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Testimonials

Nonprofit

 

"Even though our organization has a second-generation succession plan for my position we discovered there was a whole set of descriptors that were missing. These new ideas will be incorporated into our plan to make it more robust. I think the Emergency Leadership Planning workshop is very valuable and have recommended it to my group of developmental service providers."

 -Dr. Shaune Lawton, Executive Director, Sunbeam Centre

 

 

"The Emergency Leadership Planning workshop provided an excellent turnkey tool kit to launch the succession planning process for the nonprofit board on which I serve."

 -Frank Brewster QC, Miller Thomson LLP

 

 

"The Emergency Leadership Planning workshop is a process every organization should be going through. This is now an important part of our risk management strategy. I learned so much in that one day and would highly recommend this workshop to other nonprofit agencies."

-Marg Starzynski, VP, AIDS Committee of Guelph and Wellington County

 

 

"With over 25 years experience in senior HR roles, most recently as VP HR in the automotive/automation sector, I know quite a bit about succession planning, and I still learned something from this seminar.  Linda's workshop clearly addresses the need for succession planning, with a special focus on the non-profit organizations, providing the valuable framework for implementation. There is a good balance between discussion and hands-on work."

 -Fran Fisher CHRP, Board Member, Saint Monica House

 

 

"The Emergency Leadership Planning workshop was a great program to kick-start our succession planning process. I thought the 16-point workbook was designed well and the procedure statement that's included is very helpful. We thought it was an excellent use of funds."

-Tim Kennel, ED. Fairview Mennonite Homes

 

 

"Your organization will gain from participating in this workshop. It gets you thinking and provides a template for moving forward. It was time well spent!"

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"The Rural Ontario Institute participated in this important workshop in September 2011 and has since undertaken the development of an Emergency Leadership Plan for our organization. Developed by senior staff and the Governance Committee over a period of seven months, the final document was reviewed and adopted by the Board of Directors at our April 2012 Board meeting. Through the developmental exercise and with this plan now in place ROI is very well positioned and prepared for unforeseen circumstances that could arise in our future. In fact we thought the process was so valuable we have now partnered with Linda to ensure the Emergency Leadership Planning workshops are available to rural organizations through the Leadership Development Programming offered by ROI."

-Rob Black, CEO Rural Ontario Institute

 

 

 

From Cranbrook, B.C.

"I appreciated the order and guidelines in the workbook. This is a really good step-by-step outline for the process. This workshop exceeded my expectations.

 

In this workshop I realized that so far we have been really lucky. Now there is a sense of urgency. This workshop is beyond my expectations.

The workbook materials are easy to follow and the details are impressive. I want to include this in my manual.

 

This workshop is very timely. It will enable our organization to continue to operate on as high a level as it currently does.

 

Completion of the Emergency Leadership Planning workbook will make our organization more attractive to an applicant."

 

From Castlegar, B.C.

"I have been to a number of succession planning presentations over the years and haven’t found them very useful or actionable. This [Emergency Leadership Planning] is very useful to our organization."

-Ron

  

From Nelson, B.C.

"I sit on a number of boards that need this [Emergency Leadership Planning] very much."

-Phyllis

 

 

"I like complicated things that are made easier and this [Emergency Leadership Planning workbook] does it."

-Shirley

 

 

"This [Emergency Leadership Planning] is super valuable for anyone asked to be an Acting ED."

 

 

 

 

Family Business

 

"A year and a half ago we engaged Linda Fairburn as our family advisor to take us through the following process.

 

We scheduled monthly meetings for four hours each and have conducted them and still have them every month. They were very difficult in the beginning but are great today as most of the issues are behind us. We call this the Family Council where we decide to manage ourselves on a monthly basis, sharing our issues, experiences, wants, needs and business updates at each meeting. I now look forward to them, ensuring that each and every one of them is productive."

-Barney Strassburger

 

 

"I endorse Linda Fairburn and the work she did to help our company in its succession and strategic planning processes. We used her recommendations on drafting our partnership agreement, one that was ultimately accepted by the candidates. I was impressed with Linda’s ability to readily understand our business strategy and succession plan and to bring in the missing pieces."

-Bernard Melloul

 

 

"My Family and I would highly recommend Linda Fairburn as a family business advisor. We’ve worked together and stayed in touch for many years and continue to rely on her advice.

 

As a result of working with Linda, we created a framework for separating business functions from family gatherings and we have been able to continue to assess current work place skills against future training and development requirements of our business and industry.

 

In all of our dealings Linda was knowledgeable, competent and trustworthy and her advice is professional, insightful and valuable."

-Paul Newbigging

 

 

 

 

 

Training

 

"Professional, interactive and meaningful lessons. Great facilitator."

-Violetta S.

 

 

"Sad that these three days are over so quickly. I really enjoyed my time and the opportunity to gain from your experience and excellence.

 

It was very comprehensive with clear and concise materials and delivered in an amiable and relaxed fashion."

-Laura S.

 

 

"I liked that there was a lot of time given for self-reflection, getting to know the people in the group and creating a comfortable, safe environment. The content was very focused."

-Debbie K.

 

 

"Thank you for a super rewarding experience. Your enthusiasm, professionalism and sparkle were super for my learning and retention of the material."

-Danuta S.

 

 

"I felt very much a part of my own learning experience instead of someone else’s teaching experience. This learning was about me, not about the instructor’s. Very refreshing and effective for me!"

-Nancy S.

 

Coaching

 

"Linda has an ability to grasp the many aspects of a given situation and hold each of these threads.  She is able to see many unnamed aspects that are factors in each of the threads and how that may be effecting the situation as well as changing the direction that things may go.  Her vision and over view skills combined with keen intuition are rare and valuable assets.

 

I have used Linda's skills to help me shape and develop my website which was, for me, a deeply personal process.  She was sensitive while being decisive.  Her ability to clarify points of interest was most helpful.


She has also helped me with interpersonal communication within my peer group.  She coached me in defining the issues - both mine and the inherent aspects of the group. We then practiced a more effective way of communicating in challenging situations."

-Kim Meisinger

 

Non Profit Succession Planning | Nonprofit Succession Planning