Type Of Business:
Nonprofit Organization
Professional Facilitation (Education, Community, Business)
Professional Development (Education)
Expertise:
Organizational Planning, Growth and Development
Strategic Planning
Professional Facilitation
Participatory Leadership
Emotional Intelligence
Major Product/SVS:
Avant-Garde offers professional facilitation, planning and training services for schools and community organizations. Our approach to working with schools and organizations is very different. Avant-Garde begins with establishing an authentic relationship and partnership that typically last for at least a year. Instead of using "out-of-the box" professional development, we design customized workshops to meet the unique needs of each participant and group we serve. We begin our process with a comprehensive needs assessment (interviews and surveys) to understand the perspectives, challenges and goals of each client. Workshops and follow-up sessions are then created using a balance of adult learning theory, current research and best practices, built around the specific needs and goals of the client. Our workshops are highly participatory, process-based, collaborative and engaging. All workshops result in the development of:
1) practical tools and/or action plans that will be used immediately and;
2) processes and/or communication structures that will ensure that work is sustained and continues to grow and improve.
Favorite Business Publication:
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Wall Street Journal
Educational Leadership - ASCD
Hobbies/Sports:
Spending time with family, traveling, reading, running, biking, skiing, swimming, hiking, judo/ jiu-Jitsu
Education Degrees:
Master of Business Administration, Emphasis in Executive Leadership, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver (2007); Graduate Coursework in Adult Education, Human Resource Development and Leadership, University of Alaska Anchorage; Bachelor's Degree in Communication, Emphasis in Human Resource Development and Professional Training, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma WA (1993)
Place of Birth:
Alaska/USA
Industry:
Nonprofit Operations Management
State/Country of Origin:
AK/USA
Children's Names:
Isabel, Mariela
Date of Distinction:
10/14/2011
Work History:
Chief Executive Officer, Avant-Garde Learning Alliance
Senior Vice President/Chief Strategy Officer, Girl Scouts of Colorado
Executive Director, Family & Intercultural Resource Center
Manager, Education and Employment, Urban Peak
Director of Program Services, Catholic Social Services
Special Asst. to CEO/ Education Manager, Cook Inlet Tribal Council
Associate Director of Admissions, Alaska Pacific University
Director of Student Services, Charter College
Career Achievements:
Organization Turnaround:
Selected to revitalize an under-performing statewide non-profit organization. Challenges included poor public relations, territorial in-fighting, lack of collaboration, decreasing revenue, inconsistent communications, and run-away operating costs. Restructured organizational framework from 9 departments to 6, streamlined inter-departmental communications, implemented continuous quality processes, instituted team development activities, and updated the computer network.
Results:
Team collaboration improved remarkably.
Improved operational efficiencies and reduced costs 10% across-the-board.
Revenues increased 15%.
Fundraising:
As a new Executive Director of a nonprofit social service organization, inherited a history of declining revenue, poor Board involvement, negative public image and no infrastructure for effective fundraising. Over the course of 18 months, working closely with the Board, we created a development and marketing plan, implemented a new donor database, built relationships with local and state community, leveraged Board connections, and established new corporate relationships.
Results:
Wrote and submitted 55 grants in 12 months with a 75% conversion rate, resulted in $700,000 in awards.
Increased individual and corporate donors by 200%.
With the board’s involvement, increased corporate sponsorship from $2000 to $25,000 in 1st year.
Organizational Change:
Due to success in previous roles, charged by executive management to expand services to clients by consolidating three departments into one. Current services were disorganized and populated with employees who resisted the planned changes. Personally met with each individual from each department to solicit input and learn of their unique motivations. Incorporated into the new plan their ideas and activities that would appeal to them. Clarified expectations and instituted training on new policies and procedures.
Results:
Executive management recognized consolidation proved to be highly successful.
New team fully adopted change and applied renewed energy to achieving objectives.
82% of clients surveyed reported a significant increase in delivery speed and quality of services.
