By Milt Capps
Published Friday, December 20, 2024 4:48 pm

NASHVILLE TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL today released the job description for its 10th president and CEO, who will follow soon-departing Elise Cambournac.

Incoming NTC Board of Directors Chairman Rod McDaniel will chair the search committee, which VNC understands has six members, identities of whom have not yet been disclosed.

As we reported in October, nine presidents have led NTC since 1999, a span that has included ceaseless change in the tech sector.

NTC COO Sandi Hoff has been named Interim CEO, according to an NTC press release late this afternoon. VNC's previous NTC coverage.

The newly detailed CEO job description is here (PDF).

The description contains a wide array of familiar types of expectations held by the board for performance in a position that has in recent years provided compensation of several types approaching a total $200K per year.

Casey Santos

Outgoing NTC Chairman Casey Santos emphasized in NTC's release the importance of future leadership: "As we look to the future, it is crucial that we find a leader who not only understands the dynamic nature of the technology sector but also embodies the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines our community. The next President and CEO will play a pivotal role in driving the NTC's mission forward, ensuring that we continue to support and grow Middle Tennessee's tech ecosystem."

Rod McDaniel

In the same press release, McDaniel said, "We are searching for the next leader to build on this organization's strong 25 year history. We are looking for a visionary leader who will continue to drive innovation and growth within Nashville's tech community."

Board expectations are clear: For example, the board aims in this search to ensure transparency and collaboration in board dealings and the delivery of "clear, actionable financials, metrics, and updates."

There are also familiar calls for strategic planning and alignment of plans and hence operations with board direction and member needs, as well as insistence on engagement with members in various ways to ensure programming meets members' expressed needs.

There are other notable challenges embedded in the job description.

The next CEO is, for example, expected to (paraphrased, except where quoted):

• Enhance NTC's value proposition and its regional influence
• Reinvigorate programs by re-engaging members to foster "ownership and inclusion"
• Improve event programming and attendee profiles to elevate sponsor ROI, NTC financial sustainability, etc.

Whereas, on first impression, there are multiple logical candidates for the CEO post who are already based in Greater Nashville and Tennessee, many U.S. nonprofits are currently casting their nets far beyond their geo-locations, in search of candidates with transformative track records commensurate with the times. VNC

. last edited 0550 21 December 2024