First team task - how much money?

The first steps in transition need to include identifying a good transition team - the board, staff and community leaders who will be willing and able to navigate a change. Greenlights Board chair assembled a cracker jack team to take charge. It's a dynamic group thus far:

-- Bryan, as team leader is the attorney and the energy behind it all.

-- Cindy, former board chair and former interim ED at Greenlights (during my 4-month sabbatical in the Czech Republic), has been on a number of ED search committees for large local nonprofits. She's more an advisor on this one, but her questions and insight are invaluable.

-- Tara , who manages Greenlights consulting and our Executive Transition services, brings not only the staff perspective, but her graduate work was in this area of nonprofit management.

-- Mike Nellis, former Associate Director at Greenlights, has just been on the applicant side of an executive search, having recently been named Executive Director of the Austin Children's Museum, following a stint as COO and then Interim Director through an 8-month search process.

-- Sydnia, Greenlights Board Secretary, has been involved from a board level in recruiting and hiring for the ED of a local nonprofit. She brings Board experience and her GL perspective.

-- Mike Bacon is an affiliate consultant who has worked with Greenlights for the past 5 years and has been helping San Antonio nonprofits with executive transitions. He know us, knows candidates, and knows the field.

I like this team line up alot. I feel like the search is in good hands. This is a group that will think strategically, reach out for recruitment, and have a good time. But how do I connect? I want to be somewhat in the know, but not interfere.

I meet with Bryan Monday to provide him some additional information he's requesting, and to learn more about the process as he envisions it. In the meantime, I have homework - organize all that I can about executive compensation, so the Board/Committee is clear about what range of salary and benefits makes sense.

So I'm busy updating salary ranges that we used in 2001, and organizing compensation and contract details for the team. In most nonprofits it cost more to replace an existing ED, and I suspect Greenlights will have to prepare for this. But other interesting questions will likely occur - for example, in my role I have taken a large responsibility for conducting programs, leading consulting engagements, and writing tools and articles. Will the new ED be as excited about these ventures? Will next year's budget need to factor in more contract personnel to take on some of the things I will not be doing? And where WILL I fit in?

My other task this weekend (yes I sometimes work weekends, but not often) is to assemble a scrap book for the past five years. It's funny to look through old (pre-digital camera) photos and begin to craft titles for these pictures. Watch for more.