The City of San Diego Nonprofit Academy

Join us for the City of San Diego Nonprofit Academy, a one-day comprehensive virtual program presented by The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego and sponsored by the City of San Diego. An award-winning educational program, the City of San Diego Nonprofit Academy has been redesigned to educate and support local nonprofit leaders in ways to maximize their operational efficiency, better compete for grant funding, and leadership in uncertain times.

All workshops and plenaries are led by nonprofit management experts. All classes will be hosted via a virtual format. Participants will receive session links prior to the event and educational materials via our Academy App.

• June 2020 NPA Recordings

  Opening Plenary and Welcome

  Welcome to the Academy: Finding Leadership Strength in Uncertain Times
  Laura Deitrick, PhD, Associate Director, The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego; Lyn Corbett, Director of Governance and Community Programs, The Nonprofit Institute; Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor, State of California; and Christina Bibler, Director of Economic Development, City of San Diego

  Welcome to the City of San Diego Nonprofit Academy!

   

  Morning Elective Sessions

  Fundraising During an Epic Crisis
  Sally Dadmun Bixby, Founder and Lead, Philanthropy Studio, LLC

  Over the last few months our world has changed dramatically. And our need to raise money for our missions is more important than ever. During this session with fundraising teacher, Sally Dadmun Bixby, we will explore these topics using examples of recent successful campaigns: 1) Strategies for fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) Creating a campaign that is makes sense to your mission; 3) Tips for engaging in thoughtful conversations with donors during a time that requires great sensitivity; 4) Messaging and communicating with your constituents; 5) Involving your board and volunteers; and 6) Planning ahead tips for creating a development plan that includes built in alternatives- like a virtual event.

   

  Radically Rethinking the Nonprofit Operating Model: Separating Mission from Management
  Pat Libby, CEO and Consultant, Pat Libby Consulting

  No one in the history of time has launched a nonprofit because their goal was to be a fantastic administrator. You, like other nonprofit travelers, engage in this work because you’re passionate about making an impact on “it” – whatever “it” is. How then, during this extraordinary time, can we and the organizations we represent refocus our energy on what brought us to this work? This open-ended lunch and learn conversation will talk about concrete ideas for separating out the mission and management functions of your nonprofit.

   

  Leadership Resilience in a Time of Turbulence
  Zachary Green, PhD, Professor of Practice, University of San Diego & Director of Leadership, The Nonprofit Institute

  Resilience can be defined as the ability to adapt well and 'bounce back' after facing adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant stress. This module invites us to explore positive pathways to cope with the current reality, personally and professionally. The aim of this session is for each of us to activate healthier practices that help us to thrive through this crisis. Specific attention will be given to the application of proven models that enhance the exercise of leadership resilience and support team effectiveness amidst the uncertainty of this unprecedented moment.

   

  Overview of Funding Opportunities: County of San Diego and City of San Diego
  Michele Marano, Community Development Coordinator, Economic Development Department, City of San Diego; Kelly Salmons, Chief of Operations, Housing and Community Development Services, County of San Diego; and Leticia Gomez Franco, Senior Arts and Culture Funding Manager, Commission of Arts and Culture, City of San Diego

  Both the City and County continue to develop and curate resources to help local nonprofits respond to the needs of their communities in these uncertain times. In this session, participants will have the opportunity to hear how the City and County are responding to the needs of local nonprofit organizations, as well as learn about ongoing funding opportunities and programs available to assist nonprofits.

   

  Working through the Reopening and Recovery Phase of COVID-19
  Daniel Fitzgerald, Associate Director of the San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network, Center for Business Advancement, Southwestern Community College; and Marquise Jackson, Regional Director for the San Diego and Imperial SBDC, Southwest Community College

  Learn more about the work the SBDC does in the San Diego region assisting small businesses in your neighborhoods, how to partner, and how to refer. Also, the SBDC will provide updates and answer questions about PPP and other disaster capital.

   

  Community Conversations

  The Financially Focused Nonprofit: There is More Than One Way to Meet Your Mission
  Bob Beatty, Principal Consultant, Beatty & Company; Elizabeth Berg, Executive Director, Wave Academy; Alberto Cortés, CEO, Mama's Kitchen; and Tomoko Kuta, Deputy Museum Director, The New Children's Museum

  The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the programmatic and financial undertakings of the San Diego nonprofit sector. The uncertainty is complicated and relentless, creating challenges that seem insurmountable. This session will focus on how nonprofit leaders are dealing with the pressures of remaining financially viable while maintaining focus on mission attainment.

   

  Afternoon Plenary

  Showing Up for Equity: Pandemics Emergencies, Change, and Leadership
  Bina M. Patel, CEO, Saathi Impact; and Lyn Corbett, Director of Governance and Community Programs, The Nonprofit Institute

  The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted structural and historic systemic inequities. How do we take action to address these inequities, and lean into equity efforts more deeply and authentically? What is at risk if we fail to create new processes and practices?

