Meet Faculty Member, Suzanne Elliott

The basics!

Suzanne Elliott, Principal, Envision Consulting

How long have you been a member of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership faculty? What do you enjoy most about serving as faculty?

I’ve served on the faculty since September 2016. I love meeting nonprofit professionals and board members from our community and learning about their accomplishments and challenges. It’s fulfilling to establish a connection through a workshop and then stay in touch and build relationships through the Nonprofit Leadership Council and other activities. This network of colleagues and friends also helps me stay on top of the trends affecting nonprofit organizations in the field.

What workshop do you have coming up?  What can attendees expect?  Why should people register to attend?

My next workshop is Establishing Your Board Development Plan on July 11 from 9:00am – 12:00pm. Board development is absolutely critical for a healthy, high-performing board of directors, but it’s too often the piece of the puzzle that falls through the cracks because it’s misunderstood or not prioritized. Through my work, I’ve seen that nonprofit board members truly want to be contribute and serve in meaningful ways, but they don’t always have the tools and support they need to be effective. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to assess your board’s performance and identify development needs – and then create and implement a board development plan that will work for your organization.

How would you describe your teaching/facilitation style?  What do your students say about you?

I’ve been told by groups recently that I ask great questions to prompt discussion, and I connect on a personal level with people in my workshops. That feedback made me smile because I’ve worked hard over the past few years to create workshops that are interactive, memorable and valuable experiences for adult learners… which are much more fun than boring PowerPoint lectures!

Anything additional you would like to add?

I encourage everyone involved with nonprofit organizations in Ventura County – staff, board, volunteers – to join the Center for Nonprofit Leadership and take advantage of the incredible resources and network. Your organizations will grow stronger and your personal and professional experience will be richer by participating in this community of do gooders!                        

More

• Meet Organizational Member: The Housing Trust Fund Ventura County
  Thu August 29, 2019

  Learn from CEO, Linda Bruanschweiger about their new name, how they support afforable housing in the county and their new $10 million matching grant opportunity!

• Fundraising in Response to a Community Crisis
  Fri August 23, 2019
• Center for Nonprofit Leadership releases findings of nonprofit board research at ‘Celebration of the Sector’
  Fri August 23, 2019
• Meet Organizational Member: Kids & Families Together
  Thu July 18, 2019

  Next year, Kids & Families Together will be celebrating 20 years of strengthening relationships and providing safe, supportive help and education that keeps families emotionally connected to one another.

• Meet Organizational Member: TOARTS
  Wed June 19, 2019
• Meet Faculty Member, John Jell
  Mon May 6, 2019

  Meet CNL faculty member, John Jell, president of Jell Training & Consulting, who will be our June Nonprofit Leadership Council speaker. Learn more about John's background, teaching style and why he cares deeply about the nonprofit community.
  

• Meet Donor, Kari Coady
  Wed March 27, 2019

  Meet donor, Kari Coady, CEO and Executive Director of Breakthroughs International.

• Meet Faculty Member, Anne Freiermuth
  Thu February 28, 2019

  Meet CNL faculty member, Anne Freiermuth, CPA is a Principal at Mission Math and has over 15 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in the areas of accounting, audit preparation, human resource management, board presentations, and governance policy development, working with over 40 nonprofit organizations.  

• Faculty Spotlight: Katie Deutschman
  Tue February 5, 2019
• Meet Faculty Member, Caryn Bosson
  Wed January 2, 2019

  Meet CNL faculty member, Caryn Bosson, principal of Caryn Bosson Consulting, who supports individuals, teams and organizations to achieve their greatest impact with skills gained from three decades of successful nonprofit management.

• Community Update: Ways to give, be of service and be part of the solution.
  Mon November 12, 2018
• Meet Organizational Member: Casa Pacifica
  Thu November 1, 2018
• Meet Organizational Member: El Centrito Family Learning Centers
  Fri October 5, 2018
• Meet Organizational Member: Ventura College Foundation
  Wed August 29, 2018
• Meet Organizational Member: Fit 4 the Cause
  Wed August 1, 2018
• Meet Organizational Member: The Townies
  Thu July 5, 2018
• Meet Faculty Member, Patricia Schwartz
  Fri June 1, 2018

  Meet CNL faculty member, Patricia Schwartz, Principal at Schwartz Associates. Patricia has been on faculty with the Center over the past 12 years, has been a trainer and teacher for leaders like you for 30+ years, and an executive coach for 20 years.

• Why First 5?
  Wed April 4, 2018

  First 5 Ventura County focuses on the First 5 Years because 90% of a child’s brain development happens before age 5. Learn what you can do to help!

• Thomas Fire Resources & Updates
  Thu January 25, 2018
• Turning Good Intentions into Effective Leadership: Upcoming Institute Teaches Nonprofit Board Members to Be Better Leaders
  Mon November 6, 2017

  The Center for Nonprofit Leadership at California Lutheran University has announced its 2018 Board Leadership Institute

• Meet Organizational Member, Community Conscience
  Wed August 30, 2017
• Meet Faculty Member, Roy Schneider
  Tue July 25, 2017

  Meet CNL faculty member, Roy Schneider, attorney at law at Shneiders & Associates, specializing in all matters relating to management and operation of nonprofits, including compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

• Meet Faculty Member, Suzanne Elliott
  Tue June 27, 2017

  Meet CNL faculty member, Suzanne Elliott, principal of Envision Consulting, who specializes in strategic and operational planning, resource development, corporate/nonprofit partnerships, and marketing and communications.

• Meet Volunteer, Nancy Mayerson
  Thu April 27, 2017

  Nancy serves on the Center's Advisory Board, and serves on the Marketing & Outreach Committee; and serves as board chair at the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

• Charitable Giving in Ventura County
  Mon March 27, 2017

  Over 75 people attended the March Nonprofit Leadership Council meeting and heard a sneak peek of the Ventura County Civic Alliance 2017 State of the Region Report's indicators about the nonprofit sector in Ventura County. Find additional resources here!

• Meet our Members: Kristie Akl & Meryl Chase
  Fri March 24, 2017

  This month meet two members Kristie Akl, board president & Meryl Chase, vice president of kidSTREAM.

• Meet Faculty Member Gloria Miele
  Fri February 24, 2017

  Meet CNL faculty member, Gloria Miele, president of StongerLeader.com, who serves as a leadership development and executive coach, trainer, consultant and speaker.

• In the Spirit of Authentic Collaboration
  Fri February 24, 2017

  The worst storm in years didn't deter over 80 nonprofit leaders and undergraduate students from Cal Lutheran, Pepperdine and Santa Barbara City College from gathering to collaborate to optimize resources, to pool our collective talent and to solve important social issues at the 9th annual Nonprofit Leadership Institute. Learn more about what was discussed!

• Meet Center Member Tina Knight
  Mon January 30, 2017

  The Center for Nonprofit Leadership has a network 75 nonprofit leaders throughout the region. This month meet Tina Knight, HSA Administrative Manager, Grants & Contracts/Contracts Unit, County of Ventura Human Services Agency.

• Meet Faculty Member Jon O'Brien
  Mon January 30, 2017

  Learn more about the Center for Nonprofit Leadership's faculty member, Jonathan O'Brien who facilitates courses in grant writing.