Home of the Standards for Excellence Institute

Meet the 2019 Class of Licensed Consultants

November 25, 2019

 

The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative designed to help nonprofit organizations operate more ethically and accountably, announces its 2019 Class of Licensed Consultants. Twenty-nine class members hailing from nine states recently completed the intensive, three-day training seminar and can assist nonprofits nationwide. They bring years of experience to the table and represent organizations from California to Maryland – and many in between.

Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants use their extensive knowledge of the multi-faceted initiative to help nonprofits strengthen their governance practices and exceed the rising demand for nonprofit accountability. They provide nonprofit organizations with organizational assessments, consulting, training, and assistance in the application process for national Standards for Excellence accreditation. Many licensed consultants will also work with licensed replication partners.

Amy Coates Madsen, Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute, shared that, “It is always such an honor to welcome a new group of licensed consultants. These professionals have an abundance of talent and work ethic to spare, and I am so excited to see them share their expertise with organizations wishing to reach the highest levels of nonprofit best practices.”

The Licensed Consultant Program has grown each year since its inception in 2006. A searchable directory of consultants can be found on the Institute’s website.

Rachelle Adams, Director of Human Resources and Operations at CASA de Maryland, said of her experience, “My training experience gave me more in depth knowledge and resources to bring Standards for Excellence to my organization, to prepare them for continued success and to enable me to serve other organizations on their path to achieve Standards for Excellence accreditation.”

Sonia White, the Director of the Center for Nonprofit Management & Leadership at MSU Texas, said “My primary mission as a consultant is to assist nonprofits to build capacity; strengthen governance and oversight of their boards; and instill trust in their stakeholders.  The tools and resources I acquired through the Standards of Excellence Licensed Consultant training will help me better coach and guide my clients to implement these best practices and accomplish this mission.”

Virginia Wright, a nonprofit consultant from Felton, California, added “The Standards for Excellence Training, living up to its name, was excellent! I was inspired by the consultant participants who are dedicated to helping non-profits become more efficient and effective. I have confidence that the Institute’s training documents and samples are updated regularly and that the Institute staff is itself mission based, and vision driven.

 

Here are the most recent Licensed Consultants:

        • Rachelle Adams, Hyattsville, Maryland
        • Mandy Arnold, Pasadena, Maryland
        • Acacia Asbell, Baltimore, Maryland
        • Lisa Barber, Largo, Maryland
        • Jaqueline Bowie, Baltimore, Maryland
        • Johnny Buschardt*, Tulsa, Oklahoma
        • Martha Collins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
        • Rachel Barrett-Dolcine, Randallstown, Maryland
        • Tony Ferlenda, Wilmington, Delaware
        • Cortney Fisher, Rockville, Maryland
        • Kate Hull*, Baltimore, Maryland
        • Linda Lenrow Lopez, Arlington, Virginia
        • Vaile Leonard, Baltimore, Maryland
        • Corwin Macklin, Annapolis, Maryland
        • Kerry McHugh, Reisterstown, Maryland
        • Cara Morris, Sparks, Maryland
        • Rachel Mygatt*, Baltimore, Maryland
        • Chantal Pereira, Owings Mills, Maryland
        • Lori Perkins, Frederick Maryland
        • Jacinth Planer, Tahoma Park, Maryland
        • Anna Prow, Takoma Park, Maryland
        • Thomas Schliep, Grand Rapids, Michigan
        • Drusilla Schmidt-Perkins, Baltimore, Maryland
        • Elizabeth Scott Shatto, Frederick, Maryland
        • Walter Simmons, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
        • Patrick Stokely*, Washington, DC
        • Cheryl Thomas, Laytonsville, Maryland
        • Sonia White, Wichita Falls, Texas
        • Virginia Wright, Felton, California

*Participated as a member of a licensed replication partner organization.

The Institute, an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits, uses the Standards for Excellence program as its vehicle for effective change. The Standards for Excellence program works to help nonprofit organizations act ethically and accountably in their management and governance, while enhancing the public’s trust in the nonprofit sector.

Those interested in becoming a licensed consultant have the opportunity to join the 2020 Class can find information and sign up to be notified when applications are available here.