Spokes Board Academy

Spokes Members: $150 | Future Members: $175

Held at: KCBX Public Radio 4100 Vachell Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Do you have the tools to make your board service successful? Are you seeking clarity about your role as a board member? Would you like to serve as a board member but aren’t sure how to get started?

Whether you are just starting board service or have served for years, we’re here to make your experience easier and more rewarding. Start with our Board Academy and develop the skills critical to excellent board service. You’ll also gain practical knowledge of nonprofit management and skills to guide your successful board service and answer questions such as:

--What are the legal and governance responsibilities of nonprofit board members? Am I liable?

--Why is managing a nonprofit organization different from other corporations and businesses? How do we achieve our mission?

--What is the board member’s role in establishing and maintaining productive relationships with fellow board members and nonprofit staff? How can I be most impactful as a leader?

--Why is fundraising by the Board so important? How can I overcome my fear of fundraising?

Join us and learn:

The Key Responsibilities of Officers

The Difference between Governance and Management

Managing for Conflicts of Interest

Who is accountable for the Organization

Why and How to Evaluate Your Executive Director

Elements of Effective Meetings

Building a Philanthropic Culture

Facilitate Discussion, Build Trust

Differences between Nonprofits and Traditional Businesses

Instruction begins promptly at 9:00am. Please arrive between 8:30am-9:00am for check-in and light morning refreshments.

Lunch will be provided. 

*Facilitated by:

Consuelo Meux, Ph.D.

Dr. Meux is CEO of Spokes. She has served as a nonprofit executive director, board developer, and business development consultant and has taught doctoral courses and mentored dissertation research projects with University of Phoenix online. Her leadership exercise is published in the first Leadership Activities Workbook with Posner & Kouzes (2010). As a Peace Corps Volunteer, Consuelo organized Women’s Food Coops in Cameroon, West Africa, has traveled internationally assisting small business development, and recently completed a missions trip to Haiti. Consuelo served 8 years on the SLO County Commission on the Status of Women.

Kathy Eppright

Lesley Santos

Leslie Buckingham

Leslie began working for Morris & Garritano in 2017 as the Risk Advisor in their small business unit. Her insurance designations include Small Business Coverage Specialist, Accredited Advisor in Insurance and Associate in General Insurance. She is a member of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee, SLO Women's Network, and Young Professionals Network Group. Leslie has been exposed to many different nonprofit organizations through her father's extensive involvement with the nonprofit community. He is the owner of Digital West.

Monica Grant, CFRE

Monica is CEO of the SLO County YMCA. Monica’s experience includes work with UC Santa Cruz, The Nature Conservancy, United Way, and Sierra Club. She provides nonprofit fundraising consultation services with a focus on capacity building and sustainability. She currently serves on the board of AFP SLO County, is a committee member of the Economic Development Committee, for the SLO Chamber and is on the Legislative Affairs Committee for the South County Chamber.

Executive Director Panelists:

Connie O'Henley, Executive Director of the Clark Center for the Performing Arts. 

Jeremy Deming, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mid Central Coast.