What the Valentine Visionary Leaders Are Saying About the Program

“NELI provides a wonderful opportunity for personal development, networking with colleagues and exploring knowledge in areas essential to nonprofit management. The executive coaching sessions have been extremely valuable to my leadership development and career goals,”
Catherine Malkemes,
Chief Membership and Program Officer, Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania

“I come back to work from NELI each time completely full of ideas, energized and having learned really valuable new information and techniques. This experience is helping me take my skills to the next level,"
Sheri Cole,
Executive Director, The Career Wardrobe

"Maternal Child Heath Consortium (MCHC) of Chester County and 2006 Valentine-NELI Fellow announces that after learning more deeply about the importance of emotional intelligence and how individual and groups function during her NELI year, she has engaged a consultant to help with Myers Briggs testing and personal feedback for administrative staff. Also, MCHC will be one of new United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania organizations to receive funding in their new funding strategy of "investing in results"."
Pamela Bryer,
Executive Director, Maternal and Child Health of Chester County

“The NELI experience has been very valuable to me professionally. While, I have served in executive management positions both here at Congreso and in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, my direct service social work education did not fully prepare me for management and executive leadership. NELI facilitated a 360 degree evaluation of my work from a group which included supervisors, colleagues, supervisees, and peers. The feedback was extraordinarily useful to me. In addition, access to an executive coach has enabled me to develop and work towards tangible goals related to my professional development- this has helped me fine tune skills I already have and has challenged me to address my professional weak spots and to move outside my professional comfort zone,”
Lisa Cordeiro Kricun,
Deputy Vice President, Congreso de Latinos Unidos

“I feel so fortunate to have had what is a unique development opportunity for me personally and for The Center Foundation. NELI picked a great and diverse group of individuals to form this unique and caring 'learning community'. Presenters covered change management, networking, financial management, and the current state of the nonprofit sector and they were all terrific! We were broken down into smaller groups for closer sharing and meeting together monthly over the course of 8 months. This kind of safe peer support for an Executive Director in a small nonprofit service provider like myself is an awesome combination with the professional training and executive coaching we are getting. We worked on our action plans for our organizations as well as personal development plans after which I came back to work inspired, energized, ready to start practicing new skills and knowledge, and infused with hope, excitement and the kind of confidence that only a good plan coupled with support and feedback can give. I am so grateful!”
Susan Garrison,
Executive Director, The Center Foundation

“The NELI program has already proven greatly beneficial. So much information, sharing of best practices, self-evaluation – and establishing a peer support network is invaluable. I’ve already turned to my learning team on several occasions to help me problem solve and find solutions to issues such as increasing Board member involvement, working with volunteers to solicit major gifts, and improving communication with coalition partners. I’ve attended many nonprofit training programs in Philadelphia, and this program is by far the most advanced and unique. I can’t say enough good things about the program and the individuals behind it. Many, many thanks to the Foundation for the opportunity.”
Carrie Rae,
Executive Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Pennsylvania