Navigating Nonprofit Technology Together: Nonprofit Leaders Gather in Stephanie McKee’s Nonprofit IT Leaders Group
Eight years ago, Apparo’s Chief Technology Thought Partner Stephanie McKee created a group so her peers could connect openly and be resources for each other as they navigate nonprofit technology infrastructure with limited resources and staff. The group of tech leaders has grown over the years, meeting virtually for an hour every other month to collaborate on various tech topics. This opportunity for open conversation and peer support is available for any technical lead of a nonprofit organization or those who support their organization through a technology role, reach out to Stephanie for more information and to get involved.
Dominique Link-Kelley, IT Supervisor of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina shares their thoughts since being reconnected to the group, “Since I got re-connected, I haven’t missed a meeting and I don’t plan on missing one anytime soon because it’s always a great wealth of knowledge.”
Group Founder, Stephanie McKee, reflects on recent opportunities the group has created, “Sue Wright, CIO for Crisis Assistance Ministry, shared a PowerPoint presentation on Microsoft Teams VOIP solution and licensing which was really helpful for the group as most of the organizations already use Microsoft 365 and were thinking about moving to Teams VOIP. She shared helpful information on their migration plan to Teams as well as tips to think about.
“Recently, two volunteers from RSM joined us to talk about Microsoft Copilot. They shared helpful resources for licensing, differences between paid vs. free versions, data privacy, etc. The group had a chance to ask the Copilot experts questions. I received some really great feedback after the call. We had another recent helpful collaborative conversation around purchasing Copilot licenses.”
Other group members share their experiences:
HealthMPowers Director of Technology, Kendall W. Charlton shares, “Joining Stephanie Mckee’s Nonprofit IT Leaders Group has been highly rewarding, providing great insights and building a supportive network that has benefited myself and my organization. Her efforts in fostering a community where technology thought leaders in the nonprofit space can share insights and resources have impacted our approach to IT challenges. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside such a dedicated group of professionals.”
David Flynn, Director of IT with Habitat for Humanity adds, “The NPO IT Leader’s Group is a great resource for expert advice and shared wisdom across a team of nonprofit IT leaders. Everyone brings varying degrees of experience and expertise but we all share a common goal of using technology to drive success in the nonprofit world. I appreciate the support of my peers and Stephanie’s leadership in bringing us together and identifying outside experts who can help us understand the challenging problems we face and frame an approach to tackling them.”
Yasaman Sarmadi, Executive Assistant of Hospitality House Charlotte reflects on her experiences with Apparo’s Tech Therapy progam and connecting with Stephanie’s IT Leaders Group, “I was connected to Apparo through our Executive Director, Angie Bush. I had been given new technology responsibilities and needed support to expand my skills and knowledge related to systems, cybersecurity, and more. Stephanie helped me grow my knowledge base by sharing resources, connecting me to Ross Feldman of CCP Tech to help me with our website and other areas of cybersecurity, and inviting me to join the Nonprofit IT Leaders group. More recently, we were having a problem with our VoIP phone service and Stephanie connected us with a service provider through Apparo’s Expert Link Program. As I ramp up, I’m able to implement more technology and cybersecurity improvements, which are important for our ability to serve.”
Participating Nonprofit IT Leaders: Jennifer Ray – Apparo, Todd Reavis – Apparo, Jerri Grant – Apparo, Dominique G. Link-Kelley – Second Harvest Food Bank, David Flynn – Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, Paul Fisher – Foundation for the Carolinas, Sue Wright – Crisis Assistance Ministry, Allen Kim – Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, Clark Maciag – Ascend Nonprofit Solutions, Cody Thomas – Thompson Child and Family Focus, Yasaman Sarmadi – Hospitality House of Charlotte, Ron Ferri – Alexander Youth Network, Lisa Horldt – Museum of the New South, Kendall W. Charlton – HealthMPowers, Patricio Cadena – RSM, Pat Petersen – RSM, and more