Leadership Training Testimonials
JBL Strategies leadership training combines leadership, strategy and communication to encourage stronger, more effective nonprofit leaders. It presents specially designed Strategic Leadership Essential (SLE) classes for nonprofit executives and customized Nonprofit Board Leadership Essential (BLE) training for individual organizations. Here are some of the leadership training testimonials.
"We at the American Red Cross serving Central and South Texas, believe firmly in the professional development of our employees and volunteers. We were incredibly fortunate to partner with the team at JBL Strategies to deliver a great interactive session in which all of our team members felt better prepared to lead and navigate through our organization. We are grateful for their support and willingness to work within our limited resources.”
- Marty McKellips, Regional CEO, American Red Cross
“Glimmer Austin believes collaboration and cooperation amongst programs and people can often be very helpful and, in fact, make all the difference. For the past five or so years, we have partnered with JBL Strategies to provide leadership training opportunities for many of our grantees. The purpose of this training is to support our grantees as they continue to grow as an organization, develop their ideas, and seek funding. Our grantees have big dreams to transform our city. By equipping them with new strategies and skills, Austin’s network of passionate leaders grows stronger together. JBL Strategies works with our grantees to understand the leadership, strategy and communications practices necessary to achieve their mission.”
- David M. Porter III, Executive Director, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin
"Everyone has something to learn at the SLE workshop, whether you are new to leadership or quite seasoned, this program will stimulate thoughtful evaluation of what you could and should be doing better."
- Kim Updegrove, Executive Director, Mothers' Milk Bank
"JBL Strategies has had a profound effect on my leadership. I now have a strong handle for the direction we are headed because of your class & individual coaching sessions! I’m excited to use what I’ve learned and put it into real action! I’m thrilled about the future of Austin Angels! Thank you for your generous leadership and business road map! I’m going to send others from my team to your OCT class. I think everyone should benefit from your class."
- Susan Ramirez, President and Founder, Austin Angels
"I took away a lot for our organization including how to get the strategic leadership planning process going. I learned about myself as a leader, as a person, and furthered my drive from attending this workshop. I highly recommend working with Craig and Jane from JBL Strategies."
- Joshua Levy, Founder and Executive Director, Joshua's Stage
"I attended the SLE program through JBL Strategies and highly recommend the program to any nonprofit professional. Jane and Craig are very knowledgeable about the industry and provide a fresh way to think about your organization. I went into the program with a lot of anxiety and confusion about what I needed to do to make my nonprofit successful. I left the program feeling much better equipped and ready to take my organization to the next level."
- Marty Barnes, Executive Director, Casey's Circle
"For me, the follow-up coaching sessions for the [SLE] program were invaluable and are really what makes this program stand out. Jane helped me work through real-world, real-time professional challenges and offered perspectives I wouldn't have gotten elsewhere."
- Wendy Taylor Wampler, Director of Literacy Support Services, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
"JBL Strategies really changed my life as an E.D. The lessons and guidance provided by Jane and Craig helped me make informed decisions and gave me the confidence to make improvements in my organization. I felt a little lost as a first time executive director and the leadership program helped inspire me to believe in myself and lead my board into the intimidating world of change. I highly recommend this course to anyone that wants to improve their leadership skills."
- Brandi Ramirez, Non-Profit Executive Director, Trinity Child Development Center
“The whole course was great. I think knowing the importance of and having strategies to think more visionary and strategic in the midst of being in the day-to-day weeds was really helpful to me. It benefits management, director, and executive levels. Great skills to use in your career!”
- Marie Felan, Executive Director, Avance Austin
"I'm just gonna be real here....many businesses offer "free" coaching sessions to get you hooked. One seminar and free session later, I was convinced that they would provide something valuable and tangible, and YES THEY DID! Call these people NOW to set your org/business on the path to success!"
- Stacy Johnson, Founder/CEO, Central Texas Table of Grace
"Jane is brilliant! I attended Jane's SLE program and found it to be insightful, challenging and helpful. Jane is a great presenter with a solid understanding of how to guide people into more strategic leadership. She and Craig have a shared wealth of knowledge and have created a powerful training to help leaders be more intentional and more strategic as they lead strong organizations."
- Jan Gunter, Strategic Communicator and Community Connector
"I was fortunate to have attended the Strategic Leadership Essentials program this past winter.! Both Craig and Jane make the program very relevant and personal to the needs of nonprofit leaders. Our customized binders were amazing! I learned so much during the two days we were together; some information and strategies were new to me and I was excited about learning more. I would call Jane and Craig the Dynamic Duo - they engage you and other participants to create new skills in such a way that motivates you to move forward with what you had learned. And I had the opportunity to meet wonderful people who are striving to help and make changes to improving our community."
