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Raving Testimonials

In preparing our Board of Directors and staff for our upcoming strategy planning process, I turned to Tom Schweizer to keep me focused on real issues and key tasks. His no-nonsense approach, based on clear, concise thinking is a hit with all involved in the tough decisions we make.

Richard M. Markoff, Ph.D.
Simon Youth Foundation
www.syf.org

On behalf of the Mardi Gras, Inc. Board of Directors, I thank you for a job well done in leading our year-end June Retreat. Feedback from all of the board members and staff since has been extremely positive.

In fact, many of the practices and processes we discussed at the retreat have been utilized by the board. The two committees I sit on have used the tools you provided to form outlines to guide our discussion. In general, the board is much more energized and focused as a result of the retreat.

Since the retreat, the board has:

  1. Established several committees to address key issues.
  2. Several board members who use to passively attend meetings have taken a more active role in the organization and are participating as committee chairs, or at the very least key members of committees.
  3. We have begun the vital task of creating a vision statement.

Tim Lorson
Executive Director
Mardi Gras, Inc.
www.stlmardigras.org

Tom Schweizer guides you to reach your pinnacle both, personally and organizationally.

Ely Brewer
Scout Executive
www.midiowa.org

On behalf of the Fathers’ Support Center St. Louis’ Board of Directors, our Administration and the clients we serve, I/we thank you for helping us move our Mission forward. The workshop and strategic planning sessions you provided our Board of Directors were great and because of your enthusiastic style, the planning sessions were well attended by Board members.

Before entering into the Strategic Planning process with you, we had a only a Board. Now with the life you gave the planning process, we have a living document that leads and guides the Board and an involved Board as they guide this Agency.

Thanks to the interventions, you provided we now have a:

  1. Strategic Plan,
  2. Funding Plan and/or Fund Development Plan, and
  3. Agency Goals and Objectives for all programs.

Again, I thank you for your involvement and leadership in our strategic planning process. If anyone has any doubts about your work, please tell them to call me, personally.

Halbert Sullivan, CEO
Fathers’ Support Center St. Louis
www.fatherssupportcenter.org

We are very appreciative of the help Tom Schweizer provided to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. The leadership/coaching program was excellent and certainly provided both the Executive Director and the Chief Operating Officer with a solid foundation from which to build the organization. We not only learned a great deal of information on leading a non-profit organization, but we also feel we have discovered a wonderful resource from which we continue to use.

Prior to working with Tom, we were overwhelmed with the amount of work that needed to be accomplished in order to build an infrastructure that could support the current demands of the organization. Through the course of the coaching, we learned how to organize and structure our roles and our relationship with the Board of Directors. As a result, today we have policies and procedures in place or in the process of being written.

Before our leadership training, our Board did not feel it was necessary to have a facilitator to help them figure out their plans for the year and how to achieve them. So, they met for two half-day sessions and self-directed both sessions to determine their direction for the coming year. As a result, we saw no change in the structure of the organization and no progress was made to build a firm foundation to support future growth.
The following year, they agreed to bring Tom in to facilitate a four-hour goal planning session. The outcome from that day provided us with solid goals and action plans, from which we based our direction for the year and has continued to guide us as we continue to grow. The Board has recently committed to holding another goal planning session for this fall.

Thanks to Tom Schweizer, three of the most significant improvements in our development over the past year are:

  1. Key policies and procedures have been established and many others are in draft form.
  2. Clear goals and action plans have been developed and are in the process of being carried out.
  3. The Board of Directors has taken the responsibility of setting aside a half-day to come together to discuss current and future goals, and how to achieve them.

We continue to look to Tom for support and education as our organization continues to expand and meet new challenges in its growth. I highly recommend Best Practices to other organizations that are looking for direction in growth, Board development and certainly improvement of leadership skills. I have recommended Tom and Best Practices to several not-for-profit organizations in the St. Louis area. Please do not hesitate to call me regarding our experience with Tom Schweizer and Best Practices.

Linda Orso
Executive Director
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
www.dsagsl.org

Tom’s work with the staff and Board was outstanding. He improved staff morale and helped the Board meet their responsibilities as a governing body.

He did a great job in a very professional manner. I would recommend Tom to any nonprofit organization seeking the advice and counsel from an experienced and talented professional.

Richard Goldbaum Ph.D.
Transitions In Leadership, LLC
www.tilnonprof.com