Bios
Barbara Gebhardt
CEO
As CEO of Career Blazers Nonprofit Search, Barbara Gebhardt returns to her roots. From her start in the employment field at Career Blazers, then a regional employment agency, Barbara became the organization’s first franchisee in 1987. She later opened a training center which successfully integrated training and placement and became the model for locations nationwide.
In 1996, in addition to operating her franchise and training center, Gebhardt assumed the role of Executive Vice President /Chief Operating Officer, responsible for all Career Blazers nationwide operations. After the completion of 5 years in the role and achievement of a series of corporate objectives…
Read More
Bill Lewis
Founder
Bill Lewis is a leading figure in the employment world, an innovator, a national industry speaker and trainer, and author of multiple career focused books. As far back as 1987, he published “Profitable Careers in Non Profit”, and has throughout his career and various business operations worked with and supported nonprofit organizations.
From providing specialized staffing to training for local nonprofit government and social services, Career Blazers was always at the forefront. Although Bill’s career took a variety of interesting and fortuitous turns based on his positive reputation in the employment world, the nonprofit world remained a strong interest and he is very pleased to concentrate his efforts solely in the nonprofit world.
Read More
Cindy Janicki
Senior Executive Search Specialist
Cindy Janicki brings over 20 years of service oriented experience to her role as a Senior Executive Search Specialist with Career Blazers Nonprofit Search. Evaluating employment candidates for suitable placement is one of her strong suits. She has an extensive background in working attentively with clients to best support their requirements and champion their needs.
Read More
Ryan Gebhardt
Senior Executive Search Consultant
After holding positions in data analytics and digital marketing, Ryan sought to transition to a role that emphasized more personal relationships, account management and development, and communications. In his role as Senior Executive Search Consultant, Ryan taps into his analytical experience, and marketing and communications experience proving early to be an asset to the Career Blazers Nonprofit Search team.
Read More
Mary McGuckin
Executive Recruiter
Mary has been an Executive Recruiter in the staffing industry for over twenty-five years, working on senior level executive searches for formidable institutions, Mary works closely with a variety of organizations to advise them on best practices, organizational structure, scalability, talent management and retention.
Read More
Kirin Lewis
Business Development Specialist
With over ten years of experience in the placement and staffing world, Kirin has demonstrated an unwavering focus on customer and candidate engagement. His experience spans varied industries with a concentration in the hospitality, education, and nonprofit worlds. He consistently updates his knowledge to better serve his clients and his team. He gathers positive feedback from his coworkers who enjoy partnering with him on projects and strategy to get the best results for clients and candidates.
Read More
Kristen Ayres
Executive Talent Consultant
Kristen is an Executive Talent Consultant dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and justice within organizations. With a background in education and extensive experience as a nonprofit recruiter, Kristen has honed a strategic mindset and exceptional relationship-building skills that enable her to deliver results time and time again.
Read More
Destynne Bingham
Senior Executive Talent Consultant
Destynne has spent her career focused on making the world a more just place for vulnerable populations through education and technology. She began her work in recruiting with military service members and their dependents introducing transferable education opportunities. She then moved into educational equity working with a nonprofit focused on motivating the next generation of leaders to serve in low-income areas and become lifelong leaders in the movement.
Read More
Beck Johnson
Talent Research Specialist
With a background in early learning, Beck brings a unique perspective to recruitment, emphasizing empathy, communication, and organizational skills in matching candidates to impactful roles. She is uniquely skilled at finding and empowering diverse candidates to strengthen the recruitment pipeline of nonprofits.
Read More
Irene Owens
Talent Research Specialist
With a background in business, Irene found her calling in connecting purpose-driven individuals with organizations dedicated to making a difference. Leveraging her skills for spotting talent and building meaningful relationships, she plays a key role in finding unique candidates.
Read More
Marisa Rizzo
Operations Coordinator
Marisa Rizzo is a recent alumnus of Adelphi University bringing a bachelor’s degree in business management. Although a recent graduate, Marisa has gained valuable experience leading her sorority and working in retail management throughout her education.
Read More