Through The Noise

Today we're joined by Donna Groh, Executive Director of Unemployment Services Trust -- a sponsor of Through the Noise. Like many of the guests on our show, Unemployment Services Trust exists to serve nonprofits helps them become more effective organizations. Many -- if not most -- nonprofits overpay in taxes and UST analyzes nonprofits and provides cost-saving support. They are also expanding their focus to assist nonprofits in retaining employees while also offering a placement assistance programs in the event that someone must be laid off. Ms. Groh mentioned that 65% of their members don't pay annual admin costs for the programs because the interest from their savings account covers it. Listen up to find out how you can save your organization money and better prepare for the future As the Executive Director of UST, Donna Groh is responsible for the effective management of the Trust and manages relationships between UST, its service providers and its partners to assure the Trust is meeting the needs of its m

A lot of people get into nonprofits because they are passionate about the mission or cause of an organization, not necessarily because they are stellar accountants (though there are some). That's why we've brought back Cathy Galbraith and Nicolie Lettini of CostTree to clarify some of the most opaque aspects of nonprofit management. Lately, funding trends have started moving in the direction of understanding direct and indirect costs and it is important for nonprofits to get it as well. Too many are stuck in the "Nonprofit Starvation Cycle" -- constantly struggling to produce tremendous results without accurate funding in place. Join us today to find out how you can more appropriately fund your work. Overhead on the mind of most nonprofit leaders these days. The new Uniform Guidance, which pulls together eight different OMB circulars, has changed the way federally funded nonprofits get reimbursed for their indirect costs (overhead). For more than 16 years, CostTree’s CEO, Nicolie Lettini, has created cost all

Brad Halsey is CEO and Founder of Building Momentum, a firm based in Alexandria, VA that specializes in intensive technological training with practical applications. Working in the high-paced, high-stakes, and high-pressure environment of a warzone, he created solutions that were put into place to directly save lives. His enthusiasm for education is contagious and since returning from his time in Iraq, he has been using it to educate government contractors, government officials, teachers, and -- recently -- children. Ernesto and Blake have some great ideas to help him grow his newest venture. Brad Halsey, CEO of Building Momentum and of the non-profit TechGarden, is at his best when he is solving, or teaching others to solve, the hardest, most important, and the most time-critical technical problems we face. Brad prides himself as an experienced and extremely motivated scientist who thrives at leading or mentoring teams of fellow scientists, engineers, educators, community members, veterans, and kids to devel

Our guest Daniel Domenech joins us from the American Association of School Administrators. He has been the Executive Director AASA since 2008 and a member since 1979. Known as the "School Superintendents Association," AASA represents 13,658 administrators who manage every facet of the school system from the details of the classroom to the grounds of the schools. 98% of school superintendents used to be teachers so they have an intimate understanding of the workings of the classroom and the needs of students, teachers, and parents and bring that to the running of the school system. While all superintendents manage a tremendous workload with each school, the size of school districts vary widely and the school systems in Virginia and Maryland are some of the largest. Join us to learn more about the workings of school systems, a discussion of teacher vs baseball player pay, and moving away from No Child Left Behind.  Dan Domenech is the Executive Director of AASA The School Superintendents Association. AASA repr

Dennis Goris is the principal of Goris Communications who joins us not long after the firm he helped found 30 years ago underwent a transformation from Bremmer & Goris. Goris Communications now focuses (almost) exclusively on nonprofits to help them project a unified brand and identity. With so much turnover passion and personalities in the nonprofit world, it's easy and common for organizations to lose sight of the big picture of what they are showing the world and Goris Communications helps by bringing a fresh, outside perspective to redefine, refocus, and emphasize their brand. As Dennis Goris asks "Do you want to be a house of brands or a branded house?" Selling ideas, concepts, and solutions can be a lot harder to distill than something concrete like a car, a house, or an experience. Join us for business and stay for pleasures as the conversation turns to the exploration of art and how to rectifiy commerce and art when your passion becomes your living. Dennis is president and creative director at Go

