COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
Learning Cluster: Nonprofit Administration and Leadership (seeking 6 credits)
My mother modeled for me service and leadership. She served as PTA president and was very
active in the Girl Scouts of America organization. Through observation and listening, I began to
understand and form an appreciation for working in the public and social sectors, and the value
that volunteer service brought both to the organization and the individual. I participated in the
Girl Scouts of America and learned the values of self-development to maintain integrity while
serving God, country, and others. It is a civic minded organization serving in the public sector.
This was my foundation.
As volunteer assistant to director of Harmony House, a nonprofit organization in Mansfield,
Ohio serving homeless women and children in transition, I developed an understanding of notfor-profit organizational structure. I learned that serving in a nonprofit has two legs. One serves
the organization and the other serves the mission.

In serving the organization, I learned the importance of proper documentation. I was
responsible for conducting client interviews for needs assessment. In documenting, I
collected demographic data that could be analyzed and used for future grant funding. I
also collected data to ensure that we were in compliance with our policies for population
served and mission appropriateness in serving each client.

Through data entry I became familiar with local, state and federal regulatory criteria
governing not-for-profit organizations with tax exempt status.

I learned about fundraising activities and the importance of fundraising to sustainability. I
initiated contact with community organizations to establish relationship, and then through
the application of persuasive communication techniques, promoted and recruited support
for our annual fundraiser.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)

I offered personal moral support to the director and ran interference with difficult clients
when psychosocial stress levels were high or deadlines needed to be met. I came to
understand the value of diversity in skill, personalities, and experience when dealing with
complex problems. It challenged me to develop interpersonal competencies in
maintaining emotional calm in high stress situations. (see section on Managing Diversity)

In serving the mission, I initiated play activities with the children as a means of opening
dialogue. I utilized and applied interpersonal communication skills by adapting language
appropriate to the age, gender, race, and development to initiate and model the healing
process and to build confidence and support. (refer to section Managing Diversity)
While serving on the Executive Committee for Fellowships of the Spirit, a 501(C) 3 corporation
in Lily Dale, NY, I became familiar with the operations of nonprofit corporations. As a member
of the working branch under the board of directors I gained an appreciation for different roles
and responsibilities involved in a nonprofit organization, and their relationship to its success.


I participated in small group activity and was a part of the decision making team to
determine officers for the executive committee. We surveyed, assessed and analyzed
skills and interests to determine the best fit for positions of chair, vice chair, secretary and
committee chair roles.
As chair of the Minister in Residence committee, I was responsible for the Minister in
Residence program. I wrote/updated manual covering guidelines, policy, procedure and
protocol, for Ministers’ in Residence program. I recruited, staffed, coordinated and
supervised ten Ministers.
While fundraising is critical, I learned that relationship building is also an integral part of a
nonprofit organization’s sustainability and success.

I was an integral part of the fundraising team and was responsible for contacting business
and community partners to solicit donations through relationship building and persuasive
communication techniques. (Public relations function)
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)

I wrote form letters describing our organization and nonprofit status to solicit donations
personalized to each organization or business. (Public relations and Marketing functions)

I was responsible for inventory of donations as well as complete information of our
donors for thank you letters to maintain relationship. (Public relations and Marketing
functions)

As a committee member, I utilized interpersonal communication skills in recruiting,
staffing, coordinating volunteers for our annual fundraiser, as well as with other
committee members in sometimes stressful situations with time and task restraints. We
were responsible for creating and designing, recruiting, staffing and coordinating all
fundraising activities for our annual event. This included cost/benefit analysis in
deciding which activities and food items would be included. I implemented problem
solving and communication skills in maintaining relations with our board of directors to
stay current on planning and strategic changes affecting the executive committee. We
Initiated conjoined meetings quarterly and invited Executive Director/Board President to
attend the executive committee meetings.

I maintained contact through interpersonal communication with alumni to provide human
capital for organizational resource of volunteers.

I provided moral, financial and political support to the organization when opposed by
local political and religious organizations.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
As a minister with Church of the Angels, I have increased my knowledge of nonprofit
organizational administration and leadership by serving as a church member, a contributing
minister, a trustee on the board of directors and head pastor of the west side church. By serving
in all of these roles, I have developed sensitivity to the organization as a whole and can shift
perspectives as necessary.

While serving on the board of directors for Church of the Angels (COTA) I have learned
the purpose and function of the board in relation to the nonprofit organization. I am part
of the decision making team for strategic planning and determining the annual budget. I
participate in process groups to determine, priorities, cost/benefit ratios and value of
decisions to the overall church and mission.

