Who are NELI Fellows?
NELI Fellows are executive directors, chief operating officers, senior program managers or ascendant leaders--those being groomed to take on additional responsibility in their agencies. They are organizational leaders dedicated to professional development and growth.
The 2009 Class has completed the second of four Sessions. Between now and their return in September, they are...
*Continuing to work on their Professional Development plan to map achieve goals and strategies they defined with the assistance of their executive coach
* Putting into place the first pieces of their Action Project-- a year-long, real time project brought from their workplace that stretches skills and challenges comfort levels.
* Reading and thinking about strategic plans, cultural competence, measuring and communicating results.
Here's what NELI Fellows are saying:
“I have been an executive director for 15 years running a nonprofit child care program that is also a business. It is also my passion. NELI has been a phenomenal opportunity for me and a great investment for the organization. The Board sees the investment returns coming back to the organization as I am putting into place many of the goals we have developed and set” Sherilynn Kimble, Executive Director, The Caring Center, NELI 2007
“NELI is a place where you can come to share common problems and successes…I have used all the information at different points. My Board of Directors sees my time at NELI as time well spent,” Mary C. Pugh, Esq., Administrative Director, Montgomery Child Advocacy Project, NELI 2007
“It is remarkable how much NELI has impacted me both professionally and personally. It is wonderful to share the same passions and professional goals with others in the program,” Lori Breen, Director, Sunrise House, Montgomery County Mental Health and Mental Retardation, NELI 2007
“I share with my colleagues at work so much of what I learn in the seminars. Also, I am enjoying the NELI program because of all the people I connect with professionally. The NELI experience has allowed all of us to expand our relationships beyond the class through collaborations and networks. We also support one another, and at our levels it is hard to find support,” Marcus Delgado, Vice President, Human Services, Asociación Puertorriqueños En Marcha, NELI 2007
“The NELI program has been very helpful with focusing in on my communications style, my ability to motivate and lead my staff and to implement needed systems change. The executive coaching, seminars and the peer network have worked to challenge me and move me toward my goals,” Pamela Rich-Wheeler, Executive Director, The Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise, NELI 2007
“The NELI program should be required for every executive director.” Pamela Bryer, Executive Director, Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County, NELI 2006
“I really value the opportunity to step back from the daily grind of just getting the work done. The NELI program allows me to think about how I am doing my work while providing new information to help me do my job better.” Kate Maus, Executive Director, Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, NELI 2005
“NELI provides a wonderful opportunity for personal development networking with colleagues and exploring knowledge in areas essential to nonprofit management. The executive coaching sessions have been extremely valuable to my leadership development and career goals.” Catherine Malkemes, Director of Membership, WHYY, NELI 2005
“The NELI experience has been very valuable to me professionally. While, I have served in executive management positions both here at Congreso and in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, my direct service social work education did not fully prepare me for management and executive leadership. NELI facilitated a 360 degree evaluation of my work from a group which included supervisors, colleagues, supervisees, and peers. The feedback was extraordinarily useful to me. In addition, access to an executive coach has enabled me to develop and work towards tangible goals related to my professional development- this has helped me fine tune skills I already have and has challenged me to address my professional weak spots and to move outside my professional comfort zone,” Lisa Cordeiro Kricun, Deputy Vice President., Congreso de Latinos Unidos, NELI 2006
“If I wasn’t involved in the NELI program with the opportunity to sit down and talk to other leaders about my work and what I need to do, I would focus on eight other things that are easier to accomplish,” Cheryl Cunningham, Executive Director, Chester Education Foundation, NELI 2005
“I got so much out of the program, more than I could have imagined. NELI game me all the pieces and I put them together,” Donna Wolf-Palacio, Training and Education Coordinator, Hall Mercer, NELI 2005
“NELI provided me with the space, theory and support to view organizational challenges and opportunities through fresh eyes. The work in my peer learning community took this one step further, providing me with a regular check-in point to practice learnings, weather setbacks and celebrate victories,” Melissa Weiler Gerber, Executive Director, Women’s Way, NELI 2005
“Thank you for your vision and commitment to the NELI Program. In sentiment with my NELI classmates, you have allowed us to grow and unleash the potential within us. We will make you proud!” Alisa Orduña-Sneed, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell’s office, NELI 2005
“I have really experienced something life-changing. I leave NELI with a great sense of optimism—and a tremendous network of professionals whom I can consult on future challenges, successes, and failures,” Matthew Rader, Executive Director, The Fairmount Park Historical Trusts, NELI 2005
“I come back to work from NELI each time completely full of ideas, energized and having learned really valuable new information and techniques. This experience is helping me take my skills to the next level,” Sheri Cole, Executive Director, The Career Wardrobe, NELI 2006
To have your name added to the NELI Mailing List, email neli@brynmawr.edu; or click here and fill out the form.
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