On Wednesday, June 26th our CEO, Ria Berger, spoke about Career Pathing at a networking event hosted by Fieldstone Leadership Network. This event, also known as “Fieldstone at 4”, provides a unique opportunity for nonprofit leaders to come together and share their knowledge. At this month’s gathering, Ria was invited to share the story of how she helped Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County implement a Career Pathing program. Out of 140 current employees, more than 60 have taken on new leadership positions within the organization.

When Ria was recruited to lead Healthy Smiles, she was excited, yet filled with countless questions. Fortunately, she was referred to Fieldstone Leadership Network and through this organization, she was able to better understand the inner workings of a nonprofit. Ria used this knowledge to change the dynamic at Healthy Smiles. Under Ria’s leadership, the organization grew from 35 employees to 140 experienced, cross-trained employees.

Despite the misconception that nonprofits can’t afford to invest in their employees, Healthy Smiles continues to grow. Healthy Smiles provides screenings and dental care at over 500 community events a year and will service more than 120 school and community sites in FY 19/20. None of this incredible work would be possible without the support of our wonderful staff who always goes above and beyond to help those in need. Ria has recruited some of the most qualified people to serve on our board and provide insight into their respective fields and continues to make time to help each employee achieve their career goals. Ria continues to emphasize the value of leadership and motivation in the workplace!

As we begin to finalize our agenda for 2020 and plan for 2021, we continue to prioritize team-building, leadership training, and mentoring. With these skills, we can touch the lives of 100,000 families each year and meet our mission of helping 1,000,000 children and families by 2020!

Thank you, Fieldstone Leadership Network, for allowing us to share our story with other nonprofits in the community. We also want to thank Jenny Sanchez and Stephanie Rebollar for speaking about their unique experiences at HSK. We are so grateful for all that you do!