ECHO Technology Solutions’ Jessica Schreiber Wheeler uses Salesforce skills for good
Jessica Schreiber Wheeler first met Apparo at the 2023 NTEN Nonprofit Technology Conference, where Apparo’s Director of Technology Engagements, Jennifer Ray, introduced Jessica and her colleagues to Apparo’s model. She was instantly drawn to the idea of an organization as a tech amplifier. Jessica quickly got involved in her first Apparo Tech Therapy engagement with Project Scientist on Salesforce workflows. Since then, Jessica has supported three additional nonprofits including The Ivey, Discovery Place, and Wellspring Living.
Reflecting on Tech Therapy work with Jessica, Jennifer shares, “Jessica is such a gem! She has deep insight into the Salesforce needs of nonprofits and is a master at uncovering pain points and strategies for resolution. Her skill and commitment to volunteering are invaluable and I am deeply grateful for her partnership in service to nonprofits.”
The ECHO Technology Solutions team has become a valued Expert Link partner, contributing approximately 100 volunteer hours since connecting with Apparo in 2023. Jennifer Ray shares, “I feel so fortunate that Apparo connected with Sejo Jahic, CEO and Founder of ECHO Technology Solutions. He knows that resources nonprofits need are often out of financial reach, so he created a nonprofit pricing structure and agreed to make staff available for pro bono Apparo’s Tech Therapy engagements. What a gift it is to have created this partnership to serve the nonprofit community!”
Harnessing Skills for Positive Impact
As Client Service Manager for ECHO Technology Solutions, Jessica is the interface between clients, software developers, system administrators, and a technical team across the US and Europe. Drawing from her experience with nonprofits in previous roles, her academic background, and primarily working with nonprofits in her role with ECHO, Jessica has cultivated an experiential understanding of nonprofit operations. She has actively immersed herself in the nonprofit sector, sharing, “ECHO has about 60% nonprofit clients and 40% businesses and other organizations.” Jessica shows a deep interest in the nonprofit sector and values Apparo’s role in expanding her reach across the US. Considering her time volunteering with the Apparo team she shares, “Working with Apparo is a great opportunity for individuals to use the skills they have to connect with people and support nonprofits that could benefit from working with skilled volunteers. My experience working with Jennifer so far has been fantastic. From moment one, talking to her was a pleasure. Every call with her is fun but also very productive. It’s great working with her.”
When discussing her volunteer experiences with the Apparo team, Jessica describes how Tech Therapy work not only provides her with personal fulfillment but also enhances her consulting skills, “It’s always been important to create some sort of impact at work and being able to contribute in this pro bono situation with Apparo is a really nice add-on to my current job responsibilities. It’s a very fulfilling feeling.” She believes that connecting on a personal level with nonprofit leaders and getting to know their missions is an important aspect of the work. Reflecting on her participation in recent engagements Jessica shares, “It’s always nice to connect with a new group of people. It is interesting to hear the personal background stories of nonprofits and I enjoy connecting on that level so I can help out wherever I can.” Regarding the impact on her professional skillset, Jessica says, “There is always a level of uncertainty when working with a new organization. You don’t always know what you’re walking into and it’s necessary to get to know them to uncover the details. This work helps me practice asking the right questions, listening, and enhancing my consulting abilities.”
Inspired by the mission to be a tech amplifier in the nonprofit community, Jessica has offered her expertise to four nonprofits in under a year, including Atlanta-based nonprofit, Wellspring Living. Wellspring Living Development Director, Victoria Shelton-Shroud shares, “Jessica was a phenomenal help to our team as we improved our Salesforce platform. At Wellspring Living, we believe that each trafficking survivor has a tribe of supporters around them, cheering them on through their journey to recovery. We knew that Salesforce had huge potential to help us mobilize that tribe of supporters. Jessica helped us tap into that potential. On every call, she asked thoughtful questions and patiently explained the capability of our Salesforce platform and the steps her team at ECHO was taking to improve it. In doing so, she has elevated our technology, our connection with our community, and every survivor we serve.”
