1. You are a couple of years into your relatively recent role at ZERO TO THREE.  Could you share a little bit about the company, your role there, and what drew you to accept it? 
ZERO TO THREE is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Research and clinical experience demonstrate that the earliest relationships and experiences a child has with parents and other caregivers dramatically influences brain development, social-emotional and cognitive skills, and future health and success in school and life.  ZTT advances policies, programs, and practices that give babies and toddlers a strong start in life and support the people who can make a difference in babies’ lives.
 
As Chief Technology Officer at ZERO TO THREE (ZTT) since September, 2017, my role is to lead the strategic vision and implementation of the IT infrastructure, application development, and technology products to support the evolving business needs of ZTT. My initial objectives were to build a trusted IT team that is customer-focused, build a system of record to provide a 360 view of ZTT relationships with external customers and partners, consolidate and automate some of our business processes into a Salesforce ecosystem, transform the IT infrastructure to Microsoft Azure cloud and improve security and HIPAA compliance, and provide new technology tools and training to support business initiatives. We have been able to complete these projects within two years.
 
The mission and core values of the organization drew me to accept this new position as they were very similar to my personal values.  ZTT believes in the passion and persistence in helping babies thrive, the centrality of healthy positive relationships, and the highest standards of excellence in our work. We believe that how we do our work is as important as what we do. I also work with people who are very intellectual and passionate about the mission of our organization.

 

2. Before moving into your new role in 2017, you spent over 18 years with the United Nations Foundation, including 6 years as their Executive Director of IT.  What do you credit the long tenure to? 
My passion in technology and it’s power to transform organizations, improve lives, and change the world attributed to my long tenure at United Nations Foundation. At UNF, I was responsible for all IT operations and the overall IT strategic direction to support the United Nation’s mission in solving global issues.  Technology advancement created new opportunities to support our organization in solving global challenges. I was always looking for solutions to enhance technology services and improve customer experience while minimizing cost. We always had new projects and initiatives that aligned with the organization’s goals and objectives. It was fulfilling to know that I was making an impact.  I was also very lucky in recruiting and retaining great talent and worked with a leadership team that trusted and supported me. There was rarely a dull moment as I always felt challenged, innovative, and intellectually stimulated. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity that allowed me to grow from an IT Support Specialist, supporting 30 users and worrying about the Y2K bug in the late 90’s, to the Executive Director of IT, supporting 400 users within the same organization. 

 

3. You have served non-profits for your entire technology leadership career.  What do you enjoy most about leading mission driven organizations?  Do you have any advice for emerging IT leaders looking to similarly serve? 
Knowing that my role is impacting lives is so fulfilling. It’s what drives me to be more creative and innovative in what I do on a daily basis. Most mission driven organizations understand that technology is critical to drive their mission forward, but they often lack experienced technology leaders to propel the vision of their IT department and ensure alignment with business goals. Research has shown that nonprofits with technology leaders in the C-suite have shown to be on the leading edge of technology and innovation. I would encourage emerging IT leaders to explore opportunities in mission driven organizations. In my current role, I have had the opportunity to diversify my experience and oversee the implementation of new technology solutions such as an e-commerce platform for our member services, events management and product sales, a new email marketing system, and a new healthcare coordination platform that will be used by healthcare providers across the county.

 

4. We understand that you recently spoke at Dreamforce 2019.  Could you briefly describe your session?
My session at Dreamforce was based on a recent successful implementation of our new email marketing tool (Pardot) that is integrated with our Salesforce CRM. The title was “How to Segment Like a Pro: Using Salesforce and Pardot for Smarter Marketing.” I shared how ZERO TO THREE is using Pardot for email marketing and campaigns. We use the Engagement Studio capability to build customized and personalized journeys based on our contacts interests, subscriptions and status. We also use automated and targeted programs for campaigns and membership engagement series. Since Salesforce is the organization’s system of record, we are able to create cross-programmatic lists and segmentations that are dynamic and targeted for special events, campaigns, and advocacy.

 

5. You have been a member of SIMCAC since 2014.  SIMCAC has changed a lot over the past few years.  What is your favorite part of being a member and what would you say to others who are considering joining? 
My favorite part of being a SIM member is the network of smart and enthusiastic peers that I have built in the last 5 years.  Learning from my peers and guest speakers who are invited to the monthly SIM event is the most valuable professional development experience to me. I have also met sponsors (vendors) who were able to help my organization with specific technology needs.