Alison Ranney, '96: Chicago philanthropy's recruiter in chief
Chicago philanthropy's recruiter in chief
In April 2015, Celena Roldan, then executive director of Erie Neighborhood House, attended an Economic Club of Chicago dinner. She had spent 15 years at the agency, which serves about 5,000 people a year, and was pondering her next career move. At the dinner, Roldan met Alison Ranney, managing director and Chicago office head of nonprofit-executive search firm Koya Partners.
Two months later, Roldan found herself in Koya's offices, on the sixth floor of the Civic Opera Building, about to discuss her future with Ranney. The prospect of voicing her aspirations made Roldan a little nervous; she had spent her career in a sector that can view ambition as immodest. "It was a really difficult conversation for me to have," Roldan says. Ranney welcomed her and invited her into a small conference room, bright with orange walls and vintage Lyric Opera of Chicago posters. Roldan's apprehension melted. "She has a great laugh, a fantastic smile," Roldan says. "From the minute you meet her, she pulls you in. You can tell she's starting to think about your hopes and dreams and aspirations."
By October, an opportunity had materialized—CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois, one of the biggest Red Cross regions in the country. Roldan now oversees an operation that helps 9.5 million people a year, a pinch-me situation for a nonprofit executive like her. "Working with Alison was an unbelievable experience," Roldan says. "She opened the door to this dramatic change in my life and my ability to serve on such a significant scale."
Read more at Crain's Chicago Business