Talent

Originally published in ‘The Biscuit,’ Charlotte is Creative’s digital news magazine.

Tina Postel is up early. Really. early.

As Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes, a food access nonprofit for people experiencing a short-term crisis, Postel has been working overtime to meet an explosion of need.

This week marks one month since Mecklenburg County issued the ‘stay at home’ order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Statewide, more than 630,000 unemployment claims have been filed in the past month. The ripple effects of the pandemic have hit the hardest for those who have always been just a paycheck away from financial distress.

“Our mission is to provide a week’s worth of nutritious groceries to people facing economic hardships,” Postel said. “And ‘economic hardship’ is a massive understatement for what our community is currently experiencing.”

Going Mobile

Like most nonprofits, Loaves & Fishes was challenged by COVID-19 to rethink the delivery of services.  The organization’s Client Choice model typically allows clients to select groceries that their family is most likely to eat at a network of more than 40 emergency food pantries located through Mecklenburg County. But, with the onset of the pandemic, the organization made the hard decision to close its full-size pantry locations to prevent further spread of coronavirus.

Instead, the organization kicked off mobile pantry operations two weeks ago, switching to a drive-thru style approach that serves clients while reducing personal contact.

According to Sue Bruce, Marketing and Events Director for Loaves & Fishes, the decision was one of many Postel has handled with integrity and determination.

“From the very beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Tina has been thinking two steps ahead,” Bruce said. “With the safety of our clients and volunteers at risk, she did not hesitate to make the bold and difficult decision to close down our ‘brick and mortar’ pantries and completely switch our operation to ‘drive-through’ style mobile pantry distribution sites.”

The decision came with some downside. Referred clients would not be able to choose their own food items. Instead, they receive a prepacked box with a seven-day supply of food.

“This was a painful pivot,” Postel said. “Client choice is at the heart of our organization but we have to play the hand we’re dealt and making sure we serve the public in a safe and effective way means making these types of tough calls.”

“Lovingly Disruptive”

Transitioning to an all-mobile distribution model may have been difficult for Loaves & Fishes over the last month, but it likely would have been impossible when Postel first came to the organization in 2016.

Over the last four years, she has helped Loaves & Fishes embrace technology including the migration to a cloud database system, adoption of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system and deployment of a digital referral platform. The switch to mobile operations has relied heavily on the ability of staff and volunteers to be in touch remotely.

These modifications to standard operating procedures were not easy changes to make in a nonprofit that had been ‘doing it our way’ for a long time, particularly one that relies heavily on older volunteers. However, this digitization looks downright prescient given the challenges the community is facing with COVID-19.

“I guess you can say that I am a ‘lovingly disruptive’ leader,” Postel said. “But every time we considered a new way of doing things, if we could justify that it would help us feed more people in need, our staff and volunteers got behind it because we are all incredibly client-first minded.”

Due in part to the organization’s rapid deployment of its all-mobile distribution system, Loaves & Fishes has been the beneficiary of two rounds of support totaling $400,000 from the COVID-19 Response Fund, a critical needs fund administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

Leadership

According to Loaves & Fishes board member Kathleen Kaney, Postel is the right person to be leading the organization during this time of increased community need.

“Tina’s talents are many and we were so fortunate to add her leadership to an already strong organization,” Kaney said. “Tina’s ability to connect to other organizations fighting hunger so our work is aligned, contemporary, multiplied and not duplicative has really served not only Loaves & Fishes, but our entire community.”

Postel joined Loaves and Fishes from United Way of Central Carolinas where she worked in major gift fundraising. Prior to relocating to Charlotte, she served as CEO of the Billings Montana Family YMCA. Throughout her career, a commitment to ‘walking the walk’ has earned her the respect of those she manages.

“Tina’s leadership style is very hands-on,” Bruce said. “She has been out there on the front lines, working each and every mobile pantry to make sure they worked smoothly so that as many people could receive food as safely and efficiently as possible.” She concludes: “She isn’t asking her staff or volunteers to do something she hasn’t already done herself.”

