What was your experience working on a Taproot Foundation project?

Since joining the Taproot Foundation, I have been part of three different human resources teams. In all cases, the client team has been forthcoming, responsive to suggestions and generous in their praise for our work. What more could consultants ask? By enabling the clients to more efficiently and effectively manage their human resources, we have felt we were providing valuable service – not just to the nonprofit organizations themselves, but also to the larger communities that they serve.

I’ve also been impressed by the professionalism and commitment of my team members. Because we’re all project pros and because of the structure that Taproot Foundation provides, we’ve had to spend minimal time learning how to work together. We all just dig in and get to work for the nonprofit.

How have you grown from your pro bono experience?

On each project, I’ve learned not only about the specific nonprofit and the client base it serves, but also about the challenges and triumphs of nonprofits in general. That makes me a more informed citizen. Professionally, I keep learning new things from my fellow volunteers, who are real pros.

What were the biggest challenges in your project?

The challenges are what make any project interesting. So far, I haven’t seen anything that surprised me very much. Human resources issues are pretty much the same whether in the nonprofit or for-profit world.

How do you think the business community and nonprofit sectors can strengthen one another?

There are tremendous advantages to both sides. Nonprofits can benefit from adopting some of the best practices of the corporate world – certainly with respect to performance management. When businesses donate money, goods and services, they are helping nonprofits both directly and indirectly. The direct assistance speaks for itself; indirectly, the good will it engenders builds trust and encourages the loyalty of customers and employees – which is a huge asset to any organization.

What community issues are most important to you and what did you learn from the project?

As a long-time training and development professional, I am committed to performance improvement. Communication, education and training are key components of every issue I can think of. In my Taproot Foundation projects, I learn about the vital services nonprofits provide to the community. Were it not for these organizations, some of the important work they do simply would not get done. I have developed great admiration for the entrepreneurs who have chosen to channel their energy and expertise toward community needs.

Other than volunteering with the Taproot Foundation, what do you like to do in your free time?

I do other pro bono community work and am active in several professional organizations. At least once a year and in the company of loved ones, I’m traveling the world to learn new things from inside out. With a colleague, I’m also part of what we call the “Love Letter Squad.” It’s a project to rejuvenate the lost art of writing letters of love, gratitude and appreciation. We have a weekly talk radio program in which we interview people about their lives and the people to whom they’d like to send a “love letter.”