The first class from a pilot program designed to improve the management skills of nonprofit professionals has graduated and is ready to put what they learned to work.

Eleven senior leaders from nonprofits graduated from the Leadership Institute April 28. The collaboration between Fox Valley Technical College and the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative, based at the Community Foundation, provided classes on nine topics important to the work of a nonprofit executive director.

Program graduates receive a Nonprofit Management certificate. The pilot program was free to participants, thanks to support of the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative from lead donors the Community Foundation, Community First Credit Union, Thrivent Financial and United Way Fox Cities, and many other donors. These four “key partners” each agreed to contribute $25,000 a year for three years, and have representatives on the initiative’s steering council.

Additional funding is still needed. Anyone interested can contact Nonprofit Leadership Initiative Executive Director Kim O’Brien.

Mary Beduhm, board chair for Samaritan Counseling Center for the Fox Valley, stated that their executive director “grew in confidence levels and most especially in her financial acumen, which she shared with her leadership staff and the board.”

Fifteen people have been accepted for round two of the Leadership Institute. Applications are closed until next year. Alumni of the program have offered to mentor new enrollees.

The members of the first class were:

• Rosangela Berbert, executive director, Samaritan Counseling Center of the Fox Valley
• Kristopher Ulrich, former executive director, newVoices Inc.
• Jarrad Bittner, executive director, Building for Kids Children’s Museum
• Hilary Armstrong, executive director, Appleton Boychoir
• Denise Martinez, operations leader, Financial & Information Services Inc. (FISC)
• Jennie Moore, program leader, Goodwill Industries NCW, Vocational Support Services
• Maren Peterson, executive director, NAMI Fox Valley
• Kelly Nutty, director of resource management, Riverview Gardens
• Michael Green, deputy director, COTS
• J.J. Schauske, assistant director, Tri County Dental Clinic
• Bee Yang , executive director, Hmong American Partnership Fox Valley Inc.

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