Peter W. Schwartz named as new President & CEO of CFMA

After a comprehensive search, the CFMA Succession Committee is proud to announce that Peter W. Schwartz has been unanimously selected as the new President & CEO of the Construction Financial Management Association. Peter brings to CFMA his 25+ years of experience in leading and growing not-for-profit organizations. Peter also brings to CFMA and ICCIFP an entrepreneurial spirit, as well as strong financial, strategic planning, and governance acumen. Quoting Steve Tenney, a member of the Succession Committee, “Peter Schwartz has the experience, passion, and commitment to continue the tradition of quality leadership for our Association.”

Below is a brief synopsis of Peter’s background:

• From 2001 to May 2008, served as Chief Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, with 2,100 members, a staff of 14, and a budget of $4.2 million.
• From 1997-2000, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Raybourn Group International (Chicago) Management Co., a management firm for not-for-profits.
• From 1995-1997, served as Executive Vice President of the National Apartment Association, with 26,000 members, 157 state and local chapters, and a staff of approximately 30.
• From 1982-1995, served as Executive Vice President of the American Supply Association, managing a staff of 25 and $3.5 million in association assets, representing the plumbing, heating, cooling, and piping distribution industries.

Peter, his wife, and their children are relocating to the Princeton area. Peter will join us in Orlando and officially begin his leadership role at CFMA after the Conference. In addition, Peter will become a non-voting Board Member of ICCIFP.

The following is a recap of the process:

In early 2006, Chairman Dennis Joyce appointed a “CEO Succession Planning Advisory Group,” chaired by current national Vice Chairman, Kevin Schlueter. The group included Dennis Joyce, former past national presidents Dick Rice and Pat Monea, former past national secretary, Dan Ober, and Bill Schwab. This group’s objective was to examine the process for a succession plan, to ensure quality CEO leadership. A significant task of the Advisory Group was to arrive at the selection of the key stakeholder groups to be represented on the Succession Planning Committee. This committee was made up of great people, with broad CFMA membership representation.

The Succession Committee was composed of CFMA and ICCIFP Board Members: Brian Cooney, Jason Henley, Patrick Monea, George Rebeck, Richard Rice, Kevin Schlueter, Ann Sims, Vickie Spotts, Todd Taggart, Steve Tenney, Marj Weber, and Chris Zaucha. Quoting Pat Monea, “The Committee was made up of an extraordinary group of CFMA leaders, representing every conceivable constituency within our great association. We were focused on finding the next leader of CFMA. We understood that we could not “replace” Bill, and we were looking for a leader to take us to a new level.”

The Committee hired Association Strategies, Inc., a firm who had developed time-tested methods and techniques that maximized the likelihood of making the “right match.” Their three-step systematic approach included (1) an organizational assessment, (2) the search, and (3) transition planning. To quote Steve Tenney, “Pamela Kaul and Jim Zaniello [with ASI], did an excellent job of providing professional guidance to the Succession Committee and presented quality candidates for consideration.”

The Committee’s selection process included the following:

• Monthly Conference Calls.
• Organizational Assessment – Our 60 CFMA leaders were surveyed to develop the CEO profile.
• Candidate Reviews – February 2008 – Eight candidates were reviewed.
• Chicago Interviews – February 21-23, 2008 - Five candidates were chosen for initial interviews.
• Princeton Interviews – March 7-9, 2008 - Two candidates were chosen for follow-up interviews.
• Candidate Selection – March 9, 2008 – Unanimous selection of Peter Schwartz.
• Offer and Contract Signed – March 17, 2008.
• Transition – On-Going.

The process was best summarized by Kevin Schlueter, who said, "This was the most strategic, cohesive group of CFMA leaders, but with significant diversity of perspective and opinion, working on a single, complex, and critical task, with nothing but the greatest and most visionary interests of CFMA and ICCIFP in mind. Of all of the leadership opportunities and chances to serve that I have had in the last two decades, this has been the most gratifying, because I can see the collective vision in our decision-making process and its results. We are very proud of our work on behalf of our membership, and, most importantly, to have created the opportunity that now allows Peter to lead CFMA into our future!"

Please be sure to introduce yourself to Peter and welcome him to CFMA.