Reasons Why You Should Run for Our Board

One thing I learned over the years is that one of the keys to organizational success is surrounding yourself with intellect, experience, and diversity. Often leaders surround themselves with “yes people” because they are afraid of losing control and of someone challenging their vision. Leaders who don’t encourage and can’t handle spirited discussion shouldn’t be in charge. Divergent opinions can develop into ideas that are transformational. When you put more brilliant minds together, you get brilliance. Our Annual Meeting will be held April 21st at 8am at the Defiance VFW. (Mark the date- Invites are coming soon) During this meeting we will have two board seats open. If you want to be part of an organization that is striving to making a difference in Defiance County and you meet most of the criteria below, we would love to hear from you. Please send an email to become a candidate at Erika@DefianceCountyED.com.

Do you meet most of the criteria below? Then you could be one of our next board members.

1. Innovators/creative problem solvers

We need creative thinkers willing to voice new and alternate solutions that will help drive our organization to new heights. We believe in sharing innovative trends that will assist Defiance County leaders and businesses toward further growth.

2. Challengers

Every board needs someone to play devil’s advocate. If assumptions aren’t challenged, then they will be exploited by the competition. You need someone to put out potential weaknesses. (Obviously, in the most respectful way.)

3. Strategic thinkers

Leaders don’t see all the possibilities because they are in the middle of the forest. They are dealing with the present. There needs to be someone who looks at the field and sees all the opportunities. We need board members who are willing to voice an opinion.

4. Diversity

This means people of different ages, ethnicities, skills, experiences, and educational backgrounds. Currently, our board isn’t as diverse, as I would like it to be. But we are striving for that…mainly because…A 35-year-old woman with an Ivy League education sees the world differently than a 55-year-old white man, and so on.

5. Capital-raising experience

Raising capital from angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate investors, banks, and factors requires knowledge about how to structure deals. Having this knowledge is incredibly helpful, but not mandatory.

6. Finance experience

Financial experience is a plus making sure our finance goals are on point. Most importantly, being good stewards of our organization.

7. Leadership development

The stronger the team, the better positioned an organization is to take advantage of opportunities. Attracting board members with experience in cultivating leaders can make the difference between success and failure. With our current workforce initiative, having board members with leadership development experience would be pivotal.

One of the benefits of being an investor of this organization is the chance (or opportunity) to serve on the CIC board…An opportunity that helps shape the future of Defiance County’s economic growth. If you have most of the criteria above and have a real passion for Defiance County and its economic future. Please reach out. If you want to understand the commitment, please feel free to call me on my cell at 419-769-3011.