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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-09 - Agendas - FinalFayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission January 9th, 2025 Location: Fayetteville Town Center, 15 W. Mountain Street Commissioners: Staff: Chrissy Sanderson, Chair, Tourism & Hospitality Representative Katherine Kinney, Tourism & Hospitality Representative Todd Martin, Tourism & Hospitality Representative Elvis Moya, Tourism & Hospitality Representative Andrew Prysby, Commissioner at-large Sarah Bunch, City Council Representative Mike Wiederkehr, City Council Representative Jennifer Walker, Interim CEO I. Call to order at 2:00 p.m. II. New Business A. Vote. Executive Search Firm Contract. Staff recommends a vote to authorize Interim CEO to executive a contract with Winner Partners for the CEO executive search. Memo and Proposal included. B. Vote. Appropriate funds from the Unreserved Fund Balance to cover the expense of the executive search. Memo and Proposal included. C. Vote. Adjust Interim CEO salary. Memo included. III. Adjourn Memo To: Fayetteville Advertising & Promotion Commissioners From: Jennifer Walker, Interim CEO | VP Finance, Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission Date: January 3, 2025 Re: Executive Search Firm Contract – Winner Partners Fayetteville A&P Commission requests an executive search firm to assist in identifying its next Chief Executive Officer. Winner Partners specializes in destination marketing organizations and nonprofit leadership. Their comprehensive approach includes a focus on stakeholder engagement, hands-on discovery and strong local connections in the destination marketing industry. Winner Partners has proposed a professional fee of $48,000 plus pre-approved direct expenses, which are estimated at $12,500. The estimated timeline for completing the search and presenting a final candidate is under 80 days. Additionally, the firm offers a one-year guarantee to refill the position at no additional cost if the selected candidate departs within the first 12 months. The proposed contract ensures a strategic and efficient process to secure a leader who will advance Experience Fayetteville’s mission and objectives. A summary of Winner Partners’ proposal and the engagement letter are attached for reference. Staff Recommendations: 1. A vote to authorize Interim CEO Jennifer Walker to execute a contract with Winner Partners for the CEO executive search, with a professional fee of $48,000 plus pre- approved expenses. 2. A vote to appropriate funds from the Unreserved Fund Balance in the amount of $65,000 to cover the professional fee and direct expenses associated with the executive search. I s s u e d : D e c e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 2 4 P r e p a r e d f o r : E x p e r i e n c e F a y e t t e v i l l e EXECUTIVE SEARCH PROPOSAL CEO 724-831-1060 tina@winnerpartners.net CONTACT US www.winnerpartners.net Tina Winner Steven Oberhoffer 312-404-7971 steven@winnerpartners.net LETTER OF INTEREST THE FIRM THE ENGAGEMENT TEAM OUR PROCESS TIMELINE PROFESSIONAL FEES REPRESENTATIVE SEARCHES SUMMARY ENGAGEMENT LETTER Table of Contents 3 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 15 December 20, 2024 Amy Stockton Director of Operations Experience Fayetteville 21 South Block Ave. Suite 100 Fayetteville, AR 72701 astockton@experiencefayetteville.com RE: CONFIDENTIAL - Letter of Interest & Statement of Qualifications –Experience Fayetteville Dear Ms. Stockton: We appreciate the opportunity to share our expertise with Experience Fayetteville in supporting the search committee’s efforts to identify the next CEO. Our Firm Winner Partners is a privately held, executive recruitment firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. Our firm was intentionally designed as a collaborative platform of the most talented search consultants in the market matched with proven, successful leaders who are subject-matter experts in industry. Winner Partners is a certified, woman-owned business established with a client base consisting of public-private partnerships, public sector, nonprofits, and privately owned organizations. Our firm has a successful track record of placing dynamic leaders and averages 30 searches annually with 75% of those placements at the leadership level. Engagement Team The engagement team who will guide and coach Experience Fayetteville execute a proven, successful process includes: Managing Partners of Winner Partners - 40+ years of executive search and recruitment experience. Destination Marketing & Tourism Partner – Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME) and lifelong hospitality veteran of hotels, tourism, attractions, and destination marketing organizations. Inclusion & People Experience Partner – Dedicated Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion oversight & 25 years of diversity recruiting experience. Our team is unmatched with subject-matter expertise, crucial practical experience in similar