California’s Premier Executive Search & Leadership Development Firm
Leadership Associates was founded in 1996 to support school boards and other educational organizations in their selection of superintendents and executive leaders. Since that time we have come to understand that the recruitment and selection of high-quality leaders goes hand in hand with services that cultivate and support the leadership development of individual leaders and governance teams.
Leadership Associates is a dedicated team of passionate individuals with exceptional success as superintendents and in other educational leadership roles including oversight and guidance of exemplary educational governance teams.
Our website includes links to the resources you’ll need to engage with us in meeting all your needs related to executive searches and all levels of leadership development. While you’re here, we invite you to explore the links below to learn more about the diversity and strengths of our Leadership Associates team.
Meet Our Team
Steering Committee
Kent L. Bechler, Ph.D.
Dennis M. Smith, Ed.D.
Sally Frazier, Ed.D.
Marc A. Ecker, Ph.D.
Peggy Lynch, Ed.D
Partners
Eric D. Andrew, Ed.D.
William Banning
Blanca Cavazos, Ed.D.
Tom Changnon
Donald Evans, Ed.D.
Richard J. Fischer
Juan Garza
Jacqueline Horejs, Ed.D.
Michael Miller
Rich Thome Chávez
Sandra Sánchez-Thorstenson
David Verdugo, Ed.D.
Emeritus Partners
James R. (Jim) Brown
Executive Support Team
Sarena Fairrington, Search Support Specialist
Linda Harter, Search Support Specialist
Penny Pyle, Search Support Specialist
Betty Hall, Administrative Assistant, Leadership Development & Finances
