The New Executive Director: Working Effectively with Board Members

In this 90-minute course aimed at executive directors, learn about the role of a governing board and key strategies for navigating the relationship. Working under an entire governance team can be challenging. Your board members are key volunteers and donors, while also collectively serving as your boss. Good board relations require diplomacy, strong communication, and clear expectations from all parties. Gain insights into how to get what you need to be successful and how to give to your board members what they need to be empowered to champion your organization. Along with an overview of board member responsibilities and different models of board functioning, this course will provide tools for aligning expectations and an opportunity to troubleshoot some of the challenges you are facing. 

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About the presenter:

Eileen Garcia (she/her) has spent her career working in support of the social impact sector, including over a decade of experience as the lead executive of a nonprofit. She has served as CEO of Texans Care for Children and as the Executive Director of the Texas State History Museum Foundation. She has also worked in Austin for The Children’s Partnership, Texas CASA, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas; and served on various nonprofit boards.

She provides training and guidance to leaders and organizations to help them understand and advance equity in service delivery and operations. Her expertise includes individual coaching, strategic planning, organizational development, mergers, nonprofit administration, coalition building, advocacy, media relations, board member engagement, and supporting organizations through new stages of growth and change.

Eileen is committed to elevating unheard voices and supporting organizations that strive to do good. Eileen believes it is her role as a consultant to help an organization better understand itself and its communities so it can more effectively move forward in its mission. She is passionate about helping organizations look more closely at who they are and consider the impact they are having in all facets of their operations.

Eileen holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Notre Dame, a Masters in teaching from University of Portland, and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. She also earned a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. 

Please note Nonprofit Austin reserves the right to postpone this learning opportunity if there is inadequate registration.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Austin Community College: Highland Business Center, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, United States