organizations, and connections vital to conduct the most comprehensive, inclusive search for Experience Fayetteville. Search Expertise Our nationwide reach and proven capabilities make Winner Partners uniquely qualified to lead the search for Experience Fayetteville. With a track record of successfully completing hundreds of assignments, our search process is designed to achieve exceptional outcomes. We prioritize a deep understanding of each client’s needs, working collaboratively to uphold and enhance their brand, culture, and vision for the future. Candidates benefit from our Executive-to-Executive approach, where they are treated with respect and professionalism at every stage. Denny Tracy, CDME, our Destination Marketing Partner, brings invaluable expertise to this search, including direct DMO experience in Arkansas. His insights will serve as a vital resource for the Experience Fayetteville search committee and the candidates exploring this opportunity. Letter of Interest 3 Tina M. Winner Managing Partner Winner Partners Commitment to Diverse Candidate Options Winner Partners val ues diversity, equity , and inc lusion in the workplace. Our internal team composition is r e flective of o ur commitment whe re we celebrate our indivi dual uniqueness and have used our differenc es to bui ld a strong, susta inable team. Our I nclusion & People Ex perienc e Partn e r has wo ven hir ing prac t ic es desig ned to attract high-performing women, people of co lor, and traditionally under repre sented groups into our sea rch proces s. The resu lt produ ce s robust slates of candidate op t ions for our cl ients, those who are both in t erested an d qualified for your CEO opportuni t y. The team hel ps search committees and boards evaluate candi dates with a variety of profess ion al expertise, cultu ra l back gr ounds, and spectrum of life exp eriences - those who will help Experience Fayetteville be better equ ipped to respond to future needs. Strategy For each executive search assignment, Winner Partners conducts research and deep market analysis. This is accomplished in the discovery phase of the process incorporating insights from the board, staff, and stakeholders to ensure we have a complete understanding of the organization – history, present state, and vision for the future. The information gained in these sessions is incorporated with the experience parameters defined by the search committee. Local, regional, national, and international targets are identified. Direct candidate sourcing is complimented by our proprietary databases and leadership networks. Process Winner Partners' recruitment process is the result of years of experience in executive search and recruiting, continually refined through invaluable feedback from our clients. Our comprehensive “team approach” integrates a multi-tiered screening and evaluation system that leverages the diverse expertise of our partners. We go beyond simply presenting resumes by rigorously assessing candidates not only for the technical skills and qualifications required for the CEO role but also for the behavioral attributes that align with the organization's culture and ensure long-term success. To further enhance the selection process, we incorporate a data-driven evaluation of each candidate to gauge their leadership capabilities and their compatibility with the organization’s mission and values. This thoughtful and strategic approach ensures that we deliver candidates who are not just qualified but are poised to make a meaningful and lasting impact. Guarantee Winner Partners has a proven track-record in high-caliber search of board-led organizations. Our standard guarantee to our clients includes: A one-year, no-fault guarantee for our placements: If the placement leaves for any reason within the first twelve months, Winner Partners agrees to perform a replacement search at no charge. Upon completing the search for Experience Fayetteville; the organization would be “off-limits” for future recruiting efforts done by Winner Partners. Leadership changes can be challenging, but they also present an opportunity for forward-thinking organizations to make healthy changes. The team at Winner Partners will ease the process for your CEO search backed by a tried-and-true recruitment process successfully executed for numerous clients. Our proposal provides details about approach, experience, process, client references, and pricing. We welcome the opportunity to assist you with this critical hiring need. For questions or additional information, I am available at 724-831-1060 or tina@winnerpartners.net. Respectfully Submitted, Letter of Interest 4 Winner Partners was established in 2017 by Tina Winner & Steven Oberhoffer capitalizing on their core desire to build a firm devoted to helping all people. The responsibility associated with career decisions, and therefore lives, is one they take very seriously. Tina and Steven created a professional recruitment solution and process to identify and qualify candidates in an accelerated timeframe to meet