Taking a Leap of Faith

Postel acknowledges that working in the trenches of a human services nonprofit is not for everyone, but suggests the following for those who feel a longing to live a life of purpose:

1. Consider the “emotional paycheck” a job in social good can provide; often it’s the most important fringe benefit.
2. Find a nonprofit that speaks to you personally, one that makes you want to ‘show up’ every day.
3. Assess your skills and capacities to find alignment with a position that is a good fit, and keep in mind that a nonprofit mission is only successful when everyone works collaboratively. There are no ‘small roles’ in the nonprofit model.
4. If a job in a nonprofit is not a good fit for you, do volunteer work instead – find a way to give back.

In his “Cares About” series, guest contributor Josh Jacobson highlights staff leaders in Charlotte’s nonprofit sector who are shaking things up and making an impact. Josh is the founder and managing director of Next Stage, a Charlotte company that works with nonprofit organizations to develop game-changing strategies and strengthened operations in service to mission and long-range vision. 

COVID-19 has required us all to adjust to a new operating procedures. Those of us who can work from home are getting settled in to a remote working routine. And while many organizations are still committed to hiring, the process itself has shifted dramatically. Phone and video interviews have replaced the preferred in-person interview and requires us all to make adjustments. For candidates, it is still important to be professional, prepared and put your best self forward – but from home.

Everyone is adjusting and should be understanding about these unusual circumstances. Still, interviewing from home may require a closer look at some key areas to be as prepared as possible:

Your Environment

A dedicated workspace is important for an interview. While you may work from a couch at other times during the day, during an interview you will want to be able to sit up straight (and not rest your computer on your knees). Ideally you will have a desk or table to rest your computer or device. Make sure the camera and screen are positioned to allow a clear, professional angle and view of the interviewer(s) on the screen. 

Be mindful of your background and what interviewers may be able to see when the camera is on. If you are near a window, make sure shadows are not distorting the view maps to help correct any lighting issues.

Your Technology

If the interviewing platform is new to you, practice using it before the interview. For example, if you have not previously used Zoom (or a similar video conferencing platform), set up a free account and hold a practice video meeting with a family member or friend. This will allow you to make sure the platform is working correctly and become familiar with the audio/video features before your interview begins. It is still entirely possible that the video connection does not work so make sure the interviewer has your phone number as a backup.

Even if you are familiar with the interview tool, plan to “arrive” early to be able to deal with any technical glitches before the interview begins. Mute on-screen notifications and ringers and make sure your headset is untangled. Now take a deep breath and smile!

Your Engagement

While interviewing remotely, it is still important to actively engage with your interviewer. Prepare for an interview as you normally would. If you usually bring a notebook and copy of your resume, have those materials handy. Have a glass of water within reach.

Try to make eye contact with your interviewer. This may require you to look at your camera rather than images of your interviewer. This may take some practice.

If your remote interview is by phone, it may be helpful to pull up your intervewer’s LinkedIn profile and glance at their picture during the interview. This can help maintain your focus during the conversation.

Practice self-care during these extraordinary times. Make sure you are getting enough sleep to be able to present your best self during the interview.

Final Thoughts

While many aspects of the job search process are different right now, remember that the purpose of the interview remains the same. The organization/interviewer is interested in learning more about your background and skills and what qualities and capabilities you could bring as a potential member of the team. We are all in this together and your (remote) interview is a valuable way to establish meaningful connections and put your best foot forward – even while wearing bunny slippers at home!

The article below was published by The Biscuit as a part of Josh’s new series highlighting staff leaders in Charlotte’s nonprofit sector who are shaking things up and making an impact. You can find it, here.

Banu Valladares is on fire.

Prepping for an important board meeting, she knows Charlotte Bilingual Preschool’s future will be determined in that room with the adoption of a game-changing new strategic plan. A task force of board members and staff had worked for months to think through how to increase impact and now it was go-time.

It was the most important vote of Valladares’ 2+ year tenure as executive director of Charlotte Bilingual Preschool. For over two decades, the preschool has provided innovative, two-generation solutions preparing Spanish-speaking children for success in life.

“My StrengthsFinder strengths are strategic thinking, maximizer and positivity,” Valladares shares later. “So, needless to say, I was ready for that conversation.”

