Interim Executive Solutions has developed a network of highly accomplished professionals with experience leading both nonprofit and for profit organizations. Our Associates bring general expertise in key areas such as assessing organizational needs, determining and acting on priorities, developing the capacity of staff, communicating with stakeholders, and collaborating with nonprofit boards on vision, strategy and future leadership needs.
In addition, many of our Associates have deeper expertise in particular practice areas such as finance, fund-raising, human capital, systems and operations, technology, public relations, and the law, and they are willing share their knowledge in these areas when needed by others.
Here we highlight just a few of the Associates currently available in our network:
Gaylon Alcaraz
Gaylon comes from a long history in Chicago as an activist, organizer and champion of human rights. For more than twenty-five years, she has worked on behalf of sexual minority women, anti-violence, gender equity, health prevention, reproductive rights, as well as race and culture issues. She has consistently applied her knowledge in practice towards quality improvement, increased access, and by challenging frameworks that do not allow for the exploration of diversity across multiple dimensions when working with, and on behalf of diverse constituencies. Gaylon is the past Executive Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund and is a founding board member of Affinity Community Services, a past board member of the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health and the Midwest Access Project. Currently, provides interim Executive Director services for organizations in transition.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois she was awarded her BA and MA from DePaul University. Gaylon is currently a PhD candidate in Community Psychology at National Louis University.
David Alge is an experienced executive with 25+ years spent successfully building and leading non-profit, mission-driven, healthcare organizations. David has been a Senior Vice President at an academic medical center leading a 1,000 physician multi-specialty physician group, the Associate Dean for Operations at medical school, the vice-president managing an organization’s strategy and financial planning teams, a front line practice administrator at a public, safety net hospital and a counselor at a residential treatment program for emotionally disabled children.
David has a proven ability to align all parts of the organization – board, management and staff – to achieve quick and lasting organizational change. He believes that sustainable change results from the alignment of systems and teams with the mission and related strategies of the organization and works to build that alignment through clear and open two-way communication, team building and mentorship.
David currently lives In New York where he volunteers regularly for Feeding Westchester. He earned a BA in Psychology from Southern Illinois University and his MBA from Baruch College.
Barry Coletti
Barry L. Coletti is an experienced career executive, who now offers Interim Executive services to organizations that are in leadership transition. Barry adds value to organizations via stabilizing the operations and maintaining their strategic mission. Barry is successful in handing off the role to the new executive, as demonstrated by creating highly effective multi-disciplinary, cross functional teams, grounded in transparent communication and trust.
Barry, in his first career, was a licensed and board-certified clinical counselor. He displays a passion for helping people and now helps organizations learn to improve and help themselves move forward. Barry has a depth and breadth of experience over a 30-year career as an executive, (in positions of COO, CEO, Advisor) with exposure to over 25 different organizations, at both the departmental and corporate levels.
Barry is known for revenue cycle improvements, transforming siloed operations into high functioning multi-disciplinary teams and culture transformations. His success as an executive is in his systemic training and ability to understand organizations; their cultures and his belief in listening to and developing the people who work there.
Alison Curry
Alison Curry is a passionate and results-driven ED / CEO with a proven track record of transformative leadership and growth within nonprofit organizations. She leverages a unique blend of experience in marketing, fundraising, development, and advocacy. Alison holds a certificate in Public Advocacy and Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University, a certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School, and is CNED certified as a Nonprofit Executive Director through 2025.
Gary Damon
Dr. Gary Damon, Jr. is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pressure Point Consulting, LLC, a small boutique consulting firm that supports mission-aligned non-profit organizations. With over 22 years of experience in senior and executive leadership across multiple industries: health and human services, criminal justice, re-entry, public, private, international, higher education, and government. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Gary has provided on-demand, transformational interim or co-director support to many industry-leading organizations that serve under-represented, vulnerable, and at-risk individuals.
Gary has provided onsite technical support and assistance, program leadership coaching and support, and workforce development and training to current clients across multiple states, including Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and California. Gary also published “Everyday Experiences to Improve Work and Life: Reflection Strategies from a Motivational Leader.”
Gary has earned a reputation for his keen ability with people and performance management skills and for his integrity, character, openness, confidence, and bravery to lead a team toward high performance, high impact, and success.
Lastly, Gary earned a Doctorate of Education in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University, his Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Medaille University, and his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (5-12) & English from Niagara University.
Keith Dvorchik is an accomplished leader who has more than 25 years of executive nonprofit leadership experience and is now offering Interim Executive services to organizations that are in leadership transition. Keith served as the CEO of University of Florida Hillel for 15 years, President and CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle for 3 years, and CEO of The Roth Family JCC/Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando/Shalom Orlando entities for 7 years.