the growing requirements of clients needing top talent quickly. Their methodology incorporates a respected, transparent candidate process addressing the challenges associated with keeping candidates informed while engaged in a search effort. In the quest to provide clients with the best team to identify specific talent needs, Winner Partners leaned on their extensive network of industry and functional experts to power a team that is unrelenting in ensuring clients and candidates are matched appropriately. Our subject-matter expert partners enhance our process as a consultative resource with a detailed and thorough understanding of the experience, leadership, background, and training necessary for leadership roles such as the CEO of Experience Fayetteville. For the CEO search, our engagement team will consist of two senior executive search professionals, Inclusion & People Experience Partner, and Destination Marketing & Tourism Partner. Winner Partners will aid Experience Fayetteville and its designated staff as a technical advisor to ensure the search for the new CEO is conducted in a thorough and professional manner. Our approach has been embraced by forward-thinking organizations who require an executive search partner with an extensive reach and a clear understanding of their needs. The Firm 5 Martita Mestéy-Durruthy is the firm’s Inclusion & People Experience Partner. For 25 years, she hasdesigned unique practices to recruit, hire, and represent high- performing women andunderrepresented groups. Martita leverages her multicultural experience and background toexecute a US-based recruitment strategy with a global mindset. A fluent bilingual communicator,she has been a cited resource for several publications on career preparation and transition. She is amember of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, National Black MBA Association, ALPFA, theNational Society of Black Engineers, Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and anational officer for National Sales Network. Martita is based in Fort Lauderdale. Steven Oberhoffer is the Co-Founder, Managing Partner based in Baltimore, Maryland. Steven utilizedhis extensive knowledge of the executive search industry to build the foundation of the firm’sinfrastructure and proprietary recruitment methodology. During Steven’s career, spanning over 2decades, he developed a passion for helping both candidates and clients realize the benefits of makingpositive career decisions. Prior to launching Winner Partners, Steven spent several years as a partnerwith one of the largest, global executive search firms where he met Tina Winner. Steven attendedDePaul University with a major in communications. He served on the board of directors and was afounding member of a fundraising organization supporting youth arts. Tina Winner is the Co-Founder, Managing Partner based in St. Petersburg, FL. Her experienceincludes 18 years in the executive search industry specializing in executive- level recruiting andboard guidance. She assists clients and candidates across multiple industries drawing on her earlycareer in the life sciences and healthcare industry along with experience from two global, executivesearch firms. She is actively involved with organizations including Women in Tourism - Tampa Bay,Cyber Ohana Project, International Economic Development Council, and International DowntownAssociation. Tina earned Cornell University’s Certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship in 2022. Dedicated Industry Leaders at your Service Tina Winner Steven Oberhoffer Martita Mestéy-Durruthy Managing Partner Managing Partner Inclusion & People ExperiencePartner Dennis Tracy, CDME is our Destination Marketing & Tourism Partner based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Heis a life-long hospitality industry veteran who has represented destinations, world-class hotelproperties, and unique attractions. Dennis’ experiences with vibrant organizations have welcomedhundreds of attendees and stimulated local economies via visitor spending. Armed with theCertified Destination Management Executive (CDME) distinction, the tourism industry’s highestindividual educational achievement, Dennis is uniquely equipped to assist clients with his industryknowledge, network, and connections. His experience includes:Senior Leadership, Destination Sales, Marketing & Services – Visit Jacksonville, FloridaSenior Leadership Destination Sales, Marketing & Services – Little Rock CVB – Understands theunique TDC relationship, funding mechanism (HMR) and governance associated with theorganization as well as valuable relationships/ familiarity within the Arkansas DMO community at alocal, state, and national level.Senior Leadership/National Sales Representative – Cincy USALeadership Team – Cincinnati Museum CenterNational Sales – Westin Hotels Engagement Team 6 Dennis Tracy Destination Marketing &Tourism Partner During the consultation and intake phase of the process, the engagement team develops critical insights regarding the history