Meet Chalmers Center
The Chalmers Center, founded in 1999, continuously develops and improves its tools and resources for ever-changing contexts. Its signature programs include Faith & Finances (a financial education resource for low-income adults in the U.S. and Canada), Work Life (a jobs readiness training program for communities facing the challenges of unemployment and underemployment), RESTORE (a church-centered program for starting savings group ministries in the Majority World), and Innovate (a program that integrates best practices in community development and design thinking, teaching how to apply a biblical framework to develop or improve ministries).
Together with online, on-demand courses like Helping Without Hurting and Are You a Good Neighbor, The Chalmers Center provides all learners with practical, biblical, and effective ways to care for their community. In addition, Chalmers influences thousands of organizations through its books, speaking engagements, and workshops.
Over the past two decades, the Chalmers Center has expanded its impact and influence throughout North America and the Majority World. Partnering with Christian organizations like Compassion International, Tearfund, OneChild, and Prison Fellowship, The Chalmers Center trains thousands of people each year in principles of biblical poverty alleviation.
Their mission at risk
In need of a CEO, The Chalmers Center’s growth and effectiveness toward their mission were at risk until they would find the right person to fill the role—especially with a few key executive roles stepping down. Their new CEO would lead, manage, and inspire the overall pursuit of the center’s mission and vision.
Once found, the CEO would strengthen and advance the work of the Chalmers Center by cultivating relationships with the staff, supporting institutions, donors, churches, foundations, and the public at large. The CEO would also forge new relationships to expand Chalmers’ influence and impact. A good hire would allow Chalmer’s to flourish internally and externally, meaning this person would without a doubt have a global impact.
A scalable vision
Executive Search Consultant Chantel McHenry met the center’s staff, search team, and founder to discuss what a unicorn candidate would look like at The Chalmers Center. Chantel learned the ins-and-outs of what makes the center successful, their team culture, and what they need for growth. Chantel began to search through Vanderbloemen’s pool of candidates for a highly skilled leader who aligned with the center’s beliefs.
The ideal candidate would have personal conviction toward aiding the poor and local churches. The team desired to welcome a person of authentic character, living out the center’s mission both on the job and at home.
They wanted someone who would see past their success and pursue ambitious goals, challenging the center to fulfill more of their potential to serve. Their candidate needed to bring vision that could scale, with proven experience growing an organization while honoring its history.
Getting the first-choice match
One candidate stood out as a first-choice match. The search team was elated when that candidate, Coy Buckley, accepted the position. Coy stood out as a personable and resilient candidate with a demonstrated ability to lead a team in pursuing a vision.
Not only does Coy bring extensive experience through co-founding a non-profit in Tanzania, but he also demonstrates personal grit, someone who has climbed three of the five highest mountains in Africa. P
The Buckley family—including Coy, his wife, and their four children (three boys and one girl)—moved across the globe, from Tanzania to Lookout Mountain, Georgia. After serving in Tanzania in various capacities since 2010, the Buckleys were ready to move back to the United States. The opportunity to work with The Chalmers Center in Georgia was an exciting answer to their specific prayers.