   

  Afternoon Elective Sessions

  Leadership in Time of Uncertainty and Anxiety
  Lorri Sulpizio, PhD., Director of the Conscious Leadership Academy, The Nonprofit Institute

  There are times when people are in desperate need of leadership. Widespread crises are at the top of that list. It's safe to say, we are in the midst of a global crisis unlike what most of us have ever faced in our lifetime. While the need for leadership is everywhere, how to do great leadership is not as readily known. Within a crisis are high stakes, high uncertainty, and a sense of urgency. People demand action, want trustworthy information, and expect swift decisions. How does a leader lead in a time like this? What considerations are most important and what skills are most necessary for effectiveness? In this session, we will explore the core components of adaptive leadership as a way to understand what is required of leaders during turbulent times. You will discover how mental discipline and courageous contemplation can lead to clarity of thought, and how certain actions can help people navigate the challenges they are facing. By adopting strategies such as attending to fears and feelings, like grief and loss, recognizing work avoidance patterns, and creating a stable holding environment, you can help people find their way through even the most difficult of times.

   

  Not Business As Usual - Grant Writing in the Time of COVID-19
  Valerie Nash, Owner, Nash & Associates

  COVID-19 has created a funding environment in which speed and clarity of message has become paramount. The focus of this workshop will be on how to build a case for support and design an effective strategy by using basic who, what, why, and how type questions. Attendees are invited to bring their specific challenges for discussion, and to be willing to share lessons learned, or unlearned.

   

  Financial Leadership: New Tools and Mind Sets for Uncertain Times
  Lauren Grattan, Director of Community Engagement, Mission Driven Finance

  It's never been more important to build the muscle of financial leadership. 2020 has thrown curveball after curveball at the nonprofit community. In this session, we'll walk through how to think about the short-, medium-, and long-term financial effects of the news headlines on your work. We'll also share how the capital landscape has changed and new resources have emerged that may help your organization safely reopen and grow

   

  Design Thinking in Action: Adapting and Pivoting in a Time of Crisis
  Karen Henken, PhD, Professor of Practice, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Kroc School, University of San Diego

  COVID-19 has required the nonprofit sector, and our society overall to rethink our missions, adapt and pivot on what we deliver in real time. We need to understand rapidly changing social needs and develop new solutions for the populations we serve with unprecedented speed, fewer resources and evolving timeframes. Many organizations must literally reinvent themselves during this pandemic. Design thinking (or Human-centered design) is a powerful and transformative tool and process that can help organizations adapt during this crisis. Design thinking helps organizations better assess their stakeholder needs, understand core problems and approach designing innovative solutions in new ways. It starts with a deep dive to understand for WHOM you are developing solutions and the root cause of the problems they are experiencing. It encourages creative and inclusive team approaches to rapidly experiment, prototype, iterate and design solutions WITH the community you plan to serve and support. During this workshop participants will learn some key concepts of design thinking and engage in some highly interactive exercises to apply these principles in the current context of the pandemic. You will learn how design thinking can provide a new framework for you and your teams to be more effective at working with your clients, customers and stakeholders for more effective solution development.

   

  Doing More with Less: Leading County’s Workforce Development Agency During Historic Unemployment Rates and with Uncertain Funding Levels
  Andrew Picard, Chief Program Officer, San Diego Workforce Partnership

  With COVID-19 bringing sudden, and historic unemployment levels and our economy to a halt – the San Diego Workforce Partnership was faced with unprecedented demand for its services in: workforce development, job training and business services – while at the same time facing funding uncertainty. This session will explore what workforce development in our region looks like, the impacts of the pandemic to our labor market and economy, and what strategies are being implemented to support San Diegans during this challenging time. The presentation will also touch on the other pandemic gripping our nation – that of injustices for people of color and how that has manifested itself in our local workforce and economy. We’ll conclude by looking at how workforce development strategies can be relevant for any and all non-profit organizations and how this as an intervention can be used within your own organization.

• June 2020 Schedule At-A-Glance

  8:45 - 9:00 am - Announcements and Getting the Most Out of the Academy (All Attendees)

  9:00 - 9:20 am - Welcome to the Nonprofit Academy (All Attendees)

  • Laura Deitrick, PhD, Associate Director, The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego
  • Christina Bibler, Director of Economic Development, City of San Diego

  9:20 - 10:20 am - Plenary: Finding Leadership Strength in Uncertain Times (All Attendees)

  • Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor, State of California 
  • Lyn Corbett, Director of Governance and Community Programs, The Nonprofit Institute

  10:30 - 11:45 am - Morning Elective Courses (Choose One)

  • Fundraising During an Epic Crisis | Sally Dadmun Bixby
  • Radically Rethinking the Nonprofit Operating Model: Separating Mission from Management | Pat Libby
  • Leadership Resilience in a Time of Pandemic | Zachary Green
  • Overview of Funding Opportunities: County of San Diego and City of San Diego | Economic Development and Commission of Arts and Culture
  • Working through the Reopening and Recovery Phase of COVID-19 | Daniel Fitzgerald and Marquise Jackson

  12:00 - 12:50pm - Lunch and Community Conversations (All Attendees)

  • The Financially Focused Nonprofit: There is More Than One Way to Meet Your Mission | Moderator: Bob Beatty; Panelists: Elizabeth Berg, Wave Academy; Alberto Cortés, Mamas Kitchen; Tomoko Kuta, New Children’s Museum

  1:00 - 2:00 pm - Showing Up. Pandemics Emergencies, Change, and Leadership: Showing Up for Equity (All Attendees) | Bina M. Patel, Chief Executive Officer, Saathi Impact

