Spokes Board Academy

Spokes Board Academy 2020

Every Tuesday, 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
November 3 through December 15

Do you have the tools to make your board service successful? Are you seeking clarity about your role as a board member? Would you like to serve as a board member but aren’t sure how to get started?

Whether you are just starting board service or have served for years, we’re here to make your experience easier and more rewarding. Start with Spokes Board Academy and develop the skills critical to excellent board service. You’ll also gain practical knowledge of nonprofit management and explore the following topics:

• Board member basics
• Legal and ethical responsibilities of directors
• The board’s role in fund development
• Governance of nonprofit corporations
• Financial responsibilities of directors
• Insurance, risk, and liabilities
• Maintaining a healthy board of directors

Pick and choose among the topics or sign up for all and get a 15% discount.

We’ll address these topics in a series of weekly, one-hour meetings online beginning Tuesday, November 3 at 11:30 AM and continuing on consecutive Tuesdays through December 15.

Your faculty will include, among others:

Michael Simkins, Ed.D.
Michael has been a member of several nonprofit boards and served as board secretary, treasurer, and president. His professional experience spans the education and nonprofit sectors from being a school principal in Los Osos and Cal Poly lecturer to CEO of a major Silicon Valley nonprofit. Currently, he is board president at San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre and Spokes’ Interim CEO.

Leslie Buckingham
Leslie began working for Morris & Garritano in 2017 as the Risk Advisor in their small business unit. Her insurance designations include Small Business Coverage Specialist, Accredited Advisor in Insurance and Associate in General Insurance. She is a member of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee, SLO Women’s Network, and Young Professionals Network Group.

Monica Grant, CFRE
Monica is CEO of the San Luis Obispo County YMCA. Monica’s experience includes work with UC Santa Cruz, The Nature Conservancy, United Way, and Sierra Club. She holds a BS in Recreation Administration and an MS in Organizational Leadership and provides nonprofit fundraising consultation services. She currently serves on the board of Association of Fundraising Professionals of SLO County, is a committee member of the Economic Development Committee for the SLO Chamber, and is on the Legislative Affairs Committee for the South County Chamber.

Connie O’Henley
Nipomo resident Connie O’Henley is originally from Etna, a small community in northern California. Connie found her way to the central coast through Cal Poly where she studied Agricultural Business management. Since 2007, Connie has been the Executive Director for the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande. She has a long history of nonprofit organizational management and community development. In addition to her very active career, Connie  has been a member of the Pismo Beach / Five Cities Rotary Club since 1996, where she has served in several roles including president, Interact advisor at Arroyo Grande High School, Club Foundation treasurer, and the club’s membership director.

Casey Summar, J.D.
Casey Summar is a partner with the Law Firm for Non-Profits and a national arts consultant on strategy, planning and board development. Prior to relocating to the Central Coast, Casey founded the Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in 2005 which grew to become the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville, for which she served as Executive Director for over a decade. Casey was recognized for this work as the 2016 Nonprofit CEO of the Year for Middle Tennessee. She received her J.D. with honors from Vanderbilt University Law School where she continues to serve as an adjunct Professor of Law teaching Nonprofit Law.