IRVINE, California, September 28, 2015 – McDermott & Bull, a premier retained executive search firm, announced today the successful appointment of John Hobson as Chief Executive Officer with Community for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Opportunity (CIELO), a targeted business incubator developed by Oak View Renewal Partnership (OVRP) in collaboration with Golden West College, to aid the development of small service-oriented businesses and sole proprietorships, and improve workplace skills for residents in Huntington Beach, CA.
This executive recruiting engagement was conducted by Rod McDermott, Managing Partner, and Michelle Davis, Associate Principal Consultant, at McDermott & Bull. According to Mr. McDermott, “John is an accomplished entrepreneur who is passionate about micro and workforce development and sees endless capabilities within CIELO. Based on John’s extensive fundraising experience, board membership, and non-profit involvement, I am confident in John’s ability to lead the organization and collaborate with the Oak View community.”
Mr. Hobson has over 15 years of corporate, startup and non-profit experience. Prior to CIELO, Mr. Hobson founded 910 Technologies / Project Tiki, a traditional agency helping clients with customer acquisition and digital marketing strategy. He also served on the Board of Youth Employment Services (YES) since 2008, and he has extensive experience recruiting board members, facilitating grant writing, raising funds, and organizing annual fundraisers. He has the aptitude and desire to build CIELO and can relate to the entrepreneurs that will be enrolling with the organization. Additionally, his involvement with YES makes him well suited to work with people who need workforce skills to secure and maintain meaningful employment.
Mr. Hobson earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Iowa State University and is a two time Webby award winner with a proven track record of innovative and result-oriented marketing.
About CIELO
CIELO provides business incubator services to local entrepreneurs, specifically residents of Huntington Beach, CA and students of Golden West College, with low-income and little educational opportunities. These services include low-cost entrepreneurship training courses for current and prospective entrepreneurs, micro-loans, and on-site support for new service businesses. Participants do not necessarily need to create a new business to benefit from CIELO’s valuable experience. Based on the education offered by CIELO, participants can improve their employability and business acumen in their already-existing businesses. To learn more about CIELO, please visit Oak View Renewal Partnership’s website at http://oak-view.org.
About McDermott & Bull
McDermott & Bull, Inc. (www.mbsearch.com) is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Irvine, California. The firm serves both public and privately held clients in a variety of industries and functional areas. McDermott & Bull has developed expertise in fields including Aerospace & Defense, Technology, Financial Services, Consumer Brands, Industrial Manufacturing, Restaurants/Retail, Entertainment, Food Manufacturing, Healthcare and Life Sciences, the Engineering & Construction / Building Industry, Professional Services, and other areas.
McDermott & Bull has worked with a number of non-profit clients, including Easter Seals Southern California and Project Access, placing top level executives such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Head of Human Resources. With a desire to give back to the community, McDermott & Bull participates in numerous volunteer activities such as March of Dimes’ March for Babies event, American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, Toys for Tots, the ALS Association’s Ice Bucket Challenge, and Working Wardrobes’ mock interview workshops. In addition, Rod McDermott serves on the board of The Mission Hospital Foundation, and Chris Bull currently serves on the Ambassadors Board of Talk About Curing Autism and previously served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County.