  2:15 - 3:30 pm - Afternoon Elective Courses (Choose One)

  • Leadership REDEFINED: Raising the Bar in Times of Chaos and Complexity | Lorri Sulpizio
  • Not Business As Usual - Grant Writing in the Time of COVID-19 | Val Nash
  • Financial Leadership: New Tools and Mind-Sets for Uncertain Times | Lauren Grattan
  • Design Thinking in Action: Adapting and Pivoting in a Time of Crisis | Karen Henken
  • “Doing More with Less: Leading County’s Workforce Development Agency During Historic Unemployment Rates and with Uncertain Funding Levels | Andrew Picard

  3:30 - 3:45 pm - Final Recap & Reflections (All Attendees)| Lyn Corbett, Director of Governance and Community Programs, The Nonprofit Institute 

• June 2020 Session Descriptions

  Plenary and All Attendees Courses

  Finding Leadership Strength in Uncertain Times
  9:20 – 10:20 am (Opening Plenary)
  Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor, The State of California 

  Join us for the opening plenary to speak with our special guest speaker, the Lieutenant Governor, who will discuss economic development and recovery during our current uncertain times.

   

  Financially Focused Nonprofit: There is More Than One Way to Meet Your Mission
  12:00 – 12:50 pm (Lunch-time Community Conversations)
  Moderator: Bob Beatty, Principal Consultant, Beatty & Company; Panelists: Elizabeth Berg, Executive Director, Wave Academy; Alberto Cortés, Chief Executive Officer, Mama’s Kitchen; and Tomoko Kuta, Deputy Museum Director, The New Children’s Museum

  The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the programmatic and financial undertakings of the San Diego nonprofit sector. The uncertainty is complicated and relentless, creating challenges that seem insurmountable. This session will focus on how nonprofit leaders are dealing with the pressures of remaining financially viable while maintaining focus on mission attainment. 

   

  Showing Up | Pandemic Emergencies, Change, and Leadership: Showing Up for Equity
  1:00 – 2:00 pm (Afternoon Plenary Conversation)
  Bina Patel, Chief Executive Officer, Saathi Impact

  The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted structural and historic systemic inequities. How do we take action to address these inequities, and lean into equity efforts more deeply and authentically? What is at risk if we fail to create new processes and practices? 

   

  Morning Elective Courses Descriptions (Choose One)

  Radically Rethinking the Nonprofit Operating Model: Separating Mission from Management
  2:15 – 3:30 pm
  Pat Libby, PhD., CEO and Consultant, Pat Libby Consulting

  No one in the history of time has launched a nonprofit because their goal was to be a fantastic administrator. You, like other nonprofit travelers, engage in this work because you’re passionate about making an impact on “it” – whatever “it” is. How then, during this extraordinary time, can we and the organizations we represent refocus our energy on what brought us to this work? This open-ended lunch and learn conversation will talk about concrete ideas for separating out the mission and management functions of your nonprofit.

   

  Fundraising During an Epic Crisis
  10:30 – 11:45 am
  Sally Dadmun Bixby, Founder and Lead, Philanthropy Studio, LLC

  Over the last few months our world has changed dramatically. And our need to raise money for our missions is more important than ever. During this session with fundraising teacher, Sally Dadmun Bixby, we will explore these topics using examples of recent successful campaigns:

  • Strategies for fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Creating a campaign that is makes sense to your mission
  • Tips for engaging in thoughtful conversations with donors during a time that requires great sensitivity
  • Messaging and communicating with your constituents
  • Involving your board and volunteers
  • Planning ahead tips for creating a development plan that includes built in alternatives- like a virtual event.

   

  Leadership Resilience in a Time of Pandemic
  10:30 – 11:45 am
  Zachary Green, PhD, Professor of Practice, University of San Diego & Director of Leadership Development, The Nonprofit Institute
   
  Resilience can be defined as the ability to adapt well and 'bounce back' after facing adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant stress. This module invites us to explore positive pathways to cope with the current reality, personally and professionally. The aim of this session is for each of us to activate healthier practices that help us to thrive through this crisis. Specific attention will be given to the application of proven models that enhance the exercise of leadership resilience and support team effectiveness amidst the uncertainty of this unprecedented moment.

   

  Working Through the Reopening and Recovery Phase of COVID-19
  10:30 – 11:45 am
  Daniel Fitzgerald, Associate Director of the San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network, Center for Business Advancement, Southwestern Community College
  Marquise Jackson, Regional Director for the San Diego and Imperial SBDC, Southwest Community College
   
  Learn more about the work the SBDC does in the San Diego region assisting small businesses in your neighborhoods, how to partner, and how to refer. Also, the SBDC will provide updates and answer questions about PPP and other disaster capital.

   

  Partnering with the City: Overview of Funding Opportunities with the City of San Diego and Other Local Funders
  10:30 – 11:45 am
  Michele Marano, Community Development Coordinator, Economic Development Department, City of San Diego; and Leticia Gomez Franco, Senior Arts and Culture Funding Manager, Commission of Arts and Culture, City of San Diego; and Kelly Salmons, Program Coordinator, Housing and Community Development Services, County of San Diego
   
  Both the City and County continue to develop and curate resources to help local nonprofits respond to the needs of their communities in these uncertain times. In this session, participants will have the opportunity to hear how the City and County are responding to the needs of local nonprofit organizations, as well as learn about ongoing funding opportunities and programs available to assist nonprofits.

