Woman with gray hair in a black jacket and red scarf, smiling in a professional portrait against a dark background.

Dawn Cacciotti, SPHR, HCS, SHRM-SCP
Senior Consultant - People & Culture

Dawn Cacciotti is a distinguished human resources strategist with over 25 years of executive-level experience transforming organizations through strategic human capital leadership. As a Senior Consultant with Board Veritas since 2017, Dawn partners with nonprofit CEOs, executive teams, and boards to architect HR infrastructures that drive organizational performance and mission fulfillment.

Dawn's expertise lies in collaborating with CEOs and boards on critical leadership matters including executive succession planning, C-suite performance evaluation frameworks, and organizational restructuring aligned with mission objectives. She works closely with Board Chairs on Compensation Committee requirements and executive compensation oversight, including the implementation of 457(b) plans and long-term retention strategies for leadership teams. Her approach establishes robust governance structures that create clear alignment between human capital strategy and organizational mission, particularly in the nonprofit sector.

Throughout her career, Dawn has led significant organizational transformations at the executive level. At the National Restaurant Association, her strategic human capital initiatives resulted in a 68% increase in employee engagement, 40% organizational revenue growth, and recognition as a Washington Post Top Workplace. She excels at developing CEO succession strategies with Executive Boards and creating organizational structures that balance operational excellence with innovation while establishing metrics-driven performance systems that demonstrably improve organizational outcomes.

Dawn's contributions to strategic human resources leadership have been recognized through multiple awards, including the Human Resources Strategic Alignment Honoree (HRLA) and the Benefits Leadership Award – Judge's Choice (Employee Benefit News). As an author and thought leader in nonprofit human capital strategy, Dawn brings invaluable perspective on translating board-level vision into executable human resources frameworks that advance organizational effectiveness.

Dawn holds certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and Human Capital Strategist (HCS). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management, Summa Cum Laude, and maintains active membership in the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and other professional HR organizations that keep her at the forefront of nonprofit leadership practices.