DANB and the DALE Foundation announce leadership transition and CEO search
The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the Dental Advancement through Learning and Education Foundation (the DALE Foundation) have announced the launch of a nationwide search for a Chief Executive Officer, following an announcement by Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA, that she will be transitioning from her role as Executive Director. Ms. Durley will continue to serve as Executive Director at DANB and the DALE Foundation until a successor is hired.
During her 35-year tenure with DANB, Ms. Durley has helped the organization grow exponentially in numerous ways, such as increasing certificant counts, state recognition, and revenue. Within the last 10 years alone, she spearheaded the development of five new certifications, developed and launched the DALE Foundation from the ground up, and led the charge on the creation of an educational framework for entry-level dental assistants.
“Cindy Durley has been an exceptional leader for DANB and the DALE Foundation,” said DANB Board Chair Michael Conte, D.M.D., M.P.H. “I have been fortunate to work alongside Cindy on DANB’s Board of Directors for the last five years, and I am consistently impressed by her dedication, passion and commitment to the DANB and DALE Foundation missions.”
Ms. Durley has been an industry leader for decades, forging numerous collaborations between DANB, the DALE Foundation and other oral healthcare organizations. She has received several accolades during her career – most recently the 2018 Institute for Credentialing Excellence’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2017 Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention Chairman’s Citation.
“Cindy Durley is a one-of-a-kind leader,” said DALE Foundation Board President Joanne Dawley, D.D.S. “I had the pleasure of working with Cindy for six years while I served on DANB’s Board of Directors, and now for the last five years on the DALE Foundation Board of Trustees. Her leadership of both organizations has been inspiring and visionary.”
In her dual role as Executive Director for DANB and its official affiliate, the DALE Foundation, Ms. Durley provides leadership in organizational governance, fiscal accountability, and administrative, operations, and personnel management. She also promotes the missions of DANB and the DALE Foundation and ensures that each organization’s interests are represented at the state and national levels. Ms. Durley has worked for DANB since 1986, when she became Director, Testing and Measurement. She has been DANB’s Executive Director since 1996 and the DALE Foundation’s Executive Director since its inception in 2010.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside so many incredibly talented oral healthcare professionals, as well as a truly dedicated staff,” said Ms. Durley. “I have been so proud of the accomplishments DANB and the DALE Foundation have achieved, and I am excited about the current initiatives we have in development. I know the future for both organizations remains bright.”
The DANB and DALE Foundation Boards will ensure that projects currently in development under Ms. Durley’s leadership will continue throughout the transition.
As part of the succession planning process, DANB and the DALE Foundation have selected Kittleman & Associates, a national executive recruiting firm, to conduct the search for their CEO. Kittleman & Associates specializes in the recruitment of CEOs for the entire nonprofit sector, including professional associations and membership organizations, foundations, and education and advocacy organizations.
About DANB
The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is recognized by the American Dental Association as the national certifying board for dental assistants. DANB’s mission is to promote the public good by providing credentialing services to the dental community. DANB exams and certifications are recognized or required by 37 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
About the DALE Foundation
The Dental Advancement through Learning and Education Foundation (the DALE Foundation), the official DANB affiliate, benefits the public by providing quality continuing education and conducting sound research to promote oral health. The DALE Foundation offers interactive e-learning courses and study aids to help dental assistants and other dental auxiliaries expand their knowledge and grow their careers.