Keith has worked extensively with various Board of Directors and committees to identify the opportunities and challenges facing the organization. He brings the ability to see the big picture, listen to the board’s goals and objectives during the transition period, and help accomplish them.
Keith is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Accounting and master’s degree in counseling. Keith and his wife, Alison, have two adult children, Evan and Matthew.
Jeff Franco
Jeffrey Franco has over 25 years of experience in leading and managing large-scale nonprofits, and providing strategic consulting, business development and change management for both public and private sector organizations. As CEO of Camino Consulting Group and Founder and Co-Leader of Transformation Leadership Institute, Jeffrey has worked with local and national nonprofit CEOs to support and advise on strategic planning, board training and development, executive coaching, interim leadership, fundraising, and diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) facilitation and training. Jeffrey also serves as Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland where he currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in nonprofit management and leadership. He also serves on the boards of Potomac Conservancy, Outward Bound, and the Center for Inspired Teaching.
Jeffrey has served as the interim CEO/ED at various nonprofits with budgets between $4-$14 million and staff sizes from 15 to 100 employees in Washington, DC, Miami and San Francisco. At those organizations, he led in a medium- and long-term capacity to support and lead those non-profits through leadership transitions and, in some cases, organizational issues. Jeffrey was the Interim Executive Director for City Year in Miami; Rising for Justice in Washington, DC; Youth Speaks in San Francisco, and St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth and Families; just to name a few. In these interim roles, Jeffrey was responsible for managing the staff, operations, programs, and fundraising, and leading the organization through major change management processes, organizational turn around, leadership transition, and new Executive Director onboarding and coaching. Jeffrey continues to serve as an executive coach for many of the new leaders of these organizations.
Full bio
Shane Goldstein Smith
Dr. Shane Goldstein Smith is a 20+ year educator, entrepreneur, innovator, and is the Founder and CEO of CultivateEd, an education consultancy. Shane’s passion is finding ways to elevate the academic experience through innovation. Shane has extensive experience creating, designing, and managing academic and operational programs; leading school and district programs and initiatives; and cultivating school and district partnerships across the nation and abroad.
Previously, Shane served as Chief Academic Officer of Ingenious Schools, a virtual collaborative PreK-12 edtech startup across the US and Latin America. Prior to Ingenious, Shane was the Head of Schools at WeGrow/WeWork, and Chief Schools Officer at Hebrew Public, a secular dual language charter network in New York City.
Shane spent the early part of her career as a high school history teacher at Whitney Young Magnet High School, a K-12 full continuum International Baccalaureate principal, and a deputy chief of schools in Chicago Public Schools. Shane has her doctorate from National-Louis University, her MSEd from Northwestern University, and her BA from Miami University (OH). She resides in Livingston, NJ with her husband, three children, and their much-loved beagle.
Dr. John Kastan is a seasoned executive in the healthcare, behavioral health, and social services sectors in New York. With extensive experience in leadership roles, he excels in strategic planning, program development, operations transformation, and mergers. At the Jewish Board, a major NYC non-profit serving all New Yorkers, he served as Chief Program Officer, Interim CEO during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer. Key positions he has held include Vice President for Behavioral Health at St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he established the World Trade Center Healing Service, post-9/11, providing emotional support services. Other roles include Executive Director of Peninsula Counseling Center, Director of the New York Metro region for a behavioral health managed care company, Corporate Administrator for Psychiatry at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, and Assistant Commissioner for Planning & Project Management in NYC’s Department of Mental Health.
Beyond organizational roles, he serves on government advisory groups such as The New York State Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council. Dr. Kastan’s commitment extends to leadership positions on trade association boards, including Board President of the NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and board member of The National Council. His career reflects creativity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of leadership, management, and strategy, driven by a passion to enhance access to services for those in need.
Donna Lowry
Donna Lowry, MD is an executive/strategist with 30 years of experience in the nonprofit, education, and health care sectors. She has held leadership positions at the University of Pittsburgh, Hope College and Ready for School. Donna has developed a strong reputation around community-wide collaborations that leverage public-private partnerships. As a physician, she has designed outcomes-based programming connecting health and education to community development and been instrumental in raising the funds to bring these programs forward. She has worked tirelessly to develop and implement programming that elevates issues of diversity, inclusion, equity, and access, particularly around children’s rights to quality education and healthcare. As a professional interim, her strategies resulted in a 27% increase in top line revenue and stabilized staffing in a private medical practice during COVID.
In 2021 she formed her consulting practice to advise and coach educational institutions, medical practices and community startups in matters of strategy, program development, collaborations, and funding.