Strategic Planning/Alignment:
As a member of the senior leadership team, was charged with aligning programs of local chapter with national strategic vision. Drafted a plan and instituted significant changes in systems, critical processes, and operations. Initiated an “environmental scan” to identify functionality of all internal systems and analyzed impact of external factors as competition and communication with stakeholders. Reviewed findings and created a comprehensive program to align with the national strategic vision.
Results:
New plan launched three major initiatives that positioned the regional chapter for long-term financial well being.
National office recognized and adopted the regional alignment.
If you could solve one problem in the world today, what would it be?:
I would make clean water and healthy food available for everyone on earth
If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?:
Steve Jobs
Bill Gates
Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso
I want to discuss elegant ideas that have the potential to impact thinking and behavior
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to lead several organizational teams. I learned about the power and potential impact of collaboration, effective communication and collective action. This began my passion for participatory leadership and organizational development. Over the last 15 years I have developed and led more than 25 community programs and headed two organizations in areas including education (K-12, postsecondary, and adult), homelessness and addiction, and family, children/youth and community services.
The experiences that standout most for me is when I have been able to assemble dynamic teams to accomplish amazing things. This is often easiest when you get to pick your own people. However, in the nonprofit world, you often have to work with what and who you have. My greatest accomplishment is when I have been able to take on an existing and dysfunctional team and turn them around to a highly functional team that is empowered, self-directed, and collaborative. I have had the opportunities do this three times. They were my biggest challenges and where I learned the most.
Charity:
Current:
Food Bank of Alaska Board of Directors
Alaska Workforce Healthcare Coalition
Smithsonian Institution's National Science Resource Center Advisory Board
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Alaska
Past:
Summit County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Imagination Science Center Board of Directors
Colorado Coalition to End Homelessness
Special Olympics Alaska - Volunteer
Homeless Connect Denver, CO - Volunteer
Brother Francis Shelter - Volunteer
Alaska State Academic Decathlon - Volunteer
Alaska Native Women Sexual Assault Committee - Volunteer
Nine Star Alaska - Volunteer
Number Of Years In Profession:
18
Number Of Years In Current Position:
3
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
I attribute my success to my supportive and loving parents and family. They established my values, confidence in myself and my love of learning. The traits that I believe contribute to my ability to be successful in my work and life include:
consistent curiosity, belief in what is possible, interest in communicating with people from diverse perspectives, my search for elegant ideas that alter patterns of thinking and behavior, and my belief in the power of collective wisdom and action.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
Inspired by my parents who were both teachers in a rural indigenous village, my initial interest in working with nonprofit organizations was a desire to develop greater opportunities and choice for disenfranchised and disadvantaged communities and people.
Extended Bio Profile:
Mr. Perez-Verdia has 17 years of executive leadership experience in the nonprofit sector. He is skilled at public relations, strategic thinking, building and managing teams, managing complex budgets, and fundraising. His accomplishments include the successful implementation of organizational changes and turnarounds. In one instance, he wrote and submitted 55 grant proposals within a 12-month period; with a 75 percent conversion rate, these initiatives brought the organization $700,000 in awards. The specific issues which he has addressed in his work include homelessness, food and clothing distribution, community development, assistance for people with physical and cognitive disabilities, affordable housing, at-risk youth, tribal services, kindergarten through 12th-grade and post-secondary education, early child development, and immigration and refugee services. A proponent of education in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, he serves on the board of the National Science Resources Center, which is a program of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academies. Mr. Perez-Verdia is known not only for his business acumen, attention to detail, and process orientation, but also his creativity and sense of humor.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Leading an innovative start-up business with an annual budget of $2 million; working with a board of directors to develop organizational purpose and strategic vision; establishing financial and accounting structures; designing marketing and fundraising plans; hiring and training staff; facilitating a highly participatory and self-directed team; writing and managing all grants, corporate proposals and client contracts; leading all public relations and outreach; overseeing human resources, IT, accounting, and facilities.
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years I would like to be:
1) working for a philanthropic organization (foundation) overseeing and collaborating with multiple organizations, project and efforts; or
2) Serving in a senior level position at a medium to large national or multinational nonprofit organization that is doing innovative and important work to improve the lives of people and communities.