CEO Departures

Schumacher to step down at home furnishings group

Mark Schumacher will step down as CEO of the Home Furnishings Association, effective May 31, 2024.

“Since 2020, I have been blessed to work with HFA’s board and staff, guiding us through the COVID pandemic and the subsequent disruptions faced by association members and the home furnishings industry. HFA became a strong advocate for the economic health and social impact of the home furnishings ecosystem. Now, I believe the time is right for a new leader to continue to inspire and steer this association,” Schumacher stated.

Schumacher has spent the past five years with HFA. He joined as vice president of membership development and marketing in 2018 before becoming executive vice president the following year. He was named CEO in August 2020. Previously, he was chief development officer for children’s nonprofit Victory Junction. He was also executive director of development and major gifts at the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation and director of major and planned gifts at Make-A-Wish of Southern Florida.

The HFA Board of Directors has formed a committee to determine the next steps in finding Schumacher’s successor.

CEO Arrivals

Long to lead renewable energy council

The American Council on Renewable Energy announced Ray Long will succeed Gregory Wetstone as president and CEO in December. Wetstone will step down at year-end following eight years leading the group. 

“Ray Long has the deep renewable energy industry knowledge, leadership skills, expertise and enthusiasm needed to promote and defend the policies, technologies and financial structures necessary for the continued acceleration of clean energy growth and the achievement of a just energy transition,” said ACORE’s board chair, Kevin Gresham, senior vice president of government relations and regulatory affairs for RWE Clean Energy.

Long is currently senior vice president of external affairs at clean energy developer Clearway Energy Group. Previously, he spent 15 years at Houston, Texas-based energy company NRG Energy, where he held the roles of vice president of government affairs and vice president of national state and federal government affairs.

He has a bachelor’s degree in public policy and administration from Suffolk University and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Heidrick & Struggles assisted in the search.

Staff Arrivals

CFP Board—Kevin Roth has been named managing director of research. He was most recently vice president of research, evaluation and technology at the National Recreation and Park Association, where he worked for eight years. Previously, he spent 13 years at the Association for Financial Professionals, where he held the roles of director of research and managing director, research and strategic analysis.