and legacy of the organization and its leadership, as well as current state and perceptions of Experience Fayetteville in the community and marketplace. Along with learning the vision and future of the organization, we will develop the basis of a leadership profile for the next CEO including skills, experiences, and behavioral attributes crucial for the success of the next leader. This phase creates a transparent search environment and an opportunity for stakeholders to understand the search, contribute their valuable insights, and establish ‘buy- in’ to the process. For the CEO search, Tina Winner will serve as the Engagement Manager and direct contact for Experience Fayetteville. Information gathered during the discovery and intake phase, assists the engagement team in creating compelling marketing materials for the CEO opportunity– the recruitment brochure. The engagement team will work with Experience Fayetteville’s creative team to develop a recruitment brochure that shares your story to prospective candidates and national centers of influence. The recruitment brochure conveys the organizational structure, culture, performance expectations, and vision for the future along with showcasing the destination and its assets. It also outlines candidate skills, experience, personality, and behavioral characteristics required to operate successfully in the organization and with its members, stakeholders, collaborators, and prospects. The search begins as a partnership with Experience Fayetteville and the engagement team. The engagement team will direct the mission of getting to know the organization, board, staff, and its key stakeholders. Communication between the client and the engagement team is critical. At the commencement of the search, a timeline with a communication plan is developed to guide the search process, track objectives, dates, milestones, and reporting criteria. Partnership Recruitment Brochure Discovery Consultation, & Intake Phase Our Process 7 Multi-tiered, behavior-based interviewing techniques providing well-rounded, personal assessments. Multiplemembers of the engagement team interview each candidate to obtain career history, leadership experience,industry expertise, and specific examples of their skillset using developed standardized questions based on thecandidate profile for the CEO. We assess and report each candidate’s motivations and driving interests in acareer move. A self-assessment of skills required for the role and written essay are requested from each candidate. Theessay focuses on relevant topics, specific experiences, and leadership philosophies. The essay serves as areflection of the candidate’s communication and writing style and is designed to display critical-thinking skills. All candidates are evaluated with an unbiased process regardless of source. Any internal candidates will beincluded and uniformly evaluated. Highly qualified candidates are presented to Experience Fayetteville in a standardized, easy-to-read candidateprofile. The candidate profile includes a detailed interview/evaluation summary, compensation expectations,relocation factors, written essay, and resume. Comprehensive referencing for finalist candidates incorporates a 360° evaluation from subordinates, peers,and superiors. References provide valuable insight and understanding of the candidate’s management andleadership characteristics and professional work performance. Winner Partners’ vigorous referencing of finalistcandidates is an additional safeguard to ensure clients are armed to avoid costly mis-hires or a poor cultural fit. The engagement team generates a robust search strategy to identify appropriate sources of quality candidates. Targets are determined based on the skills and experiences necessary to meet the expectations for the next CEO. The search strategy is focused on the region Experience Fayetteville serves and quickly expands nationally. Target organizations may include local, regional, and national tourism bureaus, convention and visitors authorities, destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, regional and local community and economic development, related not-for- profits, public-private partnerships, universities, consulting firms, think tanks, foundations as well as private and public- sector organizations with alignment to Experience Fayetteville. Market research executed through our search strategy casts a “wide net” to identify candidates with multi-functional, cross-industry experience balanced with natural leadership, a collaborative nature, and the ability to convene competing groups. Inclusive recruiting efforts deliver candidates with a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences providing truly comprehensive and diverse candidate options. Direct recruitment of candidates produces the best results. The team will access industry contacts, proprietary databases, networks, associations, and professional connections for this effort. Strategic advertising will augment our efforts and will be determined with