News & Views

Posted: May 2011

Nathan A. Perez is the new Vice President of Research of KeyStone Search where he will lead all candidate research strategy for client engagements. He joins KeyStone after serving most recently as a key member of the research team for Nosal Partners, LLC., a leading national retained executive search firm. He gained previous executive search experience with Battalia Winston International.

His previous professional experience includes working in the office of the President for Rockefeller Brothers Fund/Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and the office of Chairman/CEO for Goldman, Sachs, & Co.

An accomplished actor and writer, Nathan’s performance credits include legit Off Broadway stage, a star turn in the SyFy Channel Original Alien Lockdown, and recurring appearances on One Life to Live, Guiding Light, All My Children, and As the World Turns. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre. Nathan is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

A native of Colorado, Nathan lives with his wife and two children in the Twin Cities area. In his free time he continues to write long form fiction and edit the screen and stage plays of his former writing colleagues in Hollywood and New York.

Posted: November 2009

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - KeyStone Search has promoted Lars Leafblad from Vice President to Principal. In this role, he will lead two new practice areas; Corporate Affairs and Marketing & Engagement. Lars will also co-chair the new Education Services practice at KeyStone and serve as the firm's functional expert in Institutional Advancement.

Mr. Leafblad joined KeyStone Search in 2007. Previously, he served as Director of Development for the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He gained additional management experience as Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Relations at St. Olaf College. Mr. Leafblad began his career in a leadership development program with GE Capital and subsequently helped launch Four51.com, a high-tech start-up. He is also an alumnus of the Famous Dave's of America National Touring BBQ Team.

According to Mike Frommelt, Principal and Co-founder of KeyStone Search, "Lars' background is perfectly suited to lead these new practice areas. His innovative, strategic and highly engaged approach to executive search will serve these clients well, just as it has our existing clientele."

Mr. Leafblad was recognized as a "40 under Forty" in 2007 by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. He was selected as a 2008-09 Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute and serves on the board of directors for CaringBridge.org, the advisory board of The Salvation Army - Twin Cities, and on the host committee of TEDxTC.com. He is the founder of Common Grounds, a graduate student leadership development organization at the University of Minnesota, and a co-founder of the St. Olaf MBA Association.

He earned a BA in Economics from St. Olaf College, and his MBA with a concentration in Strategic Management from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. There he was recognized with a "President's Student Leadership and Service Award" for his leadership contributions to the MBA student community.

Posted: November 2009

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - KeyStone Search has been chosen to conduct CEO searches for both the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation and Woodwinds Hospital.

For over 100 years, the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation has been addressing the needs of the most vulnerable people in greater St. Paul MN. Through more than 70 diverse programs and services Wilder works with thousands of individuals every year to help them overcome barriers to learning, address their mental health, live with more independence, and engage in their communities.

Wilder's current President, Tom Kingston is planning to retire in June 2010 after 30 years of service to the organization, including 20 years as President.

Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury is part of the HealthEast Care System of St. Paul. Woodwinds has created an unprecedented healing environment that revolves around the needs of patients and their families.

Woodwind's current CEO, Julie Schmidt will be taking a newly created system-wide role at HealthEast, Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer.

"We are extremely excited to be working with both of these great organizations" says Rebecca Driscoll, leader of both the Non-Profit and Healthcare Practice Areas at KeyStone Search. "Wilder has been a pillar of the St. Paul community for over a century and Woodwinds is one of the new, vibrant models in healthcare - both are extremely important in the East Metro region. We are honored to be assisting them in identifying new top leadership".

Posted: November 2009

During this session, four respected nonprofit and foundation leaders will discuss how they stay true to organizational culture and values as they anticipate major leadership changes in their organizations. Hear perspectives from Tom Kingston, president, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation who will be transitioning out of his organization after 30 years; Elizabeth Perlich Sweeney, executive director, Children's Heartlink who recently had a senior 21-year veteran retire from her organization; Paul Fate, president and CEO, CommonBond Communities who recently completed a full organizational review and financial analysis focusing on sustainability; and Joan Grzywinski who will provide an important perspective of a highly engaged board member helping a number of organizations prepare for major leadership changes. Join this session to understand how leaders prepare for leadership transitions while thinking about the stability, organizational culture, and success of their organization into the future.

Presented by Paul Fate, president and CEO, CommonBond Communities; Joan Grzywinski, retired president and district manager of Wells Fargo St. Paul District and member of several nonprofit boards; Tom Kingston, president, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation; Elizabeth Perlich Sweeney, executive director, Children's Heartlink; and Rebecca Driscoll, principal, KeyStone Search