As a board member, I am involved in the decision making process to determine ongoing
governance and amendments to by-laws as needed as well as adhering to constitution as
set forth in the articles of incorporation and by-laws. I have researched the laws
governing nonprofits and applied critical thinking skills to consider how changes will
affect the organization as well as the congregation and the churches relationship to
community including any political and or legal ramifications. I have gained an
appreciation for the complexity of nonprofit organizations.

As head pastor of the west side church, I have learned and am responsible for church
operations and budget. I have/am responsible for staffing, volunteer recruitment and
training to include designing programs consistent to the mission as well as the
congregation. I have developed a multicultural and multi-developmental perspective to
meet the challenge of diversity found in an open organization. I utilized NLP skills as a
foundational framework to maximize communication effectiveness. (See section on
Managing Diversity)

I was responsible for establishing criteria and securing a meeting space. I interviewed
heads of organizations and surveyed properties in determining space selection that would
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
provide safety, parking, cooperation, and negotiated a contract with the host organization
meeting our budget guidelines. I have ongoing responsibility for maintaining relationship
with our host church and our board of directors and honoring our contract.
I am requesting 6 hours of credit as I feel strongly that my knowledge, skill and experience are
comparable.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
Learning Cluster: Managing Urban Diversity (Seeking 6 credits)
I was born in Lakewood, Ohio a suburb bordering the west side of Cleveland, Ohio in 1957. At
the age of 2 our family moved to Bedford Hts., Ohio, which is a southeast suburb of Cleveland.
Our school district included the Village of Oakwood which was a racially integrated community.
Our primarily Caucasian neighborhood also had many ethnic Italian families as well as a few
Asian American, British, Hispanic and Jewish families. This fostered within me a deep curiosity
and appreciation for diversity. I developed sensitivity to diversity of race, culture, religion and
socio-economic divisions within communities. This challenged me to develop interpersonal
skills of listening and responding in ways that fostered relationship across divides. I developed
an open, accepting, responsive and flexible attitude. In addition, our next door neighbors had a
daughter that was physically and developmentally challenged. She would remain in an infantile
state her entire life. We saw her as a “Big Baby” and while babysitting, cared for her in her
state. We did not view her as handicapped or disabled, although she was, we just learned about
her and her needs and care. These experiences taught me that our perceptions about differences,
whether race, religion or capacities are a learned phenomena and not an inherent state of being.
The late 60’s and 70’s were turbulent political and racial times. Race riots broke out in our High
School and I learned firsthand the fearful and devastating consequences of unresolved tension
due to racial diversity. I learned through investigation that the outbreak of violence was in
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
retaliation of an attack and that cultural understanding and intervention could have prevented the
violence. This was my foundation.
While working as a swim instructor and pool manager in charge of operations, safety, and
hygiene, I learned about diversity from ethnic, cultural, racial, and socioeconomic perspectives.

I observed differences in
fear levels and competence between Caucasian and African American populations
learning to swim. I utilized my knowledge of body types (educational reference-KSU),
applied intuition, critical thinking and analysis skills to determine that African American
swimmers had denser muscle tissue with increased specific gravity and therefore did not
float as easily as Asian and Caucasian populations. I adjusted my interpersonal
communication to address the fear of drowning and adjusted lessons to correct for the
biomechanical and specific gravitational differences. This led to an increased confidence
and competence in swimming proficiency of African American students.

While working at Bear
Creek Apartments in Bedford Hts., a low income interracial apartment complex, I gained
insight into the mindset, bias, and stereotypes surrounding this population and the
complex issues which arise. There were high incidences of rule infractions with
unattended children in the pool area creating an unsafe situation. The minor children had
to be attended by an adult, or pass a swimming proficiency test to remain in the pool area
unattended. Many of the children were unable to pass the swimming proficiency test.
Removing them from the pool area created behavioral problems with older siblings who
were able to pass the swimming test but were not of age to supervise their younger
siblings. I investigated the problem by talking with the parents. I learned that many of
the children belonged to single parent households with the majority being single mothers
who were working outside the home. With school out for the summer, there was need for
babysitting which usually fell on the shoulders of older siblings to save money. There
was no one to take the children to swim lessons. The local learn to swim programs were
offered during the day which prevented most of the children from attending, although
they were affordable. I surveyed the parents and determined that there was a need for
swim lessons and offering a program at our pool would be welcomed and supported. I
interviewed local learn to swim program directors to determine benchmarks for a
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
program, and designed and implemented a” learn to swim” program that could
accommodate the diversity of age, development and race. The children learned to swim
well enough to pass the proficiency test and it solved the safety and behavioral issues.
While working as a technician for Ferro Corp. I learned about the types of diversity inherent in
manufacturing, corporations. I learned that diversity creates the greatest opportunities for
problem solving, creativity and learning, and the greatest challenges for interpersonal
communication, conflict and resolution due to the difference in mindsets and cultural norms and
needs.

