Succession Planning for Non-Profits
Moderator: Katie Do
- Trevor Blair – CEO, Blair Search Partners
- Karina Johnston – Executive Director, Heal the Ocean
- Kirsten McLaughlin – Market Vice President, Santa Barbara, Cox Communications
- Rich Block- Director of Operations & Finance, Cheetah Conservation Fund
Date: March 18, 2025
Time: 12:00-1:30 PM
Location: Santa Barbara Foundation 1111 Chapala St #200, Santa Barbara, CA
Price: Members - $25, Non-Members - $35
Succession Planning in the Non-Profit Sector
Moderated by Katie Do, this session will address succession planning and leadership transitions in the nonprofit sector. Panelists will share experiences and strategies for preparing organizations for leadership changes, including board development, donor considerations, and partnerships. The discussion will emphasize the importance of proactive planning to ensure continuity and long-term impact.
Katie Do is multicultural leader who has lived and worked across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., Katie began her career with UNICEF in Thailand, Switzerland, and at its New York headquarters, leading global communications, recruitment, and specialized search engagements supporting development and disaster relief. She later joined Dell Technologies as a Field Marketing Manager, driving new business development and advancing corporate social responsibility goals.
Since joining Blair Search Partners (BSP), Katie has led executive searches for nonprofits across California. Now in her third year with BSP, she serves as Client Services Director, expanding business development and community partnerships to different states, while continuing to lead select nonprofit engagements.
Katie volunteers at 1Must, a local nonprofit providing tutoring for children in the refugee community and serves on the Board of the American Red Cross (San Diego & Imperial Counties).
Trevor Blair
CEO Blair Search Partners
A San Diego native, Trevor brings over 20 years of expertise in executive search, recruiting, and workforce development to his role as Founder and CEO of Blair Search Partners. He began his career with Manpower in Sydney, Australia, later returning to the U.S. for graduate school before rejoining the firm in San Diego. As Business Development Manager, he expanded Manpower’s workforce development and executive search practices, partnering with nonprofits to design training and job placement programs for underserved communities and securing both public and private funding.
In 2016, Trevor founded Blair Search Partners (BSP), a firm dedicated to nonprofit executive search. Today BSP manages 40–50 searches annually for organizations nationwide, spanning philanthropy, human services, education, professional associations, and the arts. BSP has placed several leaders in the greater Santa Barbara area, with clients including Santa Barbara Foundation, Santa Barbara Education Foundation, Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, and Heal the Ocean.
Trevor is deeply engaged in the nonprofit sector, serving on the boards of Amplified Impact Partners, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) San Diego, and the Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants (NNSC).
Karina Johnston
Executive Director, Heal the Ocean
Karina Johnston is the Executive Director of Heal the Ocean, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Santa Barbara County, California. With over 17 years of experience in coastal science and community leadership, she has led numerous restoration and resilience projects across California’s coastline. Karina’s work focuses on reducing ocean pollution and nature-based climate adaptation, including dune and wetland restoration to prevent coastal flooding. She previously served as Science Director at The Bay Foundation in Los Angeles and as Senior Restoration Ecologist at Tidal Influence, where she developed and managed large-scale coastal restoration projects. Karina is a PhD Candidate at the University of California Santa Barbara, and she holds a master’s degree in marine ecology and is a Board Certified Environmental Scientist. Her work bridges science, policy, and public engagement to advance climate-resilient coastlines and healthy oceans.
Kirsten G. McLaughlin
Market Vice President, Cox Communications
Kirsten McLaughlin has served as Santa Barbara Market Vice President for Cox Communications since 2016, leading market performance, operational excellence, and community engagement. As a member of the Cox West Region Senior Leadership team, she contributes to regional strategy across customer experience, infrastructure investment, and operational transformation.
Kirsten leads Cox’s external relations in Santa Barbara, building strategic partnerships that advance business growth and community impact. She serves on the Boards of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, REACH Central Coast, MOXI, South Coast Business Action Fund, and Partners in Education, among others. Her leadership has been recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times (Top Women in Business; 40 Under 40) and several local organizations.
A Santa Barbara native, Kirsten holds degrees from UC Berkeley and UCLA and an executive leadership certificate from Dartmouth.
Rich Block,
Director of Operations & Finance, Cheetah Conservation Fund
Rich assumed the position of Director of Operations & Finance at Cheetah Conservation Fund in August 2025. Prior to his new role, Rich was the President and CEO of the Santa Barbara Zoo for 26 years. Before coming to Santa Barbara, Rich was the Vice President for Scientific & Program Development at the Indianapolis Zoo (1995-1998) and Director of Public Programs and a Senior Fellow at World Wildlife Fund in Washington, DC (1987-95). Rich's career includes experience as curator of public relations at the Kansas City Zoo (1985-86), curator of education at Zoo Atlanta (1986-87), and faculty member in the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources & Environment (1979-1985).
A nationally recognized leader in wildlife conservation, Rich has served in board and advisory roles with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the California Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce, and other state and national organizations. He holds degrees from Principia College and the University of Michigan and lives in Goleta with his wife, Tracy.