Mergers, Planning, Governance, and Other Projects

MERGERS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

• Facilitated fifteen formal partnerships
• Facilitated clinical and cultural integration of two merged organizations that became the area's largest provider of services for severely mentally ill clients
• Facilitated planning process for merger of two large organizations serving those with disabilities
• Facilitating merger exploration of two child-serving organizations
• Led merger exploration for poverty-focused and literacy agencies
• Led due diligence process for two housing corporations; recommended merger for a new entity that is regarded as being highly successful
• Led two large senior-serving organizations through due diligence
• Provided leadership for two health-related organizations through due diligence
• Assisting three agencies as they create a formal collaborative
• Facilitated due diligence for two membership organizations
• Assisted in the dissolution of a partnership between two social service agencies
• Created structure for final negotiations during a difficult due diligence process
• Provided leadership for initial discussions that resulted in a transfer of services from one human services organization to another
• Conducted confidential negotiations for other organizations

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION  

• Facilitated over thirty nonprofit strategic plans
• Conducted qualitative and quantitative research to provide rich context for planning for many organizations
• Provided individualized planning services for many clients, ranging from one-day retreats to year-long implementation planning
• Engaged board members in pre-retreat projects to ensure their engagement in the planning process
• Facilitated planning process for several homelessness-related efforts
• Developed business plan and operation procedures for welfare reform-related nonprofit organization
• Conducted inclusive planning effort that allowed struggling organization to embrace two diverse program directions
• Provided process for large nonprofit to reposition itself in the region

BOARD AND MANAGEMENT TEAM DEVELOPMENT

• Conducted initial organizational session for new entity; designed process for ongoing planning efforts and revisions
• Provided ongoing board review and support
• Developed and revised board documents, including bylaws
• Partnered with development professionals to prepare organizations for fundraising
• Addressed “founder’s syndrome” barriers in several small nonprofits
• Created succession planning strategies
• Provided organizational development and capacity building expertise to many nonprofit organizations
• Conducted organizational assessments; recommended related actions
• Worked effectively at every level of the organization – executive team, board, staff, volunteers – establishing common vision and action steps through an inclusive leadership style and strong facilitation and team-building skills
• Analyzed senior management effectiveness; recommended interventions
• Served as advisor to Human Resources Departments
• Defined and negotiated roles, board members through volunteers
• Guided organizations through culture redefinition and conflict reduction

NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW

• Conducted inclusive planning effort that allowed struggling organization to embrace two diverse program directions
• Conducted stakeholder interviews to assess organizations’ reputation and strengths
• Designed and facilitated many focus groups
• Authored unusually clear needs assessment summaries
• Assisted human services organization with reorganization and culture change
• Prepared process for program effectiveness review
• Facilitated discussions related to sustainability
• Planned community input event for large social service organization

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Managed diverse programs and projects, start to finish, focusing on strategies and change initiatives
• Authored two published project management manuals for local governments
• Provided leadership for a statewide professional development plan for 3,500 adult education practitioners; led three advisory boards, conducted extensive research and created a national model
• Reorganized umbrella organization that serves as the central collaboration point for over 25 HIV/AIDS providers; wrote bylaws
• Brought project management processes and tools to streamline many planning efforts

FACILITATION

• Designed and delivered many powerful planning meetings
• Provided leadership for Board and staff retreats
• Guided participants through challenging negotiation sessions
• Designed individualized teambuilding sessions
• Guided providers to create norms and operating principles
• Led understaffed agency to combine project management principles with improved communications skills
• Provided a “people” focus event for a workgroup composed of highly technical project managers

TRAINING

• Selected by foundation to develop a new course related to the economic downturn
• Delivered popular project management courses for nonprofits; received consistently high evaluations
• Created and delivered dynamic, interactive staff-focused workshops, consistently earning superior evaluations
• Competitively selected as Project Management Trainer for International City/County Management Association; delivered training at several conferences

EXECUTIVE COACHING

• Worked with Executive Directors and Senior Managers to conduct confidential self-assessments, establish professional goals and monitor performance progress
• Served as trusted organizational advisor to many organizations
• Aligned CEO goals and values with organizational strategic planning goals

RESEARCH & WRITING

• Applied expert knowledge elicitation and synthesis skills
• Created clear, thorough project reports
• Delivered exceptional writing and editing services
• Conducted qualitative research, including focus groups and individual interviews
• Conducted three-year longitudinal study, published reports
• Conducted a wide variety of surveys, analyzed data, produced related papers
• Authored three project management manuals
• Prepared business materials for an educational company