While working as a QC
lab technician for Ferro Corp. I had the opportunity to increase my learning and
understanding of diversity. I was the only woman working in the manufacturing facility.
I was the only college educated technician. The factory was union and most of the
workers were African American males. I was trained in the skill of color matching by an
Hispanic male from Chili who was retirement age. Two of the three technicians I trained
in were young Hispanic males both from Puerto Rico, one had come from New York and
the other was local to Cleveland. The non- technical Management for the facility,
including sales force, was made up of middle age Caucasian males. I learned from this
experience the value of urban diversity that reaches beyond ethnicity and the
communication challenges not just from diversity of culture but also of status, gender and
age. I intuited and implemented different interpersonal communication strategies for
peers, training, implementing batch corrections with union workers (manufacturing),
managerial staff and sales. I realized the importance of meeting people where they are
and adopted the values and applied skills of active questioning and listening to
understand people’s background and education level as a means of gaining rapport. I
learned the importance of communication competence to outcomes especially in high
stress situations with deadlines. Practiced the skills of staying calm in high stress
situations.
As a technical worker in research and development for SCM Corp. in the late 70’s and early 80’s
I came to appreciate diversity form a larger perspective.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)

Our division manager
was a male from England and my immediate supervisor was a male from Egypt who was
a practicing Muslim who wrote and spoke English as a second language. Through
observation and active listening I learned about the challenges of Muslim Arabs adapting
to American culture, and the different norms that the cultures have for workers, and in
particular women in the work force. Values surrounding family and roles are very
different between the two cultures.

I adopted and
maintained a strong leadership stance with technical excellence (androgynous) to avoid
triggering conditioned cultural bias stereotypes common to the cultural idea of Arab
woman. I learned about the inherent difficulty in language between cultures and the need
for training in technical writing for those scientists who practice English as a second
language. I realized misunderstandings resulting from British English as second
language verses American vernacular English, and interpreted and reframed to build
rapport.

Through the economic
recession of the 80’s I came to appreciate the values of other cultures and the potential for
learning through the process of globalization. Our corporation had an increased number
of Asian, Eastern Indian and Arab scientists who were highly educated and highly skilled
with resilient attitudes and an inherent sense of competence. I recognized the influence
of educational values, mind sets and training as being different than the “American
Way”. I observed through corporate downsizing, outsourcing of jobs and international
buyouts that the immigrant populations fared better than their American peers. I was
challenged to become more open minded and reexamine my own values and skills and
attitudes in response to change.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
As assistant to the director at Harmony House and a consumer advocate for BVR, I learned about
the challenges among the disabled population, mental, emotional and physical, and the negative
perception within our culture for this diverse segment of population. I learned about the
American with Disabilities Act and legal accommodations. I learned about poverty, poor health
and inner city living and the extra challenges these stressors create.

I conducted interviews
and surveys of target populations to research and assess needs.

Through observation,
and active listening I gained insight into the mindset of the chronically challenged (victim
mentality) and the bias of government agents resisting change. I recognized the double
bind this created in empowering individuals with disabilities.

I attended regional
planning meetings for BVR NW region where I presented research findings and actively
advocated utilizing interpersonal communication skills, brain storming, problem solving
and negotiation techniques to influence programming and needs based resource spending.

I realized through this
experience the difference in making a law and enforcing a law, and the resistance to
change both within individuals and institutions. As an agent of change I gained an
appreciation for minority status in numbers with less than 20% being a token and more
than 20% creating status and posing a threat.

I initiated dialogue with
government agents and service providers to bridge the gap and empower persons with
different abilities. I engaged in brain storming sessions and process work as a means of
problem solving. (see section on nonprofit administration and leadership)
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
As a self-employed professional per sitter I came to appreciate the richness of diversity in my
client population.

I learned about
migration and segregation of populations within municipalities of the urban environment
and that the primary reasons include values, socioeconomic status and education and
occupational development.

I developed marketing
strategies and tools designed to target specific clusters of population. Through applied
communication skills both written and verbal, I developed sensitivity to the divergent
values and priorities of my clients. I learned and developed customer service skills in
addition to animal care skills. I learned the importance of ongoing personal and skill
development as valuable tools in business development. I developed a broad base for
communication skills to interact with diverse clients and an appreciation for the number
of ways that people live and the diverse combinations of family systems.