- Donna Raskin, Austin Kids Can
"I just want to thank you for all that you have done to help Building Promise USA (BPUSA). As the BOD went through the reviewing and updating of our strategic plan there wasn't much that had to be done foundationally because that work was done in February of 2020 with you. The original plan helped us to attract the outstanding board members that are guiding the organization. I am grateful to you and Craig for the investment of time in me and the lessons that I learned in "Strategic Leadership Essentials". Happy to have a strategic plan one-pager that was a result of your guidance."
- Carl F. Hunter II, Executive Director, BPUSA
"In all my years of management development, none has been as useful as the Strategic Leadership Essentials Class. The SLE program is a dynamic, engaging and thought provoking training session. The hands on activities and strategic thinking prepares you to think differently about your challenges and barriers. The information was not only informative, but I will use the binder as training opportunities, a resource to reflect upon and a tool to engage stakeholders."
- Juanita Budd, Executive Director, Austin Free-Net
"Wow, this is timely and spot on. This [integrated model] is an inspired suggestion - it makes sense and can be implemented immediately. The individual follow up sessions were invaluable."
- Melissa Morrow, Executive Director, West Austin Youth Association (WAYA)
"I would highly recommend the Strategic Leadership Essentials program to anyone who would like to sharpen their skills in dealing with other leaders."
- Christian Fletcher, Executive Director, Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation
"The SLE program surpassed all my expectations. As the leader of a small nonprofit, I found that the material had immediate application for our strategic growth and development. The one-on-one coaching sessions took this learning a step further and allowed me to look at my organization's specific strengths and needs with the help of supportive expertise. I would highly recommend this program."
- Maria Hernandez, Founder & President, VELA (previously Growing Roots)
"The peer to peer exercises at the Strategic Leadership Essentials workshop were extremely helpful as I gained an outsider's position on my organization. To learn from other people's failures and successes in a safe environment was helpful, encouraging, and fun."
- Carol Collins, Director of Development and Marketing, Leadership Austin
"I can say with absolute confidence that this class has catapulted my thinking and approach in the nonprofit sector. Each hour with Jane and Craig was time well-spent. I would highly recommend this class to any leader in the community. It was a wonderful learning experience that will carry me for quite some time!"
- Christina Collazo, Founder & Executive Director, Todos Juntos (previously SSP Learning Center)
"Having been fortunate enough to attend Jane's and Craig's Strategic Leadership Institute, I highly recommend this workshop for both seasoned professionals and emerging leaders in non-profit organizations. I was so impressed that I sent one of my staff as well."
- Shira Ledman, Executive Director, Seedling Foundation
"I recommend JBL to any nonprofit that wants to improve or needs a new perspective on how they are operating. I believe their approach is unique, relevant and offered great insight. The groups are small, and intimate, and you get more attention to your needs. JBL also has stayed in touch with me after the program and is always available to offer advice."
- Mark Turk, Executive Director, Beyond the Grade
"I signed up for SLE Essentials to develop my leadership skills and take away some practical applications. I got exactly what I signed up for. The challenges — actually the opportunities to lead, as you’ll learn — we face in the nonprofit sector are various and constant. Jane and Craig’s experience working with mission-driven professionals was obvious. They understood where I was coming from. The follow-up coaching included in the training was invaluable; I was able to get the most out of the training because of those sessions. I tested some techniques, and came back to talk them through. How often do we get a chance to do that? I’m glad I spent a weekend with Jane and Craig and have recommended the course to all of my colleagues"
- Cristina Parker, Communications Director, Grassroots Leadership
"The experience I had has by far impacted my position as a leader within Dance Another World. I was able to walk away with tangible information and put it to use immediately. I hosted our regular Monday morning meeting and was pleased to observe myself using some of the skills I learned at the workshop over the weekend. I look forward to working with you more, referring other nonprofit partners your way and most importantly, focusing, focusing, focusing and then taking a step back."
- Dawn Mann, Executive Director, Dance Another World
"The tools and wisdom gained from JBL Strategies leadership course and one on one coaching has been an invaluable resource to our rapidly growing grass roots organization. The growth and sustainability of Foster Village is thanks in large part to the teaching and input from Jane and Craig. We are able to meet more needs and serve more people in a streamlined and measurable way by utilizing their tools and teaching. I highly recommend JBL as a resource for any non-profit wanting to take their mission to the next level."
- Chrystal Smith, Founder & Executive Director, Foster Village
"Easter Seals worked with JBL Strategies on a customized training for our staff that was followed with a 1:1 coaching session for each participant. The training was amazing and staff unanimously stated it was one of the best trainings they have had."
- Tami Andres, VP, HR & Organizational Devt., Easter Seals Central Texas
- Amber Wakem, Founder of Start$Up Kids Club