847.849.2800
Contact
Home > Case Studies > Tourette Association of America
Case Study: How an Interim CEO Set Healthcare Nonprofit on a Path for Growth
SITUATION: Slowing Growth + Competitive Challenges
ORGANIZATION: National Healthcare Nonprofit
EXECUTIVE DEPLOYED: Interim CEO
KEY RESULTS
• Operational Continuity: 100% stability during a 9-month executive search
• Structural Pivot: Unified 18 eye banks under new member agreements
• Scalability: Implemented new operational framework and scalable governance structure
• Succession Readiness: Recruited and onboarded a permanent CEO with a ready-made roadmap
THE CONTEXT: Where did Vision Share stand before the transition?
Vision Share serves as the mission-critical backbone for a national network of 18 eye banks. It was established in 1998 to get corneas ready for transplant into the hands of eye surgeons around the globe.
It was unprepared when the market for corneal tissue shifted toward high competition and excess supply serve surgeons globally.
By the time the board engaged an InterimExecs RED TEAM interim CEO, growth had stalled. The existing framework was no longer providing the value required to keep independent member banks engaged.
“Staff members were wondering if they would have a job in six months. It was a little frightening for them”
Rovena Shirling, board member of Tourette Association of America
THE CHALLENGE: What obstacles were stalling the consortium’s growth?
After two years of flat performance, the board identified several critical red flags that required immediate intervention from an experienced Interim CEO:
• Member Attrition: Key organizations were questioning the value proposition, leading to potential exits.
• Competitive Pressure: A rapidly changing market required a more agile, private-sector strategic response.
• The Leadership Gap: A permanent CEO search was estimated at 6–9 months, creating a period of high vulnerability that the organization could not afford to leave unmanaged.
What: Vision Share is a nonprofit consortium of 18 eye banks that was created to share best practices, advance innovation and technology, and pool resources to better serve eye surgeons globally.
INDUSTRY: Healthcare Nonprofit
ROLE: Interim CEO
LOCATION: United States
“It was actually the Association’s attorney who suggested ‘why not hire an interim’, which was a totally new concept to all of us. No one in the board room knew what an interim executive was, let alone an interim CEO, but it ended up being the perfect solution.”
– Randi Zemsky, Government Relations Committee Chair, Tourette Association of America
THE STRATEGY: How did an Interim CEO pivot the organization to stability?
Vision Share engaged InterimExecs to identify and place an experienced Interim CEO with the right skillset for the organization’s needs, while a permanent search took place. InterimExecs deployed an Interim CEO who quickly stepped into the role and quickly began working with consortium members, staff, and the outgoing CEO.
• The Strategic Audit: The first step was developing a roadmap to help get the organization back on track. During this process, the interim leader identified fatal flaws in a proposed LLC governance model. His business experience allowed him to see long-term financial risks the board had overlooked, leading to a total redesign of the consortium’s structure.
• Standardizing Value: To stop losing member organizations, the Interim CEO standardized member agreements, creating a transparent framework that restored trust across the network.
• Succession Planning: Beyond operational fixes, the Interim CEO took an active role in the search for his successor. He supported the board by building a slate of CEO candidates and ensured the permanent CEO could focus on growth from Day 1.
“The new CEO walked into an action plan that they could implement that all the stars were already aligned behind. The staff was motivated, our donors had bought into it, we had organizational metrics in place, the board supported it and it was a path to continue the transformation and the turnaround.”
– Michelle Barnes, InterimExecs RED Team Interim CEO
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: What did the CEO accomplish?
The engagement successfully moved Vision Share from a defensive posture to a growth-ready state. By the time the permanent CEO was onboarded, the organization had a vetted roadmap and a stabilized membership base.
• Corrective Governance: Successfully pivoted away from a high-risk LLC structure to a stable, scalable model.
• Membership Stabilization: Restored 100% confidence across the 18-bank network through new operational frameworks.
• Leadership Continuity: Eliminated leadership volatility during the 9-month transition period.
• Ready-to-Execute Roadmap: Delivered a fully vetted business plan and financial model, ensuring the permanent hire inherited a plug and play growth engine.
“Before she left, she refocused us, she improved our business plan, she got us totally focused on the need to shore up marketing, to shore up development, she made staff changes, she made budget changes, she made much needed changes in personnel and accountability. So while the Interim CEO was temporary the changes she made are permanent.”
Randi Zemsky, Board Member, Tourette Association of America
FAQs
Q: What are the benefits of a RED Team Interim CEO for a nonprofit?
A: An Interim CEO (or Fractional CEO if engaged on a part-time basis) can be onsite in as little as 48 hours to provide immediate expertise during leadership gaps or transitions, such as periods of rapid growth or organizational turnarounds. They lead the management team in defining a future vision and implementing the scalable processes and systems required to prepare the organization for a permanent hire. There is no need to wait months to recruit, hire, and onboard a permanent CEO.
Q: How should a nonprofit manage a CEO resignation?
A: Effective communication between the board and the management team is essential. While a plan for a permanent replacement is developed, deploying an Interim CEO from the InterimExecs RED Team provides immediate stability and continuity. This breathing room allows the board to identify internal gaps and better define the specific skills needed for the next full-time hire.
Q: How long is a typical Interim CEO assignment within a nonprofit organization?
A: A typical nonprofit Interim CEO assignment runs 4 to 6 months if the primary goal is to maintain stability during a permanent executive search. However, the timeline often extends to 9 months or longer if the organization is undergoing a major transformation, such as a technology transformation, a strategic pivot, or a recovery from a leadership crisis. A true interim leader remains until specific objectives are met and then executes a clean handoff to a permanent replacement.
“An interim executive can be an incredibly quick study, can hit the road running and improve the function of the organization. We would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Randi Zemsky, Board Member, Tourette Association of America
Learn how a RED Team interim or fractional executive can stabilize and scale your nonprofit organization
Learn More About Interim Leadership
What is a Fractional Executive?
How more organizations are tapping CEOs, COOs, CIOs and other C-suite leaders on a part-time or ongoing basis to provide strategic leadership without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.
The Ultimate Guide to Interim Management
A practical guide for owners, boards, and executives on when and how to leverage interim and fractional executives to navigate leadership gaps, growth, and critical change.
Nonprofits Need Interim Leadership to Navigate What’s Next
As nonprofit organizations face rising demand and unpredictable funding, mergers are becoming more common, but they’re not the only path forward. The real differentiator is leadership.
Case Study: Miami Nation Enterprises
How a Native American Tribe with a portfolio of 17 companies began facing more complexity and strong leadership was needed to grow their portfolio business, increase sales, and profitability.