I learned about the
diversity of values and styles in regards to money management and negotiation.
As a seminary student in the School of Healing and Prophecy and now as a licensed independent
minister and private practitioner of the healing arts, I have learned to appreciate the uniqueness
of each individual and honor the experiences, values, needs, mindsets and sacredness of each
person both embracing and transcending diversity.

As a massage therapist I
studied, modified and implemented a number of communication techniques in dealing
with patients of different racial, ethnic, health, gender and age descriptions in addition to
learning a new language for technical documentation and reporting. I learned to
appreciate the challenges and developed patience with my patients/clients in learning new
behaviors, languages and health strategies.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)

Studied and practiced
NLP to gain instant rapport and empathy.

Studied culture, etiquette
and religious ritual for most major religions.

Conducted pre-marriage
interviews of no faith and interfaith couples to access readiness for marriage, spiritual
values, and compatibility.

Learned about issues
specific to the transgendered gay/lesbian community relating to same sex marriage in the
context of political and social activism.
Constructed and
solemnized same faith, interfaith, no faith and interracial marriages.


Detected, contacted and
communicated with the other-than-consciousness-consciousness to facilitate healing of
mind, body and spirit.

Accessed spiritual
energy as a transcendent phase and facilitated the healing response in diverse populations
including culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental, emotional,
developmental and physical ability, socioeconomic and educational status for the purpose
of transformation.

Trained volunteers in
appropriate interview skills with clientele including sensitivity training, empathy and
compassion, confidentiality and neutrality for diverse populations and conditions.

Developed curriculums
and taught classes in intuition, mediumship and healing to diverse populations utilizing
my skills in linking, observing and tracking energy. Facilitated the linking of individuals
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
to their own spiritual guidance as a method of personal empowerment. Provided context
for spiritual development through modeling and NLP transcendent to diversity.
I am requesting 6 hours of credit as I strongly feel that my knowledge, skills, and ability are
comparable.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
Learning Cluster: Gender and Leadership (seeking 6 credits)
My mother modeled leadership through her activities as PTA President, Girl Scout Leader,
Voting booth attendant and swim teacher. She was very active in our neighborhood and
community creating a group of “Pied Pipers” to engage the neighborhood in arts, crafts and
interactive activities during the summer months within our community. Later in life, when my
parents divorced, she rallied as she went from being a stay at home mom in a nuclear family to a
single mother of four returning to the work force.
This was my first example and my
foundation.

I developed an
entrepreneurial spirit early is life. I valued work and growth opportunities as a means of
self-mastery and economic opportunity. Through the Girl Scouts of America program, I
gained an appreciation for service to others and the self-development required to become
competent to serve. I began working outside the home at the age of 10. My mother
taught me that I could do whatever I put my mind to. I dedicated myself to whatever I
undertook. This combination of work ethic, attitude and application of effort toward
excellence has been instrumental in helping me develop leadership qualities.

I was one of two
students selected from my high school advanced chemistry class to present a project for
the science fair. It was an honor to be selected. The other student was male. There were
two projects to be completed, one was synthesizing a chemotherapeutic agent
(sulfanilamide; a sulfa drug used as a synthetic antibiotic) in the lab and the other project
was synthesizing a vitamin. My interest was in manufacturing a vitamin. It was
recommended by my male teacher that I let the boy have the vitamin project because “it
was too difficult for a girl”. In that moment I learned the difference between sex and
gender and developed skills in managing anger and disappointment. Through mentoring I
was introduced to college libraries and learned research skills. I received training in
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
interviewing and performed benchmark analysis at Ben Venue Laboratories, a local
pharmaceutical research facility.

As an intercollegiate
athlete I represented the college or University. We were held to a higher standard with a
strict code of ethics and conduct. As a freshman at the University of Toledo I earned
varsity letters in volleyball and softball. I was one of the women to receive an athletic
scholarship in the first round of title IX disbursements at Kent State University. As a
physical education major and athlete I was sensitized to the stigma of sexual orientation
in relation to gender.

I worked as a lifeguard
during my high school and college years. Trained with the American Red Cross and
earned the highest ranking of WSI (water safety instructor). This credentialed me to
teach. The training included a section on leadership, gender and safety requiring all
female lifeguards on duty to wear a one piece bathing suit to minimize the risk of losing a
two piece suit diving in the pool for rescue.

While working as a
lifeguard for apartments and condominiums I had sole responsibility and authority for the
pool and pool area. In managing pool operations I conducted water testing, analysis and
treatment, filter maintenance and back flushing, facility safety and hygiene. I learned to
be flexible in my leadership style implementing both authoritative and participative
strategies depending on the situation and population being managed.

