Endorsements
This was the best planning process we ever participated in. It was not the same recycled air that we had experienced in the past. We had new thinking, were challenged to grow and had the opportunity to do things differently. For the first time I was involved with a planning process where I grew as a leader … and it was simple, mighty and something we are using.
Reverend Shelly Best
The Conference of Churches/The 224
Francine led the process of developing the College's Strategic Plan (Vision 2020). The plan, unlike many developed, truly has guided the College's development ever since. A highlight has been the ability to use the "stoplight charts" (often called "Dashboards") in the weekly planning and execution meetings by the faculty and staff. Our use to monitor progress against measurable goals with input by the board, staff, and faculty was noted by the College’s accrediting agency as commendable and in fact rated the best they had seen. With the past success of our plan, Francine is preparing to update the plan so that we will seamlessly integrate the old five-year plan with the new one in 2020.
LTG (R) Colby M Broadwater III
President, American College of the Building Arts (Charleston, SC)
The strategic planning process and governance work really brought us together as a Board. We are more focused and have additional tools to continue evolving into a triple A Board—as we like to describe ourselves—Active, Accountable, Ambassadors. And, the wallet size ambassador cards Francine guided us to develop (with our key messages) are helping us to more consciously and effectively promote Windsor Historical Society and communicate our passion about what we do and have to offer.
Windsor Historical Society Governance Task Force
Francine went above and beyond in getting to know us and really helped the staff and board envision dreams, and make visions realities.
Christine Ermenc
Executive Director, Windsor Historical Society
We engaged Francine to assist the Mansfield Downtown Partnership with a strategic plan as the Partnership transitioned from its downtown planning role to a promotion role. In particular, Francine helped us to create Board governance tools, which were lacking as part of the organization. Francine set up systems and products to help us into the future including a comprehensive governance manual and board handbook. Her work was exemplary, and we continue to use and update these critical governance documents. Francine went the extra mile to set us up for success and I would highly recommend her work to others who want to engage in organizational and board development.
Cynthia van Zelm
Executive Director, Mansfield Downtown Partnership, Inc.
Working with you exceeded our expectations … We are all so glad we picked you. I have been through multiple strategic planning exercises for my firm, and for other non-profits. This is the first one that has been worthwhile, and I'm looking forward to executing it with our Board and executive director.
Holcomb Farm Board Member
Francine took the ideas of a disorganized group and synthesized them so they were understandable for a diverse group. Because of her, we recognized all that we had done, where we needed to go and she gave us a roadmap to get there. She took the complex and made it simple and forced us to focus on the obvious—that our Rose Garden is what makes us unique.
Kathy Kraczkowsky
Friends of Elizabeth Park Board
We hired Francine to do a strategic plan but got so much more. Francine took the time to develop an in-depth knowledge of our organization and our work before she even began working on our plan. Her focus on impact and results helped keep board members and staff engaged and on track. Francine helped us develop tools that will continue to serve this agency well beyond the life of our strategic plan.
Donna Tagglianetti
Past Executive Director, Co-opportunity
Thank you for your wonderful contributions to our governance process. You have provided such clear and experienced leadership and have inspired all of us to do a better job.
Carle Mowell
Past Chair, ASD Board
Francine helped move our Board to the next level by recommending the correct structure and providing solid points of direction and action items that were tangible and measureable. Before working with her the visual of the Board would have been a slouched dejected group attending meetings. Now they are like a parade of focused and energized bunnies.
Kandyce Aust
Past Director University of Hartford Alumni Association
Francine has a unique way of quickly ferreting out the critical issues and presenting them in a succinct, easy to understand way that moves the project forward by leaps and bounds.
Marilda Gandara
Retired CEO Aetna Foundation
I have worked on many strategic plans, but this is the most “user friendly” plan I have ever used.
Dr. Ed Johnson
Upper Albany Main Street Board member and CEO of Mt. Sinai Hospital
Francine worked with CHS to do what we had never done before: create a strategic plan from soup to nuts, from a new mission to a detailed operating plan for each department – and all of that in 6 months! … The plan required rethinking and reorganizing our staff, creating new jobs and new ways of thinking about what we do and who we do it for … The plan is realistic and logical. It brought all the parts of our organization together, and most importantly, Francine continues to help us use the plan as a working document.
Kate Steinway
Past Executive Director, CT Historical Society
Francine developed a strategic plan that operates as a business plan tied to budget & budget constraints. It is a document that our business- and community-oriented board members understand and use.
Marilyn Risi
Upper Albany Main Street Director
We have a plan that is results-focused and can be shared with funders as a "one pager!" Instead of a huge document gathering dust on the shelf, the Board and I have a working document with which we are tracking our progress in building the capacity of our organization. Now as we are working on phase II of the plan, she is helping us explore ways to enhance program impact and organizational efficiency. One of the best things about working with Francine is that she took the time to get to know our organization well.
Margaret Nareff
Past Executive Director, Shelter for Women
Francine led the museum in developing a comprehensive strategic plan. Her focused and realistic approach to positioning the museum for change began a process for professionalizing and focusing the museum … The effects of her work with the board are still with us and the board continues to strengthen.
Lisa Johnson
Executive Director Stanley-Whitman House
Francine has a rare assortment of personal qualities and professional abilities … Thoughtful assessment, effective engaging of others, rigorous analysis, strategic thinking, exceptional writing, results orientation and a steadfast commitment to mission success – these are qualities I have seen consistently in Francine in various board, volunteer, and community- building work.
Richard Sugarman
Founding President CT Forum
I have worked on many strategic plans, but this is the most “user friendly” plan I have ever used.
Dr. Ed Johnson
Upper Albany Main Street Board member and CEO of Mt. Sinai Hospital
Francine was able to guide our organization (with an extremely diverse group of Board members) to a place of clarity about who we are and what we are best at. We now have a plan for moving forward that is focused, doable, and embraced by all of our members. Her expertise and support have been so much more than we could have ever expected or hoped for.
Marcia DuFore
Executive Director North Central Regional Mental Health Board
From the perspective of a Board Member and former corporate senior executive, Francine Christiansen is an ideal partner to work with in strategy development and planning work. She fully understands her subject area, and is able to support the group, while challenging and stretching both their thinking and ambition. I was particularly impressed by her skills in facilitating a large, diverse (and highly opinionated!) Board, and helping them get to a great set of outcomes. She is a quick study on the people and purpose of the organization, and drives simplification and authenticity in communicating the mission. I can wholeheartedly recommend Francine, and fully endorse her work.
Linda Howard-Sorrell
NCRMHB
Francine brings excellent organization and leadership skills to Strategic Planning, Board Development and Fund Raising. She led us through an effective, highly efficient process to map a direction for the Chorale going forward. The results were clear goals, clear strategies and practical tools to manage implementation. Equally impressive, her dedication to this project impressed us all.
Richard Tecca
Hartford Chorale Board
Francine was instrumental in providing us with a concrete idea of where we wanted to be so we did not become distracted by the fires and shiny objects.”
Maureen McIntyre
Exec. Director North Central Area Association on Aging
Nothing is more disturbing to me that sitting in a meeting (professional or community service) that drags on AND then 'allows' me to walk away feeling that I have nothing to action-item! THEREFORE, I just wanted to take a quick moment to let you know how much I really enjoyed your strategic planning sessions in March. I was very impressed by the manner in which you were able to keep the dialogue flowing yet keep us all on track so that we remained focused. That's a great skill!!!
Jennifer Holmes
Junior League Member and Hartford Foundation Staff