Dr. Kathy McCabe-Odri, Executive Director and founder of the nonprofit Partners in Learning, knows what it means to carry the weight of a mission-driven organization on her shoulders. Leading her nonprofit during the challenging days of COVID-19, she faced an uphill battle. The pandemic hit the educational industry hard, testing her resilience, leadership, and ability to serve her community.

For Kathy, running a nonprofit wasn’t just about managing daily operations; it was about ensuring her organization could meet its goals while staying true to its mission of serving children and families. But like many founders, she lacked a network of peers with whom to collaborate and off of which to bounce ideas and strategies. That’s where Cheryl Beth Kuchler and  CEO Think Tank® stepped in.

 

Finding Support in CEO Think Tank® and a Strategy for Growth in Scaling Up

Kathy’s introduction to CEO Think Tank® came through her husband, a banker who had previously worked with Cheryl Beth Kuchler when his company, Fulton Bank was a client. Recognizing Kathy’s need for leadership support and operational structure, her husband encouraged her to connect with the CEO Think Tank® community.

“Starting a company on my own meant I didn’t have peers to network and collaborate with,” Kathy shared. “I was missing that input and those models of success that could help me elevate our operations and expand our service footprint.”

CEO Think Tank® provided exactly what Kathy was looking for: a curriculum designed to help leaders like her grow their organizations profitably, improve operational efficiency, and foster teamwork and collaboration.  Creating and implementing a plan that kept the Partners in Learning team on track and aligned was magic.  More magic happened when Kathy met Veronica Cram, another integral member of the CEO Think Tank® team.

 

Veronica: The Financial Guru (and Angel)

As part of the Scaling Up program which Kathy and her team were embarking upon, Cheryl Beth referred Veronica, another CEO Think Tank® Enlightened Leader, to work directly with Kathy’s finance team. Veronica, owner of InSight Strategic Solutions, quickly assessed the nonprofit’s cash and profitability needs, identifying gaps in financial operations and labor efficiencies preventing the organization from achieving its fiscal goals.

“Veronica has been a financial angel to our organization,” Kathy said. “She instantly connected with our mission, and she operates with that point of view.”

Veronica began working closely with the Director of Business Operations, implementing processes to deliver timely financial reports and monthly projections. This gave Kathy’s team clarity and actionable insights into their financial health. Veronica also introduced strategies tailored to the organization’s unique needs, including labor efficiency and pricing adjustments, all while staying aligned with its mission.

“She’s taken us from a challenging financial deficit situation to what I predict will be soaring profitability by 2025,” Kathy noted. “She’s helped us hit not only our profitability goals but also improve the quality of our services.”

 

A Collaborative and Synergistic Partnership That Transformed a Company

The combination of Cheryl Beth’s Leadership and operational coaching and Veronica’s financial expertise proved to be a game-changer for Partners in Learning. Kathy credits the duo with transforming her leadership team, enhancing communication, and optimizing the use of funding to better serve their constituents.

“They’ve really helped rescue our services for the children and families we work with. It’s been beyond my expectations,” she said. “Reaching our 25th anniversary this year would not have been possible without them.”

Kathy particularly appreciated the cohesion between Cheryl Beth and Veronica’s approaches. “Their methods are so cohesive and complementary,” she explained. “It helps that Veronica is part of the Scaling Up program and a member of CEO Think Tank®. When she converses with my leadership team, they know we’re all working within a similar model.”

 

A Testament to Impact

As Partners in Learning looks to the future, Kathy is confident her nonprofit is on a path to success, thanks to the support of CEO Think Tank® and Veronica. She enthusiastically recommends the program to others who are seeking to scale their organizations and strengthen their leadership.

“Working with Cheryl Beth and Veronica has been extremely positive. They’ve not only improved our operations but also given us the tools to make a bigger impact while staying true to our mission,” Kathy said.

For leaders like Kathy, CEO Think Tank® isn’t just a program—it’s a lifeline. If you’re ready to transform your organization and achieve your goals, CEO Think Tank is here to guide you, every step of the way.

Ready to become a more an Enlightened Leader? Schedule your complimentary assessment today!

 

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