New Canaan Society Expands National Board, Adding Five New Directors to Strengthen Generational Diversity and Scale as Growth Accelerates

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Canaan Society (NCS), a national organization of men dedicated to growing in faith, family, and character, today announced the appointment of five new members to its National Board of Directors — the first Board expansion in three years. The expansion comes as NCS accelerates growth, with 11 new chapters launched in the past 12 months, faithfully building organizational scale for the future.

The five new directors bring significant national and international experience across finance, talent advisory, real estate, global ministry, and public service — strengthening governance as NCS prepares for its 2027 National Retreat in Nashville, planned as a capstone to a year of momentum.

"We're thrilled to welcome this exceptional group to the Board," said Dr. Chip Roper, Chairman of the NCS Board. "Bringing on James J. Ackerman as President and CEO of NCS in July 2025 reemphasized our goal of getting the NCS movement moving again. Adding high-caliber leaders with diverse, real-world perspectives is key to that strategy. For over 30 years, NCS has been building a national movement of men — honest, faith-driven, doing life together. This expansion ensures we have stakeholder representation for the next generation."

The new directors reflect intentional generational diversity — including leaders over 60 and leaders under 50 — bringing together Gen X, Millennial, and Boomer perspectives to ensure NCS doesn't make assumptions about what works for the next generation of men.

Benjamin Grizzle – Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Global Head of Distribution for Marquee. Ben is a globally-minded marketplace leader, social entrepreneur, and Founding Board Member of Church of the City New York.

Larry Hartmann – CEO of ZRG Partners, one of the fastest-growing talent advisory and executive search firms in the world. Larry brings broad business experience across executive search and multiple industry sectors, along with deep insight into leadership development.

Brian Cournoyer – REALTOR® with Compass. Based between Franklin, TN, and New York City, Brian believes you should love where you live. A former Firefighter/EMT-D and founder of Edge Entertainment, he brings entrepreneurial experience and deep community roots to NCS.

Christopher Houston – Published author, nonprofit founder, and retired senior chaplain with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Christopher brings a national perspective on service and restoration, guided by the belief that transformation begins with love.

Kevin Palau – President & CEO of Palau. A globally connected leader, Kevin leads an organization that joyfully proclaims the Good News of Jesus worldwide. The son of evangelist Luis Palau, he carries forward a global legacy because inviting people to know Jesus is the most loving thing we can do.

Chip Roper remarked, "To understand growth in places like Georgia, the Midwest, or Florida, we need to understand the changing expectations of men — active fatherhood, different family responsibilities, different availability. Without diverse voices at the board table, we risk misjudging what younger men need. These five give us that — global scale and local insight."

"Young men are finding value in NCS because we offer something they can't find elsewhere," added James Ackerman. "We're not a church group or a men's Bible study, but a men's faith movement where masks come off, truth gets told, and we have a lot of fun doing it. This board is helping us steward that momentum wisely."

NCS now has 58 active chapters and 18 in development globally, fueled by new digital initiatives including virtual chapter meetings, a digital toolkit for chapters, and an online speakers bureau. Registration is now open for its 2027 National Retreat, March 5-7, at the Grand Hyatt Nashville.

For media inquiries, contact Jerry Boak – [email protected]

SOURCE New Canaan Society