Alford Group Names Brenda B. Asare as New President & CEO
Contact: Tafara Pulse, tpulse@alford.com, (206) 548-0451(Seattle, WA/Chicago, IL) – Alford Group, a leading national consulting firm to nonprofits, has announced that Brenda B. Asare was appointed President & CEO effective February 1, 2014. Ms. Asare, who joined the firm in 2004, is the firm’s third President & CEO since its founding in 1979.
David Beré, Chair of Alford Group’s Board of Directors said, “We are delighted to have Brenda assume this role. She is visionary, creative, and produces incredible results for her clients. She is also a great manager and leader and has the skills and expertise to continue to grow the firm’s national and international presence.”
The change follows eleven years of leadership by Thomas W. Mesaros. Mr. Mesaros was appointed President & CEO in 2003 and led the firm through the 2008-2010 recession. Mr. Mesaros states, “Brenda is a strong leader with a remarkable sense of the nonprofit market and the needs of organizations around the country. We began to discuss this transition over a year ago and our focus has centered on continuity of leadership and continuation of quality service to our clients. Brenda will continue the legacy of Alford Group in evolving our services to meet those needs and ensuring that we fulfill our mission to strengthen the sector.”
“I am honored to lead Alford Group into its next exciting era,” said Ms. Asare.
“Jimmie Alford’s founding vision of strengthening the nonprofit sector and Tom Mesaros’ focus on excellence in service delivery and innovative product development have helped to establish us as a leader in the sector. I am excited by the opportunities that lie ahead as Alford Group continues to push boundaries and partner with organizations to achieve even greater impact.”
“Tom Mesaros will become Senior Counsel for the firm. The West Division will continue to be led by Karen Rotko-Wynn, Senior Vice President, where she has built a strong team of professionals. Our biggest strengths lie in our consultants, their knowledge of the nonprofit sector and the tenure and talent they all bring to their clients. I’m thrilled to continue to work with a team of this caliber.”
Ms. Rotko-Wynn states, “We are very fortunate as a firm to have Brenda take on this leadership role. She’s a terrific colleague and I look forward to continuing to grow the services of Alford Group with Brenda.”
Ms. Asare will continue to lead the Midwest Division from Alford Group’s office in Chicago, in addition to her role as President & CEO.
Ms. Asare has led the firm’s Midwest division since 2007. She has helped her clients raise over $1.2 billion, through building capacity, strengthening their boards, creating donor-centered relationships, and elevating the culture of generosity to achieve even greater results. Ms. Asare holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and an MBA in marketing from Washington University. She serves on several organizational boards, including The Children’s Place and the African-American Legacy Fund. You can learn more about Brenda here.
About Alford Group
As a national full-service consulting firm serving nonprofits since 1979, Alford Group has empowered more than 3,000 mission-based organizations around the world to grow, improve, and fulfill their missions. Our mission is to strengthen the nonprofit community. From our offices in Seattle, Chicago and New York, we offer customized solutions in fundraising, organizational strategy, executive search, governance and professional development, all based on sound principles, guidance, tools and structures that help organizations realize their dreams for the future. Learn more about Alford Group at www.alford.com or on LinkedIn.
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