By Melissa Cole, Pensacola State College Foundation
On Thursday, January 18, Pensacola State College’s Executive Director of Institutional Development, Andrea Krieger, led PSC’s first full day nonprofit training through the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
Attendees enrolled in PSC’s inaugural nonprofit certification program were joined by mentors, faculty, and community experts.
Following an overview of the primary functions and purpose of nonprofit organizations, participants explored key areas of legal compliance, strategic planning, leadership, financial operations, resource development, advocacy, and talent acquisition. Faculty and experts shared their personal experiences and practical applications of best practices.
Katie Ballard, Director of Development and Fundraising for the Studer Community Institute, commented on the value of the day’s information. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to network with other attendees and take in the wealth of information provided,” she shared. “With the volume of content to cover, I look forward to delving in deeper as we progress through the year.”
Sprinkled throughout these examinations into key areas were engaging icebreakers, group exercises, and an expert panel comprised of Adrienne Maygarden of the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation, Lori Storey of Blu Salmon, Chandra Smiley of Community Health Northwest Florida, Emily Lalas of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, and GinNeal McVay of Amplified HR Solutions. Through their combined experience, these panelists shared unique insight into common challenges that nonprofits may face.
“These mentors had great suggestions and advice,” Karla Ent, Board President for the Dixon School of Arts and Sciences, stated. “We can use this as a jumping off point to review what we are currently doing and set goals for our organization.”
Over the course of the 2024 Center for Nonprofit Excellence curriculum, participants will be asked to share their plans for implementing best practices as they identify targeted areas for improvement.
“I’m new to nonprofits,” shared Val Bernardo of the Blues Angel Music Foundation. “Everything is still new to me, so it’s very informative. For our implementation, I want to start by working on our strategic plan now.”
Stacey Kostevicki, Executive Director for Gulf Coast Kid’s House and Center for Nonprofit Excellence Advisory Council Chair, highlighted the benefit of the training for veteran nonprofit workers. “I’ve been doing this work for a long time, and I still learn something new at every session. For us, we’re going to double-check our human resources compliance and ensure that we’re keeping our branding consistent.”
For more information on upcoming training opportunities with the PSC Center for Nonprofit Excellence visit: https://npc.pensacolastate.edu/upcoming-workshops/ or contact Kylie Henderson at khenderson@pensacolastate.edu or (850) 484 – 1193.