   

  Afternoon Elective Courses Descriptions (Choose One)

  Leadership REDEFINED: Raising the Bar in Times of Chaos and Complexity
  2:15 – 3:30 pm
  Lorri Sulpizio, PhD., Director of the Conscious Leadership Academy, The Nonprofit Institute
   
  There are times when people are in desperate need of leadership. Widespread crises are at the top of that list. It's safe to say, we are in the midst of a global crisis unlike what most of us have ever faced in our lifetime. While the need for leadership is everywhere, how to do great leadership is not as readily known. Within a crisis are high stakes, high uncertainty, and a sense of urgency. People demand action, want trustworthy information, and expect swift decisions. How does a leader lead in a time like this? What considerations are most important and what skills are most necessary for effectiveness? In this session, we will explore the core components of adaptive leadership as a way to understand what is required of leaders during turbulent times. You will discover how mental discipline and courageous contemplation can lead to clarity of thought, and how certain actions can help people navigate the challenges they are facing. By adopting strategies such as attending to fears and feelings, like grief and loss, recognizing work avoidance patterns, and creating a stable holding environment, you can help people find their way through even the most difficult of times.

   

  Not Business As Usual: Grant Writing in the Time of COVID-19
  2:15 – 3:30 pm
  Valerie Nash, Owner, Nash & Associates
   
  COVID-19 has created a funding environment in which speed and clarity of message has become paramount. The focus of this workshop will be on how to build a case for support and design an effective strategy by using basic who, what, why, and how type questions. Attendees are invited to bring their specific challenges for discussion, and to be willing to share lessons learned, or unlearned.

   

  Design Thinking in Action: Adapting and Pivoting in a Time of Crisis
  10:30 – 11:45 am
  Karen Henken, PhD, Professor of Practice, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Kroc School, University of San Diego
   
  COVID-19 has required the nonprofit sector, and our society overall to rethink our missions, adapt and pivot on what we deliver in real time. We need to understand rapidly changing social needs and develop new solutions for the populations we serve with unprecedented speed, fewer resources and evolving timeframes. Many organizations must literally reinvent themselves during this pandemic. Design thinking (or Human-centered design) is a powerful and transformative tool and process that can help organizations adapt during this crisis. Design thinking helps organizations better assess their stakeholder needs, understand core problems and approach designing innovative solutions in new ways. It starts with a deep dive to understand for WHOM you are developing solutions and the root cause of the problems they are experiencing. It encourages creative and inclusive team approaches to rapidly experiment, prototype, iterate and design solutions WITH the community you plan to serve and support. During this workshop participants will learn some key concepts of design thinking and engage in some highly interactive exercises to apply these principles in the current context of the pandemic. You will learn how design thinking can provide a new framework for you and your teams to be more effective at working with your clients, customers and stakeholders for more effective solution development.

   

  Financial Leadership: New Tools and Mind-Sets for Uncertain Times
   2:15 – 3:30 pm
  Lauren Grattan, Director of Community Engagement, Mission Driven Finance
   
  Session Description Forthcoming.

   

  Doing More with Less: Leading County’s Workforce Development Agency during Historic Unemployment Rates and with Uncertain Funding Levels
  2:15 – 3:30 pm
  Andrew Picard, Chief Program Officer, San Diego Workforce Partnership
   
  Session Description Forthcoming.

• June 2020 Instructor & Presenter Bios

  Bob Beatty, Principal Consultant, Beatty & Company

  “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” - Peter F. Drucker

  For over fifteen years, Beatty & Company has been providing financial consulting services exclusively to nonprofits in Southern California. As its principal consultant, Bob brings a perspective that includes fundraising, health & human services, grant making, and government programs. Projects have included cash flow restructuring & turnaround, staff reorganization, and back office consolidation. Since 2001, Bob has served as chief financial officer (full-time, part-time, interim, and advisory) and provided other services for a variety of nonprofits including: Alliance Healthcare Foundation, MAAC Project, Casa De Amparo, Make-A-Wish San Diego, Chicano Federation, San Diego Center for Children, Father Joe’s Villages/ St Vincent DePaul, United Way of San Diego County, and Jewish Federation of San Diego County.

  He also serves as adjunct faculty at USD’s Nonprofit Leadership and Management master’s program, teaching nonprofit finance. Bob’s MBA is from Claremont Graduate School (The Drucker School), and his BSc Economics is from Arizona State University.

   

  Elizabeth Berg, Executive Director, Wave Academy

  Elizabeth Berg has 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership roles in development, communications, strategic planning and partnership building. She joined Wave Academy in Jan. 2017 as Executive Director. In her tenure, she has added $60,000 in fundraising revenues and started a new community-wide event, Waves for the Brave 5K. Elizabeth earned her certificate as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and has a master’s in journalism. She is a San Diego native who loves to promote philanthropy in her community.