Michelle Mapp
Michelle Mapp is an experienced nonprofit executive with more than 20+ years working in the nonprofit and governmental sectors. Michelle a former nonprofit CEO, interim executive director, and business owner, works with mission-driven organizations to help them envision and achieve greater impact and sustainability. With a background in communications, executive leadership, technology, project management, strategic planning, and consulting, Michelle brings decades of solutions-oriented experience to all her clients. She is a results and people-oriented leader, deeply understanding the connection of people and organizational culture to the fulfillment of mission.
Through the years, Michelle has worked with a wide range of clients such as the US Department of Agriculture, the International Dyslexia Association Los Angeles Branch, and the Music Man Foundation. She is passionate about helping nonprofits do what they do better in a sustainable way.
Michelle has a master’s in business administration from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, an undergraduate degree in political communications from George Washington University, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. Michelle is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute.
Jeff Matlow
Jeff is a respected and highly experienced business leader with experience that crosses both nonprofit and for profit sectors. He has spent over two decades serving in Executive Committee roles for national non-profit Boards, including holding positions as Treasurer, President and Secretary of various Boards.
In 2022 he assumed the role of Interim CEO for Running USA, the leading trade organization for the $2B running industry. While in that role he transformed the company, both strategically and operationally, setting the company up for rapid growth via enhanced programming, growth-centric partnerships and expanded research capabilities.
Jeff is also a 3x successful entrepreneur. Each of his companies was acquired by a publicly-traded organization and Jeff assumed leadership roles in each instance.
He is currently a highly sought-after executive coach for leaders at Fortune 500 companies, and a business transformation consultant for nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
Ellen Meyer Shorb
Ellen Meyer Shorb’s passion is to help visionaries, teams, and boards successfully address economic and social inequities in the world. For 10 years she was a senior manager in three different nonprofits, and for the last 15 years, a nonprofit consultant, with a focus on strategic planning and building high functioning teams.
At an Ivy League university, she helped three academic departments each align around a shared vision and strategy for their department, to help them make key hires, allocate resources, and rebuild civility. At Enterprise, she coordinated a diverse internal team heading 10 local offices to successfully apply for and run a $30M loan and grant program to create safe communities with affordable housing. She worked with the senior teams of two major nonprofits to negotiate joint operating and marketing plans to optimize their merger.
She has a BA in History/Women’s Studies from Dartmouth College, a Master in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a MBA from Stanford University. She chairs the Finance Board Committee for the Safe Passage school in Guatemala and the Boston Regional Leadership Board of Stanford Business School Women’s Circles. Her joys include her four children, one long marriage, and dancing, especially to Latin music.
Linda Noonan
Linda Noonan currently works with nonprofits and advocacy organizations at the national, state and local levels as a Board member and active volunteer. She previously served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE), where she was responsible for advancing the organization’s mission to ensure a high quality public education to prepare every child in Massachusetts for success in college, career and citizenship. In this role, she has represented the business community on state task forces and advisory councils related to education and economic development. Previously, Linda directed international trade programs at Associated Industries of Massachusetts and also served as State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business.
Linda began her career in government at the U.S. Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts and subsequently was appointed Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Her civic and volunteer activities include serving on the Westwood School Committee and on the town’s Finance Commission, Permanent Building Committee, and Economic Development Advisory Council. She holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Chicago.
John O’Hara
John O’Hara has spent his career successfully building and leading a variety of non-profit and for-profit healthcare organizations. He has a proven ability to align board members, managers and staff around rapid organizational transformation, growth, and the continuous improvement of operations and finances. John has an effective collaborative leadership style and a demonstrated ability to build and manage high performing teams through very difficult challenges, including complete turnarounds.
John is an innovator who builds trusting relationships with his colleagues and creates a positive environment for change to achieve an organization’s immediate and longer term objectives. He is a good listener and prides himself on being a supportive leader, coach and mentor. John has been an Executive Vice President of a community hospital, Administrator of a large urban ambulatory care center, CEO of a for-profit multi-specialty cardiovascular practice, the President of a multi-specialty physician enterprise, and the Vice-President of a public, safety net hospital.
He currently serves as a Board Member of a local healthcare organization and volunteers for a number of organizations in his community. John has a BA from Boston College, an MHA from The George Washington University, and a JD from Suffolk University.
Herminia Palacio
Dr. Herminia Palacio is a distinguished leader with expertise forged across diverse organizations and geographies. Drawing from her extensive experience across government, nonprofits, philanthropy, academia, and clinical medicine, Herminia brings a unique perspective to every challenge. Throughout these experiences, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to equity and justice.
Herminia’s government roles underscore her capacity to navigate complex geopolitical environments and drive impactful change. She has served as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (New York City, NY), Executive Director of Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (Harris County, TX), and Special Policy Advisor to the Director of Health (San Francisco, CA). She has also been appointed to several Federal Advisory Act Committees.
