Crisis Connections, which delivers expert care, critical resources, and crisis support to those struggling with life’s challenges such as loneliness, depression, and substance-use disorders, was seeking a new HR director. The CEO knew that finding top talent to work for a complex nonprofit with relatively lower pay scales in comparison to the for-profit sector —along with a challenging union environment no less—was no easy feat.
Digging in to clearly understand the role, Big Wave’s Chris Englin first strongly agreed that the position be elevated to Chief People Officer, so only the right candidates were considered. She gave the CEO a handful of quality candidates vs. a high quantity, along with clear indications of why she singled out each person, and relevant qualities that don’t show up on resumes. The CEO shared, “Chris’ custom approach broadened my thinking and helped me be open to people I may not have otherwise considered. She didn’t just ‘gather resumes’ or follow a rote formula. She really knows her work, is embedded in the HR community, and is fueled by authenticity.”
About the hiring process with Chris, the CEO explained: “I know that my nonprofit can’t compete on salary with large companies, but Chris worked surgically to find those ‘needles in haystack’ who were ideal candidates. Ultimately, we landed on two superb CPO finalists—both equally qualified. Our new hire has exceeded my expectations—and they’re high! In just the first few months alone, she turned our often-adversarial union relationship into a more positive partnership. Our new CPO is very professional, but no pushover, and is beloved by everyone.”
