The process of selecting the new Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Dental Association began in May of 2019 with the completion of PDA ’ s new Strategic Plan . The plan ’ s mission statement and four goals prioritized our commitment to the success of PDA ’ s members and the advancement of the oral health of the public .
The Strategic Plan also served as the framework for significant changes to the Executive Director job description , performance evaluation and core competencies to be used by the professional search firm that was going to be selected to conduct the search .
At the same time the Strategic Plan was being polished , in May 2019 the PDA Board of Trustees considered a series of proposals from several national executive search firms and selected Kittleman and Associates , the nation ’ s first executive search firm dedicated exclusively to providing leadership recruitment services for nonprofit organizations . Led by Amy Smith , Principal and Managing Director , Kittleman ’ s work proved invaluable throughout the hiring process .
Internally , the Board of Trustees put together PDA ’ s Executive Director Search Committee , comprised of PDA leadership and a public member with extensive corporate business experience , to work closely with Amy Smith . The search committee used valuable information gleaned from the Strategic Plan ’ s objectives , inquiries to PDA staff members and interaction with PDA leadership to develop a proposal that was distributed nationally to candidates to become the next PDA Executive Director .
We held final interviews in January 2020 . These consisted of a series of questions and real-time scenarios specific to the operations and priorities for the future of the association , to test the qualifications and experience of each candidate . The search committee met with Amy Smith to discuss the evaluations of each of the three individuals that were interviewed and determined that Ward Blackwell , then the Executive Director of the Louisiana Dental Association , was the best candidate to lead PDA into the future .
The hard work and dedication of the members of the Search Committee should be appreciated by all PDA members . Drs . Incalcaterra , James Tauberg ( current president ), James Boyle , Karin Brian , Nipa Thakkar , Linda Himmelberger ( our ADA Trustee ) and Ms . Ellen Rinaldi participated through numerous conference calls and in-person meetings to ensure the success of this national search .
The final work project that was completed by this committee was extensive . It included a new Executive Director Job Description that prioritized the need for achieving the objectives of the Strategic Plan along with an effective job performance evaluation tool for the use of the Board of Trustees .
The core competencies established for the new director by the committee and the Board included : a priority toward member recruitment and retention through improved interaction with the American Dental Association along with district and local dental societies ; enhancing communication with members through the effective use of information technology ; and creating a sense of excitement in being a member of the PDA . The goal of the search committee was to select an individual who is innovative , an effective communicator , a visionary and complex problem-solver .
From the outset of this search , all who were involved firmly believed that this was the most important decision for the future of our state dental association . In reflecting on the entire process and having the unique opportunity to chair this Search Committee , I want to ensure the members of the PDA that you should be confident in the knowledge that every effort was made to ensure your future success with the hiring of Mr . Blackwell as your new Executive Director .
The challenges faced by PDA and Mr . Blackwell since the outbreak of COVID-19 immediately after his contract was signed truly demonstrate just how correct we all were . Of all the candidates that were interviewed , we were extremely fortunate to have selected someone with not only extensive dental association management experience , but also a long-standing positive relationship with the American Dental Association . PDA is well-positioned for even greater success in the future under Ward Blackwell ’ s leadership .
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 17