   

  Christina Bibler, Director, Economic Development, City of San Diego

  Christina Bibler is an award-winning economic development professional who has led initiatives supporting economic prosperity for local government and business districts for nearly two decades. She joined the City of San Diego almost three years ago and was recently appointed the Director of Economic Development. Previously, Christina served as Economic Development Manager for the City of Carlsbad, leading its initiatives that brought forth a workforce training institute, significant business expansions, and a talent attraction campaign. Beyond California’s borders, Christina spent six years in Colorado as the Redevelopment Program Manager and Economic Development Administrator for the City of Fort Collins and City of Thornton, respectively. Notable recognitions include nomination as one of California Women’s Leadership Association’s 2016 Women to Watch; an award as of one of the Top 25 Most Influential Young Professionals by ColoradoBiz Magazine; and, as a graduate of the LEAD San Diego Impact class of 2015, receipt of the Herbert G. Klein Memorial Leadership Award. Christina was recognized for completing the California Issues and Trends Program of Leadership through Leadership California in 2017. A San Diego native, Christina earned her Master’s Degree in City Planning, certificate in Community and Economic Development, and Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Arts and Sciences from San Diego State University. She is passionate about giving back and serves as a philanthropic member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation. She resides in north San Diego county with her husband, Chad, a U.S. Navy Commander; and their children, Jonah, 11; Lincoln, 7; and Everett, 11 months.

   

  Lyn Corbett, Director of Governance and Community Programs, The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego

  Lyn Corbett is the President of The Pivotal Group Consultants Inc., a California-based consulting firm providing organizational development and executive coaching services to nonprofit organizations across the country. Professor Corbett has dedicated his career to strengthening organizations to help build and sustain healthy communities. His professional interests have consistently focused on addressing health disparities and helping corporations, foundations, and non-profit organizations allocate resources to target the needs of underrepresented groups. Professor Corbett is an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego, School of Leadership and Education Sciences, where he teaches graduate level courses on governance, leadership, and strategy. Lyn holds a Masters of Arts degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from New York University and is pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego. He is a Certified Governance Trainer with BoardSource, a Leadership Challenge Certified Facilitator, an Everything DiSC Workplace Certified Facilitator and a member of the International Coaching Federation.

   

  Alberto Cortés, Chief Executive Officer, Mama’s Kitchen

  Alberto has been in the nonprofit arena for over 32 years and has broad experience in organizational management and governance. He has been leading Mama’s Kitchen since 2002. Alberto has a BA from National University and an MBA from San Diego State University. He is a veteran of the US Navy Submarine Force and sings second tenor with the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus.

   

  Sally Dadmun Bixby, Founder and Lead, Philanthropy Studio, LLC

  For three decades Sally Dadmun Bixby has helped nonprofits overcome challenges, grow, and thrive. From all-volunteer startups to well-established, multi-million-dollar nonprofits, Sally has helped organizations create fundraising goals, meet and exceed them!  

  Like many in the fundraising profession, she accidentally became a fundraiser. After several development director positions with her last one lasting for seven years, Sally started Philanthropy Studio in 2012.

  Sally was raised in San Diego and works with clients in Portland, Oregon and the San Diego area.

   

  Rick Dahlseid, Nonprofit Division Lead, Pro Back Office, LLC

  A Certified Public Accountant with a Master’s Degree in Taxation, Rick is a financial expert by trade.  His lead-servant perspective and warm personality give him an advantage in perfecting corporate vision and financial operations in order to ensure operational efficiencies.  Rick enjoys sharing his ideation strength to plan and introduce enhanced operational and cost control initiatives to drive greater social awareness and mission impact. Rick has served as a leader, mentor, trusted advisor, and proponent of positive, productive organizational change to many types and sizes of organizations.  Rick has unique expertise in the nonprofit area and has served in the Chief Financial Officer position for the past 15 years in the areas of healthcare, human services, environmental, children’s initiatives, armed services, mental health, and affordable housing. Rick is also an instructor with the University of San Diego and the Nonprofit Academy, an award-winning partnership between the City of San Diego and The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego.

  Rick is a member of Financial Executives International, Financial Executive Networking Group, and the CFO Roundtable.  He is active in his church and enjoys exploring San Diego along with his wife Denise, of 39 years.  They also enjoy spending time with their 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren.

   

  Laura Deitrick, PhD, Associate Director, The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego

  Dr. Laura Deitrick serves as the Associate Director of The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. She has been a nonprofit executive director, board member, management consultant, and researcher on major nonprofit trends. Her research has led to important reports on nonprofit ethics, nonprofits and public education, nonprofit human resource practices, executive transition, the economics of San Diego’s nonprofit sector, nonprofit public confidence, and regional grant making. In her role, Dr. Deitrick oversees graduate programs, leadership development initiatives, and the work of the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research. Under her direction, the Caster Center’s work is focused on research, evaluation, and understanding the economic landscape of the nonprofit and philanthropic sector in relationship to the broader economy. Dr. Deitrick is the director of USD’s Nonprofit Leadership and Management master’s program where she teaches nonprofit research methods, program design, and evaluation. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of California San Diego. She is the co-author of Cases in Nonprofit Management: A Hands- On Approach to Problem Solving, recently released by Sage publications.

   

  Daniel Fitzgerald, Associate Director of the San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network, Center for Business Advancement, Southwestern Community College

  Daniel Fitzgerald works for Southwestern Community College as the Associate Regional Director for the San Diego – Imperial SBDC Regional Network and overseeing the San Diego Women’s Business Center. For over 20 years, Daniel has been a prominent fixture in the small business communities of San Diego County and Imperial County, and on both sides of the US-Mexico border. His service in a wide variety of leadership and executive roles has made a significant impact on hundreds of businesses and dozens of industries throughout the State of California. Daniel has a Masters in Communication from San Diego State University, and a B.A. in History from the University of Utah.

