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Impact I have had throughout my career

Revenue growth
Community relationship building and collaborations
Fund-raising and capital campaign growth
Public image and awareness
New ventures
Board development
Culture change
Strategic planning
Staff development
Turn-around leadership
Innovation
Problem solving
Motivating people
Creating new directions







About me

In addition to formal education (BS University of Maryland, MBA Northeastern University, M.Div. Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary) , I would have to say that the major factor that has influenced success in my career has been life-experience, "learning by doing". In most situations I have been tasked with finding ways to generate earned revenues through entrepreneurial strategies and tactics - sometimes starting with a blank whiteboard. I am both blessed and cursed with the unique gift of noticing things that others don't. This has led to new innovative directions (I don't like to use the word "change" because most people perceive this in a negative way) in organization-wide operations and cost savings. 

It is great to have a leadership style that results in organization-wide inspiration, but without the right staff members in the right positions there will be a difficult road to success. One of the things that I am most proud of is assessing talent and resourcing the organization with the right workforce to get to the next level. Not only does this benefit the organization but it benefits the staff member's personal growth (over the years fourteen individuals who have worked for me have become CEOs or Vice Presidents in other organizations).

Having the right role models in life is also important. Growing up in a working-poor family in Washington, DC, (my father was a newcomer to the United States from Italy and worked long hours as a barber) I experienced the hard work and dedication that my parents had to pursue just to make ends meet. As an adolescent my track coach was a driving force in teaching me how to work at a level that can only be described as "leaving nothing left over". Finally as a young adult I had the privilege of working for some of the best leaders who served as role models.

I do have a personal life. I play USTA tennis, exercise and enjoy traveling with my wife Jana.

The family

My greatest support system is my family. The tallest one is Lenny who graduated from Iowa Western and works as a detective for the Union City Georgia Police Department. John graduated from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and is a family practice resident at Bay State Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Jana (my wife and best friend) directed a national YUSA early learning readiness program for caregivers and their preschool aged children in South Omaha, is an artist and is on the cancer care team at church.
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Leadership and Inspiration that cause results

Where I’ve been
  • President & CEO, Christian City, Inc., Union City Georgia.
  • President  & CEO, YMCA of Greater Omaha.
  • Senior Vice President & COO, YMCA of Greater Boston.
  • President & CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Denver.
  • Vice President of Operations, YMCA of Greater St. Louis.
  • President & CEO, Cheshire/Southington/Waterbury, CT YMCAs.
  • Certified SCORE Mentor and SCORE Onboarding Coach for new Mentors.
What I've done
Financial health and growth: a consistent track record of growing revenue and improving financial performance at the net bottom line.
 
Financial development:  solidified multi-year grants, formed relationships with funding partners, achieved new records for annual campaigns, an expert at story-telling and motivating donors and made fundraising fun. Largest lead gift equaled $7,000,000.
 
Community relationship building and collaborations: successful at enhancing and positioning the organization’s public image by nurturing key stakeholders and creating partnerships through personal visibility in the community.
 
Board development: recognized as a developer and trainer of boards. Have grown active and engaged boards throughout my career.
 
Innovation and growth: through an entrepreneurial spirit and eight key leadership concepts that will work in any industry or marketplace.
 
Staff development: the key to producing results throughout my career has been through a thoughtful approach to staff recruitment, training, motivation and recognition. Fourteen direct reports have become CEOs or Vice President level leaders in other organizations.
 
Strategic planning: created practical, easy to assemble strategy plans to drive the mission, vision and purpose of organizations.
 
In addition to “learning by doing” here are my formal educational experiences:
  • M.Div., Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary, Shreveport Louisiana.
  • Graduate Theology Studies, Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado.
  • MBA, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • BS, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.
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  • About Me