cooper, Vice President of Human Resources. PACE also conducted phone conversations with Ted Dosch, Chairman of the Audit Committee and Corporate Vice President of Whirlpool Inc.

August 3: Habitat Selects The PACE Group for Their Executive Search.

August 24: PACE Creates Needs Assessment.

The PACE Group interviews Habitat leaders to create the Needs Assessment. This included Executive team members and the Audit Committee Chairman

August 30: PACE Presents the Needs assessment.

The PACE Group provides the needs assessment to Marian Cooper, Vice President of Human Resources and other members of the staff in a written report and discusses the details during a presentation. The needs assessment consists of charts and summaries of the information learned from the interviews. PACE also presents an organizational overview, community profile, and detailed job description. PACE also receives approval to use the presented materials to market the position and recruit the best candidates in a national search.

September 26: PACE Presents Four Finalists.

PACE provides resumes, pre-interview responses, and interview responses for the four candidates. PACE provides these materials in a binder for each selection committee member and elaborates on each candidate during a formal presentation. The committee is able to ask many professional and personal questions regarding the candidates. The committee agrees to interview all of the candidates.

September 29-October 4: Tragedy occurs involving a Finalists

One of the candidates presented falls ill and tragically dies in the hospital. This is a first for the PACE Group and Habitat and a respectful mourning period and new strategy is developed. PACE is asked to find another candidate before interviews take place.

October 26: PACE Presents two additional candidates

PACE travels to the Habitat annual board meeting in Baltimore to present an additional two candidates that were recruited by PACE. Habitat agrees to interview one of the candidates along with two of the original candidates presented.

November 10-11: First Interviews/ Site Visits

Habitat brings in three candidates for a formal interview at the International Headquarters in Americus, GA. The candidates are also taken on tours of the community and of the Global Village.

November 19: Second Round Interview

The top candidate travels to Atlanta to meet with Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford. The candidate then travels to Benton Harbor, Michigan to meet with Ted Dosch, Corporate Vice President, Whirlpool Inc. and Chairman of the Habitat for Humanity Audit Committee.

December 26-27: Spousal trip

The selected candidate travels to Americus, GA with his wife to tour the Habitat Offices and Community. They meet with members of the staff and community to gain a comfort level for everyone involved.

December 28: New Vice President Selected

Habitat for Humanity International announces the hiring of Audley Bell as the new Vice President of Internal Audit. Mr. Bell was the previous Direct of Internal Audit/ Corporate Compliance Officer for MSC Industrial Direct Company in New York. A native of Jamaica, Audley also previously served as the Audit Manager for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Keys to This Successful Search

1. Christian Ministry

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety. This commitment of faith reflects the actions and decisions of each member involved in this process. Not just the members of Habitat but the candidates as well.

2. Strong Leadership – Habitat Staff and Board of Directors

The staff members and Audit Committee of Habitat for Humanity were comprised of some of the strongest leaders in the country. These united individuals are extremely dedicated and passionate about Habitat and its ministry. Ted Dosch, Audit Committee Chairman led a collaborative effort that made everyone feel apart of the process.

3. Consensus Building

PACE conducted interviews to ensure everyone had the opportunity to voice their opinion at the beginning of the search. The PACE Group believes “if you are not in on it and up on it; you will be down on it.” The selection committee made sure that PACE interviewed all of the proper partners. Each search is different, and PACE takes pride in obtaining the right fit for each client.

4. All Finalists Were Recruited For This Ministry.

Each candidate had to be sold on looking at this opportunity and ministry. Every candidate presented was making more money than a nonprofit Christian Ministry could pay them. PACE had to find a special type of person that was willing to take less money and work for an organization that they were passionate about. One candidate was from Alabama, two from Georgia, and the selected candidate was from New York, where he was the Corporate Compliance Officer for MSC Industrial Direct. PACE found all candidates through their proprietary network and aggressively pursued each candidate.

5. Selected Candidate With a Diverse Background.

The leading candidate had a great deal of experience in corporate and nonprofit auditing. The candidate is also originally from Jamaica and raised in humble means. He had a first hand understanding of the people that the Ministry was helping. He had first hand experience working as a consultant on the development of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This experience accompanied by tremendous people skills made him an ideal candidate.

NOTES

“We liked working with the PACE group on this important search. PACE was sensitive to our timeline and they understood what we were looking for in a candidate. Both partners of PACE, Daniel Logan and John Lovorn came to Americus and toured the global village and our corporate office and had a good understanding of our needs and culture. We found them a pleasure to work with and hope to work with them again in the future.” –Marian Cooper, Vice President Human Resources Habitat for Humanity International - 229-924-6935