   

  Karen Henken, Professor of Practice, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Kroc School, University of San Diego

  Ms. Henken’s work focuses on fostering social impact and system change through social innovation and entrepreneurship. She teaches core courses in the Master of Arts in Social Innovation. She works with regional and global social enterprises to help them advance their success through sustainable business models and serves on several boards. Ms. Henken served as the founder and principal of Henken & Associates, helping businesses and nonprofits develop market opportunities, partnerships, growth strategies and sustainable revenue models to expand their impact. She spent 20 years in Silicon Valley as an executive in high technology management. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

   

  Lauren Grattan, Co-Founder & Director of Community Engagement, Mission Driven Finance

  Lauren's background in nonprofit development made her eager to activate more capital for social change, leading her to co-found Mission Driven Finance, an impact investment firm dedicated to building a financial system that ensures good businesses have access to sufficient, affordable capital. As Director of Community Engagement, she oversees community & philanthropic relationships, marketing & communications, and the development of new fund strategies. Prior to building Mission Driven Finance, she spent nearly 10 years fundraising for a wide variety of nonprofits—from large universities to small, volunteer-run initiatives. Lauren proudly serves as a board member of Business for Good San Diego, a network of small business owners committed to policies supporting their workers, families, community, and environment. She is a 2019 Social Venture Circle Innovation Entrepreneur, and an active member of Women Give San Diego, San Diego Social Venture Partners, San Diego Grantmakers, and San Diego Impact Investors Network. Lauren is an alumna of Punahou School in Honolulu, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

   

  Zachary Green, PhD, Professor of Practice and Director of Leadership Development at The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego

  Zachary Gabriel Green is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego. Dr. Green is trained as a clinical psychologist and specializes in systems analysis and strategy, organizational transformation, negotiations of identity based-conflicts, leadership development, and crisis intervention. He coaches, consults, and conducts workshops and training sessions for numerous organizations, educational institutions, public advocacy groups, and government agencies, including The World Bank, Brookings Institution, Microsoft, the National Children's Medical Center, and the National Laboratories at Los Alamos (NM).

   

  Leticia Gomez Franco, Senior Arts and Culture Funding Manager, Commission of Arts and Culture, The City of San Diego 

  Leticia began her career with the City of San Diego in 2017. She assists with the coordination of projects, including public art, grantmaking and strategic initiatives. Leticia is an experienced arts administrator, exhibition curator and community organizer. Leticia previously served as Art Gallery Coordinator at San Diego Mesa College and as Director of Programs for the New Americans Museum where she supported the grand reopening of the museum and led curatorial efforts. Her career began as Exhibitions Director for Casa Familiar’s The Front: A Collaborative of Arts, Culture, Design & Urbanism, where she oversaw the development and program management for multiple art spaces. Over the last decade, she has curated and overseen the production of arts programs, festivals and exhibitions. She holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley in English and Chicana/o Studies and M.A. in Curatorial Theory from San Diego State University's Liberal Arts & Sciences Program.

   

  Marquise Jackson, Regional Director for the San Diego and Imperial SBDC, Southwest Community College

  Marquise Jackson Regional Director for the San Diego and Imperial SBDC and have held this position since 2015. Before his time in the SBDC, Marquise worked in market research helping early stage businesses figure out how best to commercialize their innovations. He has also spent time as a civilian contractor for the Army’s Research Laboratory working with Senior Scientist to identify alternate uses for current lab technologies, products, and innovations.

   

  Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor, The State of California

  Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis was sworn in as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of California by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 7th, 2019. She is the first woman elected Lt. Governor of California. A native Californian, she visited each of the state’s 58 counties during her historic campaign.

  From 2010 to 2013, Kounalakis served as President Barack Obama’s Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary. Kounalakis was the first Greek-American woman – and at age 43 one of America’s youngest – to serve as U.S. Ambassador. Her highly acclaimed memoir, “Madam Ambassador, Three Years of Diplomacy, Dinner Parties and Democracy in Budapest” (The New Press, 2015), chronicles the onset of Hungary’s democratic backsliding. Governor Jerry Brown appointed Kounalakis to chair the California Advisory Council for International Trade and Investment in 2014. Kounalakis was a Virtual Fellow at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) between 2014 and 2017, specializing in international trade and immigration. She is currently a director of the Association of American Ambassadors and a National Democratic Institute (NDI) “Ambassadors Circle” advisor.

  Prior to her public service, Kounalakis was president of one of California’s most respected housing development firms, AKT Development, where she worked for 18 years. She built master-planned communities and delivered quality housing to the Sacramento region’s working families – recognizing her as one of the capital region’s most prominent businesswomen. Passionate about early childhood development, Kounalakis served as a member of California’s First 5 Commission and the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.

  Eleni Kounalakis graduated from Dartmouth College in 1989 and earned her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 1992. She holds an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the American College of Greece. She is married to Dr. Markos Kounalakis and the couple has two teenage sons, Neo and Eon.