the search committee. The Search Strategy Research and Recruiting Winner Partners’ Candidate Evaluation Process Our Process Candidates deemed qualified are evaluated utilizing: 8 Our Process The engagement team organizes the candidate selection process in close coordination with Experience Fayetteville providing support and guidance. The team coordinates scheduling of candidates invited to participate with any pertinent information related to the interview process. Candidates not moving forward in the process are communicated status updates as appropriate Finalist interviews with ideally two to three (2-3) candidates consist of candidate presentations on topics selected by Experience Fayetteville and may incorporate a brief social reception (breakfast, lunch, mixer). We have found this approach, utilizing an expanded audience (by invitation only), affords Experience Fayetteville with additional insight into the finalist’s ability to present to and collaborate with diverse groups. This is an opportune time to interact with and incorporate staff interviews as appropriate. We recommend interviewing the top five to seven (5-7) candidates for the first round. The engagement team assists Experience Fayetteville with selection of the candidates for interview. We recommend the first- round interview format employs structured, behavior-based questions. The engagement team works with Experience Fayetteville to develop interview questions to be used uniformly across all candidates and provides guidance for incorporating a scoring system for candidate responses. One or two members of the engagement team facilitate candidate interview sessions. Winner Partners provides Experience Fayetteville with tools for data collection during the interviews for the best opportunity to make an informed, data-supported hiring selection. In a relocation scenario, Martita Mestéy-Durruthy serves as the family concierge to ensure the needs of the candidate and their dependents are met. Winner Partners proudly partners with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (BHHS) for relocation services to conduct a needs assessment with the candidate to provide support for a relocation. Martita and BHHS coordinate action plans to tour areas, schools, or other amenities required/desired by prospective candidates. Through our partnership with BHHS, candidates will have access to their suite of moving products and services as well as discounts. The engagement team provides a comprehensive compensation review for the finalist candidate. This information guides the offer and includes comprehensive compensation details, relocation specifics, family requirements/desires, start dates, and more. The engagement team facilitates additional steps to the hiring such as coordination of the resignation, pre- employment testing requirements, and drafting employment agreements as well as directing the offer and negotiation. The Selection Process Relocation Finalist Interviews Offer & Negotiation Candidate Selection Interview Facilitation First-Round Interviews Our Process 9 Our Process 10 We offer a non-solicitation commitment to our clients. After completing a search for Experience Fayetteville, your organization will be “off-limits” for any future recruiting efforts done by Winner Partners. We respect the trust you have placed in us as well as our abilities to source candidates outside our client base. The Winner Partners team is invested in the ultimate success of Experience Fayetteville and the candidate placed. We have built a process to support the best outcomes for our clients and placements. The engagement team works with the client and the hire to establish a timeline for transition. We remain closely aligned with client and the hire for onboarding activities during the first critical 90 days and tapering to less frequently as the placement becomes more integrated over time. We identify any key areas of improvement or specific initiatives to ensure a smooth changeover. The rigorous evaluation process by Winner Partners is designed to safeguard our clients against costly mis-hires. We realize, however, there may be factors beyond vetting and interviewing that could lead to a hire leaving or a client discontinuing the relationship. For this we offer a one-year, no-fault guarantee for our placements: If the placement leaves for any reason within the first twelve months, Winner Partners agrees to perform a replacement search at no charge (only search-related expenses). Guarantee Onboarding – the first 90 days Non-Solicitation Commitment Preliminary Timeline Proposed Time to Offer & Acceptance: Under 80 Days Develop Research Universe Final interviews – 2-3 Candidates Discovery, Consultation, and Intake Phase (Virtual) Establish 1st Round Candidate Interviews Schedule Assessments Advertising Strategy Background Checks Recruitment Brochure Evaluation of Candidates Offer Extended & Transition Plan Commencement of the search contract is contingent upon contract acceptance prior to the engagement’s kick- off. Final