We're excited to welcome Thomas Raffa, founder of Raffa, PC, an accounting firm servicing nonprofit, governmental, and other clients while maintaining a firm commitment to making a positive difference in the world. Prior to forming Raffa, PC, Mr. Raffa had a career at one of the "Big Four" accounting firms but became dissatisfied with the pursuit of profit above all else. With a desire to use his skills for the greater good, he founded Raffa PC in 1984 with a model that today fits under the banner of "B Corporation" with a focus on social responsibility. The firm donates 10% of revenue to charitable causes and continues to grow. Find out how they are working to change the face of business to encourage social engagement and community involvement. Could their model help you attract and retain employees and grow your business or organization?  Tom founded Raffa, P.C. over a quarter century ago to service the needs of the nonprofit community. As an owner-partner, Tom turned his vision into reality by building a

Lori Anderson, President and CEO of the International Sign Association joins us today to talk about the organization that "points the way for communities to thrive." The International Sign Association is an organization whose work is crucial, omnipresent, and almost totally inconspicuous to the public. Though signs are an essential aspect of modern life -- without which most of us would find ourselves lost almost constantly -- their success is rarely noticed while failures become the fodder of internet memes. Ms. Anderson's passion for way finding and signage is palpable and not to be missed. Bring your sense of curiosity and learn a little bit more about the curious world in which we all live.  Lori Anderson is President & CEO for the International Sign Association (ISA), which serves the international on-premise signage and visual communications industry. ISA’s programs include educational conferences, government relations, technology research and the ISA International Sign Expo, which attracts some 20,

We keep it local again today with Arlington County, Virginia's newest County Board Member, Christian Dorsey, who started his term on January 1. Arlington is just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC and at 26 square miles is the smallest county in the nation in size but one of the most dense and diverse and home to the world's largest office building, the Pentagon, and National Airport. As a lifelong activist, Mr. Dorsey explains that running for County office was the next step for him in becoming more deeply involved in the community where he's lived since 1993, although he jokes that you "must disassociate yourself from rational thought in order to run." While working to set an example for his kids on how to be involved and active in their community, he is working for all residents, with a special focus on affordable housing -- which is increasingly becoming more rare around the country, but especially in the Washington, DC area. To learn more about this fascinating place and hear more about Mr. Dor

After a couple of trips around the world with Global Communities and USAID, we return back to our neighborhood and welcome Justin Wilt, Executive Director of the Arlington Soccer Association. Not to be confused with Arlington, TX or Arlington, MA -- as happens with some regularity by enthusiastic parents from the south and north -- this Arlington Soccer Association is based in Virginia and organizes a league for kids as young and tiny as 3 years old up to 19-20. Soccer has been growing in popularity in the US in recent decades and is one of the most accessible and egalitarian sports available. Requiring little equipment -- so, a limited financial investment -- it breaks down barriers and builds friendships and skills. With 9,000 kids playing soccer in Arlington, there's a real need for an official organizational structure. And we're excited to speak with Justin Wilt about making a real difference in the life of kids. Justin Wilt has more than 30 years of experience leading & improving operations across a

Today on Through the Noise we bring you collaborators from different parts of the development world -- Alexis Bonnell from USAID, who is an "Innovation Evaganelist" and Steven O'Connor, Communications Director of DAI -- an employee owned global development firm. Ms. Bonnell is part of USAID's new Global Development Lab which is undertaking the challenge of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. Technological advancements have made unprecedented changes possible while harnessing the collective brilliance of humanity. Listen up to learn more about their plans to change the world and maybe some of the strategies they emply will be useful in your own work. Alexis Bonnell is the Head of Applied Innovation at USAID and is focused on harnessing innovation to address humanities greatest challenges. Alexis has delivered over one billion dollars in development and humanitarian programming in over 25 countries, working with over 200 partners across all sectors of aid. USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to

