Ensure Organizational Leadership: Succession Planning for All

Registration is closed. Thank you for your interest.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016, 9 a.m. - Noon

Hosted at North Park University, Chicago, IL

Half-Day Workshop: $90

About this Session:

The most valuable asset of a nonprofit organization is its executive director/chief executive officer; a critical function of the governing board of an organization is the hiring and monitoring of its ED/CEO.  The board is obligated to ensure leadership continuity, and the ED/CEO should likewise attend to succession readiness at the executive level. This workshop session will focus on the board’s involvement with succession planning; and the ED/CEO's role in overall succession planning of the senior leadership team. This entails an intentional value for transparency, a commitment of time and planning, and a focus on strengthening skills and leadership capacities. We will review effective policies and procedures that need to be in place and building a “bench” (or “cross-training”) as an effective tool for succession planning. Consideration will be made of the impact of the size of the organization, and the skills and capacity of its existing leadership. The workshop format will be based on creative discussion (including case examples from participants) and developing the components of an individual plan for succession.

Who Should Participate: executive directors and board members

About the Presenter: Tom Vanden Berk has devoted 40 years to improving the lives of abused, neglected and dependent children. Since joining UCAN in 1987, Tom led the organization from a shelter for 50 boys and girls on the brink of closing to the forefront of child welfare agencies in Chicago. Transitioning from CEO to Emeritus CEO in July, 2016, Tom remains widely regarded as a knowledgeable, active leader in the areas of youth welfare and violence prevention.

Tom suffered the loss of his 15-year-old son to gun violence in 1992 but turned anguish into determination, becoming instrumental in informing and educating child welfare organizations on the importance of strategies to combat gun-related deaths, disability and suffering. He founded HELP for Survivors, a victim self-help support group for parents and others who have lost children or loved ones to the gun violence epidemic. He is a member of the steering committee of the HELP Network; and was a founding member of The Bell Campaign (eventually known as the Million Mom March). In 2001, the MMM formed an alliance with the Brady Campaign, of which Tom is a board member.

A board member of the Youth Network Council who frequently speaks on gun violence and has testified before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee, Tom actively works with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on the implementation of sensible gun laws in Chicago. He serves on the governor's Illinois Anti-Violence Commission and as co-chair of the Child Welfare Advisory Council of Illinois. He is an advisory board member of the NIU Center for Child Welfare & Education; an advisory board member of the Dominican University School of Social Work; and board member of the National Runaway Switchboard.