schedule is developed in concert with Experience Fayetteville and its designees. Kick Off Finalist Interviews First Round Interviews Research & Recruiting andCandidate Identification Offer & Acceptance Verification of Finalists Qualify & Assess Candidates Job DescriptionDevelopment & Advertising WEEK 1 WEEK 3-4 WEEK 7 WEEK 10 WEEK 2 WEEK 8-9 START WEEK 5-6 WEEK 11 Recruitment of candidates begins Sourcing calls initiated Networks activated Applicants evaluated Incorporate board, stakeholders, and staff Invitation only Inclusion of spouse/family for relocation scenario Conduct Discovery Phase Develop Search Strategy & Priorities Set mutual expectations and accountabilities Establish interview and selection candidate selection criteria Set schedule for the search Assessment and Research of Organization & Position Listening Sessions with key stakeholders (virtual) as needed Behavior-based, virtual interviews Top 5-7 Candidates – Winner Partners facilitates Deliberation and Selection of Finalist Candidates, narrow to 2-3 Presented for approval Ads Placed Finalist complete Assessment Winner Partners communicates results Criminal, Credit, Academic Verifications Comprehensive compensation survey Establish start date, and onboarding activities Coordinated Public Announcements Target Start Date with 30-day notice Engagement team interviews candidates with developed questions and evaluation criteria Candidates’ written essays collected Conduct formal review of qualified candidates with Experience Fayetteville Collect materials – job description, photos, regional info Draft presented for edits/approval 11 Professional fee is billed in three (3) installments: Total Professional Fee Estimated total of direct expenses 12 Professional fees for executive search are calculated on a percentage of the hire’s projected first-year, total cash compensation, and includes reimbursement for search-related, direct, and indirect support expenses. For the CEO search for Experience Fayetteville, Winner Partners proposes a fixed, professional fee of $48,000 plus direct, preapproved expenses. Indirect expenses such as allocated support expenses have been included in our proposed fee as well as background checks and reference verifications for finalist candidates. Our proposed fixed, professional fee will help Experience Fayetteville budget for the search and control expenses. Direct Expenses include candidate travel, Winner Partner travel, assessments, and advertising. Direct search expenses are preapproved by Experience Fayetteville and billed at cost. • Initial, non-refundable retainer to begin the assignment • Generated upon presentation of candidate slate (~45 days) • Final installment is sent upon acceptance of an offer by the candidate $16,000 $16,000 $16,000 $48,000 $12,500 Professional Fees & Terms Direct search expenses - Estimated: • Discovery & Intake (If in person)$2,500 • Candidate & Consultant Travel $8,500 • Advertising (Assumes virtual 1st round and 2-3 finalists for in-person interviews $1,500 605-431-8804 kelly.buntrock@fib.com 775-827-7600 cbybee@cityofsparks.us 13 Our Clients & References The following are representative samples of our body of work. Our references are available for questions about our quality of work. Fee schedules for our clients are confidential. 509-378-8185 cpearson@3riverscampus.com Kevin Lewis President & CEO Visit Tri-Cities, a 501(c)6 destination marketing organization, represents the region and its 300,000 residents. The metropolitan area known as ” Tri-Cities” consists of the major communities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and West Richland in southeast Washington. The Search Committee aimed for a President & CEO who would promote inclusion, value innovation, and operationalize the inspiration that comes from working with residents to understand the visitor economy and to promote the visitor experience. The President & CEO leads a team of committed team of 13 to make the Tri-Cities bigger, bolder, brighter, better and “more cool” through tourism. Search Committee led by Search Chair: Corey Pearson – Three Rivers Convention Center Brook Kaufman President & CEO Visit Rapid City is a not-for-profit, destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting leisure travel, special/sporting events, reunions, meetings and conventions, group travel and tours to Rapid City and the Black Hills region. The Search Committee sought a President & CEO who was a visionary leader, community champion, and active convener with an ability to band with business, cultural, government, and community partners to define and deliver a rich, authentic experience where natural resources, historical heritage, famous landmarks, and urban pleasures collide. Tourism directly supports more than 30,000 jobs in South Dakota and generates $3.4 billion in annual visitor spending statewide. Search Committee led by Search Chair: Kelly Buntrock –First Interstate Bank Mike Larragueta President & CEO Search Committee led by Board Chair: Charlene Bybee - Councilwoman