As Director of Advancing Change Leadership at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Herminia was charged with leading a major initiative to transform the Foundation’s entire approach to its leadership development programs.
Most recently she served as President and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute, an action-oriented think tank.
Blending expertise with empathy to create transformative solutions for organizations, Herminia continues her journey of innovation and impact as the Founder and President of NexusBridge Strategies LLC.
Amanda Preston
Amanda Preston is a respected nonprofit executive/strategist with over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has held senior leadership positions at the Harvard – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Harvard University, among others.
Amanda’s background includes advancement, external relations, board development and governance, legislative affairs, and program design, review, evaluation, and management. She has an excellent track record in securing significant funding from individuals, foundations, and government agencies for a broad range of programs and organizations. She has also developed her skills and knowledge in the planning, implementation, management, and evaluation of small and large inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional partnerships. She is also deeply involved in mentoring and coaching early-career professionals.
In late 2018, she formed her consulting practice to advise and coach the leaders of scientific and educational institutions in matters of strategy, planning, positioning, program development, research collaborations, and funding.
She graduated from Wellesley College, while completing some of her coursework at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Tracey Schear
As a seasoned leader, Tracey brings broad-based experience in the fields of social change, education, health and wellness,, human services, organizational transformation, and leadership development. For over thirty years Tracey has led nonprofit, public sector and international organizations, overseeing budgets and investments of up to 62 million dollars. Her hands-on experience as a public sector leader, nonprofit executive, consultant, advisor, and systems coach gives her a unique perspective in her work with organizations in transition.
Tracey has extensive experience in leadership transition, organizational development, change facilitation, board development, strategy and design, and partnership and alliance building, Throughout her years of service, she has partnered with organizations to transform their culture, address structural and systemic inequities, and design strategic actions to create just, fair and inclusive human-centered systems. She holds a Master of Social Work; is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Professional Certified Coach, through the International Coach Federation; and is a certified Organizational Relationship Systems Coach.
Howard Sitron
Howard Sitron’s deep understanding of how to organize operations to achieve intended impact comes through his extensive career in the nonprofit universe. In roles beginning with mental health case manager and extending to hospital administrator and president/CEO of a large multi-service agency, this experience informs his ability to step into a wide variety of positions effectively. Howard’s work spans health care, developmental disabilities, immigration, therapeutic education, adoption, child welfare, mental health, workforce development and cause fundraising.
The common thread connecting Howard’s work is a collaborative, goal-directed approach embracing strong board/management/staff relationships. Achievements include turnaround of the national Breast Cancer 3-Day when it faltered under its original producers, with a significant increase in the return to charity. He led the successful merger of a large child and family service agency and workforce development organization, achieving economies of scale and service enhancements through an integrated service delivery approach.
Howard furthers his community impact through volunteer work in neighborhood empowerment, mental health and developmental disabilities, with stints as board member, chair and treasurer of arts therapies providers and an international membership organization. He provides pro bono consultation to nonprofit leaders in Chicago and Philadelphia.
Marci Sternheim is a broadly experienced and deeply knowledgeable consultant, coach, facilitator, and trusted advisor dedicated to the success and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, foundations, and academic institutions. She works closely with boards of trustees and high-level staff in customized engagements to develop their leadership in governance and management, and to build organizational capacity for greatest mission impact.
Marci’s career traverses philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, and academia. Prior to establishing Sternheim Consulting, she was President of The Dibner Fund, a $100 million family foundation; the Founding Executive Director of The Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale; and Assistant University Secretary at Yale. She has taught at both Yale and Wesleyan, and holds a doctorate from Yale and a BA from Colgate University.
Marci is a certified mediator, a BoardSource-trained governance consultant, and a trained Interim Executive Director. She coaches nonprofit leaders, teaches nonprofit governance and professional practice in a variety of programs, and is a frequent public speaker/conference presenter on topics ranging from contemporary best practices in nonprofit governance to organizational culture to the philanthropic partnership. She has served on a wide variety of nonprofit boards, nationally and locally.
Claudia Zeldin is a partner at Growth for Good and an accomplished professional consultant with 35+ years of nonprofit management and marketing experience. She has a strong expertise in interim executive leadership, strategic planning, fundraising, and communications. Claudia has consulted, coached, trained, and created plans and campaigns for more than 150 nonprofit agencies, for-profit companies, and educational and philanthropic organizations. Since 2029, she has held temporary management positions including Interim Executive Director and Development and Communications Director. Assignments include American Foundation for the Blind, The Bronx Community Foundation, Brooklyn Community Housing and Services, College Access: Research & Action (CARANY), Literacy Inc. (LINC), RSS Center for Ageless Living, Youth Communication, Women in Need (WIN), and others.