We've recently had David Humphries and Nancy McDonald of Global Communities on the show and today we are pleased to welcome Milton Funes who is the Director of Program Impact and Learning at Global Communities. An engineer by training, he originally became involved in international aid work when Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras in 1998. Global Communities has been operating in Honduras for 35 years and is extremely effective in not only assisting people impacted and traumatized by disaster -- but also giving local people the tools and education necessary to rebuild their lives, livelihood, and communities. A number of aid organizations have made the mistake of going to a country and just talking and talking -- forgetting the importance of listening to learn. Milton Funes has 15 years of international development experience, with expertise in NGO capacity building, health, social infrastructure, urban/rural planning, micro-finance and economic development. In his current role as Director of Program Impact and L

Today we're pleased to welcome Caroline Scullin, Vice President of External Relations for the Wilson Center -- the nation's premier nonpartisan think tank based in Washingon, DC. Created to honor the memory of President Woodrow Wilson, the Center is a place where scholars and experts from around the world gather to do and present research and to make the knowledge of academia more relevant, digestible, and useful for public policy makers, the media, as well as the general public. Ms. Scullin helps explain the role and value of the Center through the recent Iran agreement. The Center has the influence and the means to convene diverse voices and perspectives, ensuring that the research produced incorporates multiple viewpoints. Caroline Scullin is the Vice President for External Relations at the Wilson Center. Caroline had over 20 years of experience in strategic communications in the public, private and non-profit sectors tackling complex issues and conveying them to a wide range of audiences and stakeholders.

Today we're excited to present a show with two guests we've had previously, Robert Shea of Grant Thornton and John Porter of ACT for Alexandria. When they joined us before, we learned of their collaborative relationship so we're pleased to bring them together to pick their brains and talk about their experience and ideas for engaging their community. While they are based in Alexandria, VA, these concepts can be used anywhere. Robert Shea explains the crucial role of being a good corporate citizen in recruiting and retaining talented employees and says it is now an "essential" part of the recruitment process. Having a relationshilp with an organization like ACT for Alexandria allows the company to contribute financially while offering their staff a way to give back to their community with their time, energy, skills, and enthusiasm. John retired from the Alexandria City Public Schools in 2009 after a distinguished career with the Alexandria City Public Schools, which was highlighted by his twenty-two year tenu

Maria Morukian, the president and founder of MSM Global Consulting joins us today to talk about organizational culture change and manages to convert Blake into a giant fan of consultants. She works with organizations that are undergoing (or planning to undergo) a major cultural revamp -- revising and rewriting the norms, values, and behaviors of that organization by including the perspectives of everyone on staff impacted by the transition. Emphasizing the necessity of creating / maintaingin a connection to the organization between staff at all levels, MSM Global Consulting's focus is on developing sustainable change for the long-term. Maria Morukian is a leadership consultant, coach, and trainer who has spent the last fourteen years helping to grow thoughtful, influential, and inclusive leaders at all levels and to build organizations that maximize the diverse talents of their workforce. She is an adjunct professor at American University's School of International Service. MSM Global Consulting is a professio

Nick DeSarno joins us today from the Public Affairs Council where he manages the grassroots and communications department. The Public Affairs Council is a nonpartisan association assisting, eductating, training and advocating for public affairs professionals around the world. The public affairs field is comprised of people who work to engage influencers and public officials and the Council is a membership association representing 700 different organizations that are primarlily trade associations. If you have struggled to effectively convey your message to lawmakers, this episode will help point you in the right direction.  Nick DeSarno is the manager, grassroots and communications for the Public Affairs Council. In this capacity, he is the Council’s lead expert on digital communications and its intersection with advocacy. The Public Affairs Council is the leading nonpartisan, nonpolitical association for public affairs professionals worldwide. The Public Affairs Council is the leading nonpartisan, nonpolitic

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-p

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 de

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 foot

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

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 professional