Sparks Ward 4 The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) acts as a marketing organization for the county to promote convention and tourism business. RSCVA owns and operates facilities to support sporting competitions, national meetings and conventions, equestrian and livestock events. The nine-member board of directors sought a President/CEO to provide direct management of the senior executive team and represent the organization in its relationships with local citizens, clients, partners, and government agencies. The President/CEO will develop and implement the strategic plan including sales, marketing, and branding programs to promote Reno-Tahoe for the leisure and convention visitor to this friendly, four-season resort destination – in a spectacular natural setting. 409-261-3101 j.hardcastle@6degreeswealth.com Kimberly Danesi CEO Search Committee led by Trustees Chair: Jason Hardcastle – Hardcastle Group The Galveston Park Board leads tourism development and sustainability efforts for Galveston Island, Texas. As a non-profit governmental entity, they are the umbrella organization for Visit Galveston, Galveston Coastal Zone Management, and the Galveston Island Beach Patrol and are funded solely through Hotel Occupancy Tax. As the lead spokesperson, the CEO is responsible for implementing and directing the mission, core values, and policies while strengthening the Park Board’s effectiveness and vision through strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and collaboration, fiscal responsibility, and innovation. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO leads an experienced team of 300+ with a budget of $45M. The engagement team has developed networks and connections to candidates with the CEO qualities and functional skillsets required by today’s leaders: Those leaders who bring the behaviors, temperaments, and likeability along with extensive relationships, industry and market knowledge, and access to thought leaders. Winner Partners stands apart with our expertise and proven experience in executive search and recruitment supported by strong track record of collectively completing hundreds of assignments. Uniquely, Winner Partners is the only firm with a team member who holds the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) credential and possesses hands-on Arkansas tourism experience. This distinctive combination of expertise and local knowledge positions us to deliver exceptional results tailored to your needs. Our engagement team is unmatched with relevant industry expertise, recruitment proficiency, candidate access, and devotion to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The research-based approach by our team provides proven tools to identify leaders who understand organizational metrics and performance. The members of the engagement team are known thought-leaders in the industry and have close connections to elite candidates and high-potential, emerging leaders who may be overlooked in traditional recruiting scenarios. The team treats each search independently with fresh research based on our client’s specific ideal candidate profile. Not just for the search but also for the long- term success of Experience Fayetteville, our size, resources, and expertise position us as a valued partner for Experience Fayetteville. Our well-honed search process combined with national knowledge leadership in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry along with our one-year, “no-fault” guarantee provides Experience Fayetteville with the best collaborative team and recruitment process to identify your next CEO. We look forward to the opportunity to serve as your executive search partner and to represent Experience Fayetteville! Thank you for the opportunity to present our credentials. Summary Access to Talent Data-Driven Tools Expertise & Experience Value Team is Unmatched 14 Our search process incorporates comprehensive screening tools and techniques to uncover the depth of candidate experiences, areas of development, and motivations for making a career move. Experience Fayetteville will have an unmatched, expert opinion of the candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential blind spots. Recruitment Strategy December 20, 2024 Jennifer Walker Interim CEO Experience Fayetteville 21 South Block Ave. Suite 100 Fayetteville, AR 72701 RE: CONFIDENTIAL - CEO Executive Search Dear Ms. Walker: We are pleased to confirm the arrangements under which Winner Partners, LLC (Winner Partners) is to conduct a search to recruit the CEO. (Client). We are guided by your desire to have this individual located as quickly as possible. Work on the assignment will begin immediately upon our receipt of a signed copy of this agreement. Search Responsibilities and Deliverables Pre-Search Consulting Recruitment Brochure Development Search Strategy & Priorities Research, Recruiting, and Candidate Identification Candidate Summaries with Interview Assessments, Writing Sample, and Resumes Initial & Regularly Scheduled