I initiated the first ever
learn to swim program conducted at Bear Creek Apartments as a solution to behavioral
and safety problems. (see section on managing diversity)
As the only female employee and the only college educated employee working in the quality
control lab at Ferro Corp., I was challenged to adapt to a male dominated environment.
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)

I learned that leadership
within the context of manufacturing was functionally orientated.

I learned and utilized
critical thinking skills, problem solving skills and decision making skills in determining
batch readiness, and documentation for statistical analysis and batch history.

I was responsible for
final approval of manufactured batches.

I learned time
management and maintaining calm in high stress environments, focus and follow-through
in meeting tight deadlines and prioritizing work to coordinate with shipping.

I was selected by
aptitude to receive specialized training in color matching which was the highest value
skill in the lab. I was selected and sent to Princeton, NJ for training on the ACS 500
cutting edge computerized color matching system. Because we were a non-unionized lab,
I was chosen for leadership even though I did not have the most seniority.

I was selected as
supervisor based on college experience (knowledge) and functional skill and ability. I
was responsible for training new technicians in all aspects of QC.

I implemented a
strategic alliance with our union manufacturing employees. I determined the core
conflict creating resistance was a perceived threat caused by the imbalance in status
between technical and manufacturing stations. I applied the skills of critical reasoning
and empathetic rapport to establish interpersonal communication and build relationship
with key union personnel. Improved relations yielded improved cooperation.

I determined through
critical reasoning and statistical analysis that our plant could increase production by
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
implementing a second shift color matcher for the QC lab. This expedited batch
turnaround time which increased our production capacity by 33%.

While working at SCM
Corp. in the technical branch of our division in research and development in the early
80’s, it was apparent that a gender bias existed within the corporation. The structure of
the corp. had two branches within each division; technical and managerial. Each branch
had equivalent status categories. All secretarial and receptionist positions were occupied
by lower status female employees. The corp. had no female employees as managers or
scientists. A strategic plan was created through corporate in response to increasing
political pressure to implement affirmative action plans for women’s equality. I was one
of the women selected by corporate to be “fast tracked” into a technical leadership
position. I was chosen because of my gender, age, aptitude and ability. I was unaware of
this at the time, learned in a corporate meeting where I saw my name on a list. (In
retrospect, I have to believe that this example of poor communication and the stance of
perceived power vs. real power to maintain image were among some of the poor
decisions that led to the destruction and buy out of SCM Corp.) I learned about the
importance of leadership to the corporation and the value of ethics.

In 1983 I suffered a
racquetball injury that left me unable to walk. I agreed to undergo an experimental
surgery to reconstruct my pelvis. This required courage beyond my current capacity. If
the operation was successful I would regain use of my hip and pave the way for other
females of adult age to undergo the same procedure allowing them to return to a full life.

I was asked to lead that
others might follow. I volunteered. Embarking on this journey of healing completely
transformed my life. I was opened to the transcendent nature of reality realizing that my
break down in structure was a mirror of the larger collective consciousness. Changed my
life path to align with my life purpose.

I started a small business
as a Professional Pet Sitter. As I gained sensitivity to the animals, I observed that many
were stressed especially when the owners were out of town. This led me to study canine
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
acupressure as a means of caring for the animals. As my spiritual development evolved, I
studied animal communication as a means of gaining rapport and specific insight into
causes and conditions. I began to understand right brained language and employ it as a
tool for gaining information.

I studied and developed
integrative healing techniques and designed protocols for assessment of structural and
energetic imbalances.

I studied energy
medicine and practical application. I learned energy anatomy realizing that everything
happens in energy before its physical form.

I entered the School of
Spiritual Healing and Prophecy where I learned context and techniques for accessing and
working with universal, healing, and spiritual energies. I learned neurolinguistic (NLP)
theory and application for creating healing opportunity and building instant rapport.

I worked as medical
intuitive giving energy readings and continued developing skills in understanding the
language of spirit. I developed a private practice in the healing arts after ordination.
As an ordained minister
I have created and written a variety of sacred ceremonies.


I have lectured and
presented in community on teaching about Spiritualism, healing and spirit
communication.

I currently maintain a
private healing practice integrating ministerial and healing skills with massage therapy
create a holistic healing response.

I currently am serving as
head pastor for Church of the Angels, an independent interdenominational Spiritualist
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Portfolio Concentration: Organizational Leadership (Seeking 18 total credits)
Assembly in Rocky River, Ohio. I am responsible for all church operations at the west
side location including annual budget, service, facilitation, public relations and contract
negotiations. (see section on nonprofit administration and leadership)
I am requesting 6 hours of credit as I feel strongly that my knowledge, skills and experience are
comparable.