Through the Noise

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#160 Global Communities - Nancy McDonald Mar 25, 2016

Show notes

Nancy McDonald joins us from Global Communities where she works to implement creative programs with youth around the world through community-based solutions. A Senior Technical Specialist, her focus is to give youth a voice in their communities and help create educated, driven, and skilled leaders for the next generation. Like many working in international development, Global Communities recognizes what may work stunningly well in one country could be an offensive, cultural failure in another -- so they partner with community leaders on the ground who have roots where they work.

Nancy McDonald is the Senior Technical Specialist for Youth at Global Communities, where she provides technical support to Global Communities youth programming. Nancy started her career in international development managing and designing girls' scholarship programs and has worked and lived in the West Bank and Gaza, Macedonia and Jordan leading vocational education and scholarship programs.

Global Communities is an international non-profit organization that works closely with communities worldwide to bring about sustainable changes that improve the lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable.

#159 American Jewish World Service - Shari Turitz Mar 23, 2016

Show notes

Shari Turitz of the American Jewish World Service joins us to talk about international development and the human rights work they are doing in 19 countries. The AJWS partners with strong, effective locally-based organizations in the developing world and provides them with resources to make them stronger and even more effective. Their large donor base is driven by the desire for social justice, empowering them to work directly with grassroots organizations on the ground that know and understand local conditions.

Shari Turitz is the Vice President for Programs at American Jewish World Service, leading the Programs Division and overseeing AJWS's grantmaking, domestic and international strategy. She brings with her more than 20 years of experience in human rights grantmaking, capacity building and advocacy, and 15 years of senior management and program development experience.

Inspired by the Jewish commitment to justice, American Jewish World Service (AJWS) works to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world. Learn more at www.ajws.org.

#158 Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America - Andy Polk Mar 21, 2016

Show notes

As we learn today from Andy Polk, you could be 3-D printing your own shoes in 10-15 years, but until then most Americans are dependent on imported shoes – like the 99% of all footwear worn in the United States. Andy Polk is Senior Vice President of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America which represents the entire footwear supply chain from designers all the way to the retailers. Working in an industry that is based almost exclusively abroad presents challenges that most organizations will never face but the FDRA is working to bring manufacturers and others in the supply chain to a baseline of standards to protect worker health and safety.

As FDRA's Vice President, Andy Polk oversees the associations communications, marketing, reports, and events. Previously, he served as a Director of Communications and Public Affairs and Senior Advisor to a Member of Congress from 2002-2011.

Founded in 1944, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) is the oldest, largest, and most effective footwear trade association in the U.S.

#157 - ASAE - Reggie Henry Mar 18, 2016

Show notes

Today's guest on Through the Noise is Reggie Henry, the Chief Information Officer for ASAE, the American Society of Association Executives. You may remember our previous discussion with ASAE President and CEO, John Graham, but if you need a refresher or missed it last time, find it here. Reggie Henry manages the technology for ASAE and ensures that it is integrated into the marketing and business plans. For those responsible for technology purchases, he advises never buying anything that's not mobile ready. ASAE operates with a "Work Out Loud" policy so that all of their members can see what their doing and how to replicate it so no one wastes time reinventing the wheel. Get these and other essential tips today on Through the Noise.

Reggie Henry joined ASAE in November of 1994. His responsibilities are to implement "exemplary" systems at ASAE that can serve as a model to the rest of the association community and to "ratchet-up" the use and understanding of technology among ASAE members. In 2009 he was invited by the Secretary of Smithsonian to participate in Smithsonian 2.0, a Gathering to Re-Imagine the Smithsonian in the Digital Age. Reggie was recently named one of the top 40 CIOs in DC-MD-VA area.

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 9,300 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world.

#156 American Trucking Associations - Brian Lagana Mar 16, 2016

Show notes

Today's guest is Brian Lagana who represents the American Trucking Associations, uniting state associations, conferences and individual members under a national umbrella organization. While a large portion of the public is anxious about getting their packages faster and faster, the ATA is responsible for ensuring that safety and regulations are adhered to in the face of growing pressures. An important component of their work is advancing the sustainability of the trucking industry and helping it grow in stewardship.

Brian Lagana is currently the Executive Director of the American Trucking Associations' Safety Management Council and Transportation Security Council. He has spent the past 26 years in association management, including 18 of those years as an association Executive Director with government relations involvement.

The Safety Management Council and Transportation Security Council, part of the American Trucking Associations federation, are THE national non-profit organizations dedicated to professionals involved in safety and human resources, and security functions with commercial motor carriers.

