An expert technologist shares his workforce skills with Charlotte nonprofits.
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In less than a year, Ross Feldman, CTO of Better Call I.T., has already made a huge impact as an Apparo volunteer. He joined us in early 2021 as a volunteer supporting Carolina Raptor Center (CRC) in their SharePoint migration through the G.A.I.N. program. His support has grown to not only Tech Therapy for CRC, but also support of another nonprofit, Beds for Kids, with a technology assessment and plan. He’s already thinking ahead to additional work with both organizations.
Ross explains why his work with Apparo is so meaningful to him, “I grew up in Charlotte and before my time with Apparo, did not have an opportunity to do a lot to give back to the community, which I really wanted to do. I volunteered here and there, but never using my technology background or having the opportunity to build strong relationships.
“It’s one thing to come in for a few hours to help, but it’s another to use my technology and change management skills and work side by side with the leader of a nonprofit and build a relationship with them. So much professional and personal development comes from dedicating some time out of your workday to something that is not your job.
“I know that every hour of my tech expertise has 10x value for these nonprofits. I’m growing time by helping them become more efficient and get more of their mission done. I know that my time is well spent, helping them make a bigger impact. This means a lot to me. I really appreciate being afforded the opportunity to make a big impact on the community.”
Kris Cole, Advancement Director of the Carolina Raptor Center, shares her appreciation for Ross, “Ross has quickly become a tremendous asset to our IT team at the Raptor Center. His extensive knowledge about the Microsoft environment made our transition to SharePoint as easy as possible. His Tech Therapy sessions with our team have enabled them to confidently make the transition to the M365 lifestyle. He is an essential part of our team!” Jim Warren, CRC’s Executive Director adds, “Ross and I have been able to rekindle a family relationship which I am so grateful for. His sense of humor and easy going nature make him approachable to all the staff. He has gone above and beyond anything we expected.”
Apparo’s Program Manager Allison Grant shares her appreciation as well, “Ross has dedicated countless hours empowering nonprofits through his work with Apparo. His passion and desire to make a difference in our community is evidenced in his commitment and willingness to go above and beyond to help nonprofits solve their technology needs. It is volunteers like Ross that make our community a wonderful place to live.”
In closing, Ross shares how Apparo has enhanced his experience, “I’m also blown away by the people I’ve worked with at Apparo. I’m so appreciative to have the project proposal and plan, with a definition of success, and to have a project manager to keep us all organized. It’s also very helpful to be able to leverage Apparo’s templates, knowledge and network.”