   

  Tomoko Kuta, Deputy Museum Director, The New Children’s Museum

  Nationally-recognized Museum Director with twenty-seven years of experience successfully innovating impactful programs to realize strategic initiatives. A leader in visionary content that builds community and donor support. Provides leadership to talented creative teams that stimulate organizational growth. Dedicated to supporting children and families by sharing the power of the arts and play. 

   

  Pat Libby, CEO and Consultant, Pat Libby Consulting

  Pat Libby is a popular speaker, writer, and change management consultant working exclusively with nonprofits and philanthropies.  Her firm transforms organizations by re-engineering governance and operating structures; transitioning and recruiting executives; and by facilitating data-driven strategic thinking and planning.  Pat’s vision and work emanates from the kaleidoscope of her experiences as a long-time nonprofit CEO, academic, board member, and consultant to innumerable organizations. Pat founded and led USD’s Nonprofit Institute from 2001 until 2015.  She is author of The Lobbying Strategy Handbook, (Sage 2012) and, with Laura Deitrick, Cases in Nonprofit Management (Sage 2017).  You can connect with Pat on twitter @PJLibby, or read her blog at patlibby.com. 

   

  Michele Marano, Community Development Coordinator, Economic Development Department, City of San Diego

  Michele brings nearly 20 years of experience in community and economic development to her role as a Community Development Coordinator for the City of San Diego. She joined the City in 2002 and, as her career progressed, she has been responsible for housing-related parking regulation amendments, the coordination of affordable housing activities for the former San Diego Redevelopment Agency and creating transaction guidelines for housing development proposals. She has facilitated community engagement campaigns to ignite conversations about community development, housing and homelessness and, in partnership with USD, she created the City of San Diego Nonprofit Academy. Recently, Ms. Marano successfully led the effort to update the City’s FY 2020 – FY 2024 Consolidated Plan which will inform policy decisions and guide the investment of roughly $178 million in anticipated U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant funds over the next five years. Michele began her career as the Executive Director of a locally-based nonprofit organization and served in this capacity for ten (10) years. A native San Diegan, Ms. Marano received a B.A. from UCSD in Political Science. She has completed graduate work at SDSU in the Community Economic Development program and at USD in the Paralegal Program, earning certificates from both. Michele was recently nominated for the ‘Women Elevate SD 2019’ award and she lives in Santee with her husband and their teenage son.

   

  Valerie Nash, Owner, Nash & Associates

  Valerie Nash has provided consulting services to San Diego nonprofits, government agencies, foundations and cross-sector collaborations for more than 20 years. Her mission is to support positive social change by helping her client’s design, implement, and evaluate quality programs that meet identified community needs. One of Ms. Nash’s core competencies is proposal writing and in the past five years alone she has secured more than $50 million in competitive funding.

  Current clients include County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Francisco Adult Probation Department, San Diego Grantmakers, San Diego Youth Services, and San Diego Unified School District. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in grant writing, program evaluation, and community development. She completed postgraduate studies in education at Oxford University, England and has a Master’s degree in psychology from Boston College. Ms. Nash currently lives in British Columbia, Canada with her husband and two children, but comes back to San Diego as often as she can.

   

  Bina M. Patel, CEO, Saathi Impact

  Bina has worked for more than 20 years to advance equity, justice, and belonging. She has extensive experience building and leading collaborative efforts and delights in seeing big ideas take shape in communities. Bina has led strategic initiatives to help communities transform themselves through innovative, inclusive, and sustainable efforts in the areas of asset building, public health, civic engagement, and economic development. Her projects have included a revitalization of the community-based small business lending market post-2008 recession, an actionable cross-sector civic plan to advance gender equity, mobilizing residents to collaborate on developing solutions to persistent community challenges, and advancing racial equity through addressing structural racism. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff in City Hall in Chicago, where she was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of programs and policies amounting to over $1 billion in the area of human capital, human services, public health, and community development. Her career spans experience in direct service with community-based organizations, philanthropy, and public policy. She earned an M.S. in Social Protection Finance (Public Finance & Social Policy) from the University of Maastricht, the Netherlands, where her concentration was on Economic and Community Development. She also earned an M.A. from the University of Denver in International Studies with a concentration on Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation. Bina was selected to participate with the PLACES fellowship (2012) through The Funders’ Network, where she engaged with community members and colleagues from across the country to dive into racial, social, and economic justice issues. She regularly invests in continued learning in equity, strategy, and community empowerment. Bina is a keynote speaker, panelist, coach, and facilitator.

   

  Andrew Picard, Chief Program Officer, San Diego Workforce Partnership

  Andrew Picard is the current Chief Programs Officer for the San Diego Workforce Partnership. The San Diego Workforce Partnership is a non-profit and the region’s Workforce Development Board designated by the City and County of San Diego. The Workforce Partnership exists to fund and deliver programs that serve both job seekers and employers, to meet the needs of our future workforce.

  Andrew’s career has been dedicated to managing public programs that serve disadvantaged communities for non-profits, local, state and federally funded agencies. After studying Political Science and Public Policy at UC Santa Barbara, he has since worked in the design and management of public programs with the California Public Utilities Commission, SDG&E and most recently finished work with Covered California on the statewide implementation of the Affordable Care Act. 