‘THOUGHT ROCKET’

Full disclosure: I am the consultant who worked with Charlotte Bilingual Preschool on their recent strategic planning effort. It was one of the most ambitious and inspirational efforts of my career.

The opportunity to partner with the organization was a no-brainer, since I sourced Valladares for the executive director role in the first place.

In 2017, the preschool hired Next Stage to help find the next leader of their organization and truth be told, it did not go very well at first. As told to me by Claire Tate, a child advocate and civic leader who has served as a longtime board member for the organization. Her initial opinion of our work was not all that strong.

Next Stage always starts by engaging the board of directors in order to understand the must-have qualities they are seeking in a successful candidate. In this case, the initial priority of the board was finding someone with deep experience in preschool education. Sourcing a Latinx candidate who reflects the community served, while important, was considered a lower priority.

Boy, was that the wrong direction.

When it became clear to all of us that a Latinx candidate with a varied social good background that includes education would be considered favorably, one name came immediately to mind: Banu Valladares. She wowed the search committee.

Valladares came to Charlotte Bilingual Preschool from the NC Humanities Council where she worked in program and grants administration, partnership-development and special collaborations. Before that, she worked for the NC Arts Council in a number of program management roles. She had also served as an interim principal for Charlotte-based Community Charter School and, for many years, as a translator developing school recruitment materials, arts-integrated learning and creative curriculum.

The search committee started by prioritizing practical experience of teaching in a preschool setting. In the end, they landed a courageous futurist, sometimes called a ‘thought rocket,’ who sees her work, in partnership with her board, as a crusade to empower families.

And everyone who meets Valladares loves her. This is not hyperbole.

STEPPING UP

Scoring a meeting with Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio is no easy task. In a town of busy people, she is one of the busiest. Her time is precious. Getting an hour with her and her team to unpack Charlotte Bilingual Preschool’s new strategic plan was quite a coup.

And, Valladares was ready. As she starts speaking, she was choked up. The importance of the conversation she was having came with it a rush of emotions. It was clear that she felt (and feels) deeply, almost spiritually committed to bringing more resources and programming to Charlotte’s growing Spanish-speaking community.

“I see this work as a legacy, for all of us, a legacy of impact we can all be proud to have set in motion,” Valladares said.

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool currently serves roughly 150 students in classrooms annexed to the organization at Hickory Grove Elementary School in East Charlotte. But, the need in the Charlotte community for dual-language early education is great. More than 3,000 Spanish-speaking children who enter kindergarten without the benefit of preschool every year.

That was the reason for the meeting with Diorio, to discuss new strategies for reaching radically more youth annually. Without giving too much away as the organization works to formalize the plan into action, the meeting went very well.

Claire Tate was in the room, as well. She has seen the preschool grow from an idea into one of Charlotte’s most admired nonprofits. Watching Tate and Valladares in action, it’s clear that they are aligned as crusaders.

“In public meetings, she speaks with passion and confidence, always impressing her audience,” Tate said. “Banu has been a wonderfully effective leader.”

A BEAUTIFUL VISION

The preschool’s Board Treasurer, Manuel Arrese, sees Valladares’ leadership as essential to making this more ambitious internal culture a reality.One of the most significant changes at Charlotte Bilingual Preschool over the last two years has been the addition of more Latinx leaders to its board of directors, now representing 50% of governance. This shift was meaningful to the recent strategic planning effort. It was critical to transforming the preschool from a development culture of modest growth and responsible stewardship into one of responsible risk-taking.

“Banu dreams and shoots for the moon, inspiring her team while at the same time developing concrete plans to meet annual goals,” Arrese said. “She aligns her team and demands of them what she demands of herself: dedication and high performance.”

Disrupting the status quo is a part of what makes Valladares such a dynamic leader, and she backs it up with thoughtful approaches to change management grounded in ‘what could be.’ As a Latinx leader, she is uniquely well-positioned to take an organization like Charlotte Bilingual Preschool to the next level.

“Charlotte is a city that has had a number of challenges in recent years with regard to racial harmony and building equity,” Valladares said. “Now imagine Charlotte being synonymous with best-in-class dual-language early education, to be known for that nationally.”

“Just picture it,” she concludes.

A beautiful vision indeed.