#155 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association - Richard G. Thissen & Jessica Klement Mar 14, 2016

Show notes

Today we sit down with Richard G. Thissen & Jessica Klement who represent 225,000 members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. The majority of the federal workforce is spread out all over the country although many people have the wrong impression that people who work for the government only live in Washington, DC. Ms. Klement is part of the lobbying faction to ensure that Congress does cut into the benefits of retired members, amongst other issues concerning the millions of Americans that fit under the heading of retired federal workers. Though their membership is quite a bit larger than many nonprofits we have on Through the Noise, they are striving to go bigger and are aiming to have Congress fear their NARFE voting record the way they fear their NRA record. Is this a target for your organization? Listen up for tips.

"Richard G. Thissen is the National President of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), one of the largest federal employee and retiree organizations dedicated to protecting the earned rights and benefits of America's active and retired federal workers. Dick spent 27 years in federal service as a civilian employed by the Department of the Army before taking on various roles within NARFE and ultimately being elected as National President of NARFE in 2014.

Jessica Klement is the legislative director of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) and is responsible for carrying out the legislative and political strategies of the organization, as well as taking NARFE members' concerns to Congress as the association's chief lobbyist. Jessica's policy analysis on federal employee and retiree issues has been featured in The Washington Post, NPR, USA Today and the Associated Press and she is a regular guest on Federal News Radio."

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the earned pay, retirement and health care benefits of federal employees, retirees and their survivors.

#154 The App Association - Jonathan Zuck Mar 11, 2016

Show notes

Today's guest, Jonathan Zuck, is President of the App Association, a trade organization representing the interests of 5,000 companies working in the mobile economy. While the word "app" replaced the word application in the popular lexicon less a decade ago, it's been in circulation in the tech world since the 80s and represents more than just the "apps" on smartphones. Jonathan Zuck has been active in the field for decades and worked on the programmer side prior to joining the Association. Join us for a conversation about a robust and growing industry.

A former software developer and teacher of international renown, Jonathan Zuck is currently the President of ACT |The App Association where he advocates for an environment that inspires and rewards innovation. Jonathan is also an award winning photographer and filmmaker whose work has been shown around the world.

ACT | The App Association represents more than 5,000 app companies and information technology firms in the mobile economy. In addition to its advocacy around the world, ACT provides resources to help its members leverage their intellectual assets to raise capital, create jobs, and continue innovating.

#153 growth[period] - Courtney Banks Spaeth Mar 09, 2016

Show notes

Courtney B. Spaeth is Chief Executive Officer of Growth, a consultancy that works with nonprofits and businesses to create plans for sustainable and measurable growth. Today's conversation is packed with valuable ideas you can take back to your own office ranging from company culture to hiring. Business development is "a lot like dating," and needs to be approached thoughtfully. Starting her career in Fortune 100 companies, Ms Spaeth brings an different approach to the nonprofit worth and her insights are invaluable.

Courtney B. Spaeth, founder and CEO of growth.[period], is a recognized expert in public and private business development, corporate growth, and mergers and acquisition support, as well as a sought after speaker on a broad range of business and leadership issues. Through her leadership, growth.[period] has cultivated a proven track record of success helping companies, including Fortune 100 firms, in both the Federal and commercial sectors achieve smart growth.

The most important issue for companies in today's challenging business environment is intelligent expansion, with CEO's vying for that special edge that will help them achieve and sustain growth; growth.[period] is the professional expert and the partner that helps companies realize that success, and has served a broad range of clients, including Lockheed Martin, Verizon, Genesys, Stanley Black & Decker, and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, since its inception in 2007.

#152 Cleod9 - Ian Mcleod Mar 07, 2016

Show notes

On Through the Noise today we're joined by Ian McLeod, Founder of Cleod9, a music production firm that specializes in the outdoor adventure field. Ian is a nontraditional guest as we don't sit down with many people from start-ups but he has some creative approaches to generating clients and buzz that could be valuable to nonprofits ready to think and work outside the box. One of his secrets to success is working from a weekly work plan of deliverables, rather than a daily list. What about you? Any useful tips you'd like to share with fellow listeners?

Ian McLeod was born and raised in the Washington, D.C area. He graduated JMU in 2013 with a degree in Communications and Music Business. In 2014, he left his job at an ad agency to put his musical/business skills to use by starting Cleod9 Music.

Cleod9 is a music production company that creates original/licensed music for commercials, digital shorts, documentaries and film. Our business reach is on a national basis.

#151 Wakeman Consulting Group - David Wakeman Mar 04, 2016

Show notes

If anyone has ever told you to focus on your developing your weaknesses instead of your strengths, you won't want to miss David Wakeman's thoughts on the subject. Principical of the Wakeman Consulting Group, David Wakeman works with nonprofits to help remember and amplify the value they add to the world in order to become not only more profitable but also more successful. Bringing a business approach to nonprofit goals is a switch that would benefit a great number of nonprofits and today's episode is packed with useful information and ideas to revamp and reinvigorate your work.

Dave Wakeman is known as "The Revenue Architect." His firm works with organizations to maximize their revenue structures. Dave writes a weekly newsletter all about value creation in your organization

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