  In 2014, Andrew joined the Workforce Partnership where he is an executive officer implementing the organization’s strategic vision and oversees over $35M in workforce programs. This includes managing six public Career Center facilities across the county and serving over 100k customers annually through a variety of specialized workforce programs. Andrew also manages grants from private/philanthropic, federal, state, county and city-funded programs that design unique solutions to specific populations (e.g. families, veterans, foster-youth or previously incarcerated.) Andrew is passionate about economic mobility and equity in workforce development, and specializes in designing programs that serve our most vulnerable community members, particularly opportunity youth, justice-involved and individuals with disabilities. 

  Mr. Picard serves as a Board member for several regional and State organizations such as the California Workforce Association, the Regional Taskforce for the Homeless, the County Community Action Board, and is a Commissioner on the City of San Diego Gang Prevention Taskforce. 

  His personal pursuits have included volunteer work for youth, LGBTQ and environmental causes. Mr. Picard is a San Diego LEAD Impact 2017 alumni and Herbert G Klein award nominee.

  In his free time during the week, he enjoys seeking out the best cup of strong cold brew coffee, competing with his trivia team at his local brewery, or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

   

  Lorri Sulpizio, Director of the Conscious Leadership Academy, The Nonprofit Institute

  Lorri Sulpizio holds a Ph.D. in leadership and a MA in Sports Psychology. She is the Director of the Conscious Leadership Academy at the University of San Diego and an executive leadership coach. Lorri facilitates conferences, workshops, and experiences for professional leadership development. She is the founder of the Center for Women's Leadership at USD, a certified Dare to Lead™ facilitator, based on the research of Brené Brown, and a member of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Adaptive Leadership Network’s curriculum design team. She teaches a variety of graduate courses on leadership, including Integral Leadership, Organizational Dynamics, and Gender and Leadership.

    

  **Some Speaker Bios not provided**

• On-Demand Videos

  Nonprofit Academy Webinar Series

  Supercharging your Finances in Uncertain Times
  Rick Dahlseid, Nonprofit Division Lead, Pro Back Office, LLC

   

  Connecting the Dots: Are you CDBG Ready?
  Michele Marano, Community Development Coordinator, Economic Development Department, City of San Diego
  What does the acronym CDBG mean to you?  The City of San Diego provides a variety of funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations serving low- and moderate-income communities, families and individuals. Millions of dollars are awarded to nonprofit organizations on an annual basis using a competitive application process. This session will provide attendees with an overview of the opportunities available to nonprofits and the knowledge they need to strengthen their applications. 

   

  Assemblymember Dr. Weber Nonprofit Town Hall

  Nonprofit Town Hall
  Dr. Shirley Weber, Assemblymember; Jacob Richards, Senior Vice President, California Bank and Trust; Todd Lane, President/CEO, California Coast Credit Union; Danny Fitzgerald, Associate Regional Director, San Diego SBDC; Robert Villarreal, Executive Vice President, CDC Small Business Finance; Mark Stuart, President/CEO, The San Diego Foundation
  Our goal is to provide information to nonprofit business owners who have challenges accessing resources, including public and private funding, due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

   

  FORTIFY Webinar Series: Co-Hosted with the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego 

  Coaching Basics: How to Support and Motivate Others During COVID-19
  Linda Braun-Leibowitz, Executive and Leadership Coach
  This presentation introduces the core elements of coaching, and how this skill can be used in the workplace to support others during the unique challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

   

  Exercising Good Governance in Uncertain Times
  Lyn Corbett, Director of Governance and Community Programs, The Nonprofit Institute
  The COVID-19 crisis is having a significant programmatic and financial impact on the San Diego nonprofit sector. The uncertainty is complex and relentless, creating challenges that seem insurmountable. This webinar will focus on how nonprofit leaders, executives, and board members can use good governance to set their nonprofit on a path towards innovation and growth.

   

  Financial Scenario Planning in a COVID-19 World: A 5-Step Process
  Bob Beatty, Beatty & Company
  The current crisis presents nonprofits an opportunity to stop surviving and to start succeeding (or succeeding to a much greater extent than pre-COVID-19). Financial scenario planning is most effective when based on a return to core mission and organizational values, a clear understanding of priorities, and a metrics-based approach to budgeting and decision-making. This webinar will outline a simple -though far from easy- process to enable an organization to create the future instead of reacting to it.

   

  Mindfulness and Self Care – How to Manage Stress and Avoid Burnout
  Dr. Danell Scarborough, Convening for Change
  As our community transitions from an acute emergency response phase and begins to develop strategies to resume our routines, we have the opportunity to make healthy choices for a "new normal". This session focuses on the personal and leadership practices of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Let us be intentional about taking care of ourselves and others as we go forward.

   

  Nonprofit Legal Issues in the Age of COVID-19
  Arlene Yang, Partner at Brown Law Group; and Juan Zuniga, Partner at Rimon Law
  Watch a facilitated discussion on Nonprofit Legal Issues in the Age of COVID-19, provided by San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. Attorneys Arlene Yang and Juan Zuniga provide an overview of the key legal and practical issues facing nonprofit organizations, focusing on employment law, commercial leasing, and restructuring options.

   

  Crafting your Credentials – Creating a Powerful Resume and LinkedIn Profile
  Trevor Blair, Blair Search Partners, LLC