Status Updates Facilitation of Virtual and In-Person Interviews Background Checks & Candidate Reference Verifications for Finalists Offer Negotiations and Acceptance Onboarding Engagement Team The core team dedicated to Client includes: Tina Winner - Engagement Manager to the client Steven Oberhoffer - Recruitment, Search Strategy and Execution Dennis Tracy, CDME - Destination Marketing & Tourism Partner Ronnie Bryant, CEcD - Executive Leadership Partner Martita Mestéy-Durruthy - Inclusion & People Experience Partner Professional Fees Our professional fee is set at a flat fee of $48,000 total (plus preapproved, direct expenses) and is payable in three (3) installments as follows: $16,000 – Initial, non-refundable retainer to begin the assignment. $16,000 – Upon presentation of the initial candidate slate (~45 days). $16,000 – Final invoice upon the acceptance of an offer by the candidate. If Client hires more than one candidate presented by Winner Partners in connection with this assignment within 12 months, Client agrees to pay Winner Partners an amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of each additional hire’s projected first year, total cash compensation. It is further understood that our search will include the evaluation of any candidates who may have been or may be identified by the Client or its stakeholders, or may be already employed by Client, and that such individuals shall be deemed candidates presented by Winner Partners for purposes of this letter. Agreement 15 Best regards, Tina Winner Managing Partner Winner Partners, LLC Accepted: _________________________________________________ ______________________________ Jennifer Walker, Interim CEO Date Expenses Winner Partners is reimbursed for direct expenses related to the Client’s search engagement. Direct expenses include candidate and engagement team travel, lodging, meals, other and reasonable expenses as well as advertising. The Client will be responsible for preapproving direct search expenses which will be billed at cost on a monthly basis. Indirect search-related, support expenses have been included in the professional fee for the Client. Cancellation Winner Partners recognizes its client’s recruiting needs may change over time. If Client cancels the search by written confirmation within 60 days, we will forward a final statement for our professional fee prorated through the date of cancellation and direct expenses incurred for the search. In no event, shall Client be responsible for less than the first installment plus direct expenses. Guarantee If the employment of a Winner Partners-placed candidate is terminated (voluntarily or involuntarily) within 12 months from the start date with Client, we will, at your option, refill that position for no additional fee other than any direct expenses incurred. Non-Solicitation of Employees Winner Partners warrants that we will not recruit from the Client during or after the conclusion of this search engagement without express written permission from the Client’s leadership. Confidentiality Winner Partners will maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary and confidential information supplied by Client, it being understood that proprietary and confidential information does not include, and this obligation will not apply to, any information in the public domain, which is or comes into Winner Partners’ possession without an obligation of confidentiality or is required by law. Client will maintain confidentiality of Winner Partners’ terms of agreement, search process, proprietary tools used to conduct and facilitate the CEO search. Client, and by extension the Client’s board of directors, will ensure confidentiality of all data shared regarding prospective candidates including but not limited to candidates’ identity, current employment and history, background information, compensation, etc. If you are in agreement with the terms and conditions as stated above, please sign and return a copy of this letter to me as our formal authorization to proceed. I appreciate the confidence you have placed in Winner Partners and look forward to partnering with you. Agreement 16 Memo To: Jennifer Walker, Interim CEO and Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commissioners From: Amy Stockton, Director of Operations, Experience Fayetteville Date: January 3, 2025 Re: Interim CEO Salary Adjustment Background: Jennifer Walker assumed the Interim CEO role on January 2nd per the recommendation to the commission at the December 9th, 2024 commission meeting. With the increased responsibilities of this role in addition to continuing the role of Vice President of Finance, we propose to adjust her salary during the time served as Interim CEO, which is an industry standard practice. Budget Impact: There is not a budget impact as the CEO salary is already budgeted at $170,000 for 2025. Recommendation: We recommend that the commission approve a temporary salary adjustment to $165,000 beginning January 2nd and concluding when a new CEO begins employment.