North Coast Builders Exchange Announces Future CEO

North Coast Builders Exchange (NCBE) has announced Lisa Wittke Schaffner as the organization's future Chief Executive Officer following the upcoming retirement of Keith Woods, which is scheduled for December 31, 2021. Woods informed the NCBE leadership earlier this year of his intention to step down from the position he has held for more than 20 years.

NCBE President Craig Lawson announced an extensive search took several months with numerous interviews of potential candidates. The leaders of NCBE formed a formal search committee, which agreed the talents shown by Schaffner matched the future needs of the largest builders' exchange in Northern California.

According to Lawson, "Ms. Schaffner has proven herself an effective leader in the community. She is currently serving on her third term with the Sonoma County Board of Education, is a past two-term Healdsburg City Council member and former mayor, past Executive Director of the Sonoma County Alliance, and the current Executive Director of the John Jordan Foundation. Her understanding of the political environment and non-profit organizations and her work with people, in general, are unsurpassed. We are proud she is becoming a member of our team."

NCBE is a leading voice of construction on local and state issues affecting greater than 1000 member firms and the building industry in Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and Mendocino counties. The organization provides numerous member benefits to enhance the operations and profitability of its members. In addition, the organization has led the North Bay in developing training programs for youth through their commitment to workforce development for the construction industry.

Doug Hamilton, immediate past NCBE president said, "Our committee was quick to see the level of understanding Ms. Schaffner has of our organization and its history, which weighed heavily on our decision to bring her into our organization."

Schaffner will become the first female CEO in the organizations near 70 years in existence. Hamilton pointed out that NCBE has a long history of women in leadership roles, including several who served as president of the organization.