How should we find our next Executive Director?

A few questions Harvey - you raise points I do not have answers to:

  1. Who is currently on the Board of Directors.
  2. Is there a difference between teh Board of ADvisors and the MAB? If so, what? And who is on the Board of Advisors?
  3. Do we have current by-laws to be amended? Are they available to members?
  4. You mention a “mission” and core values - do they exist anywhere or are we formulating them on the fly?
  5. You place the ED clearly in an authoritative position of the Chair of the ESOP committee - will this get buy in from Nick? And can someone please tell Joe F?
  6. In the absence of Nick, maintain what position exactly?
  7. Do we have a current budget (a real written hard budget) and/or schedule for implementation of ideas/programs?

All in all, good work and an excellent starting point!

[quote=whandley]
Structure, structure, structure… There must be a current NACHI road map, so to speak as to what the organization was, is and is going to be. There must be a specific, “Documented” job description for each employee and operational descriptions for each of the individual committees. Interested parties of any quality and integrity will want to know what the job entails and where the organization expects to be taken. A Board of Directors should be elected and the ED should be a paid position. The ED would be responsible for day to day operations of the organization including all staff. Directors should meet monthly, their duties would be oversight of the NOT FOR PROFIT organization, including financial matters, ED and other staff performance reviews and of course providing volunteer services for other committees without conflicting the day to day operations of the ED. You won’t possibly be able to set this up correctly in ten weeks…

There are consulting companies that do nothing other than work with setting up and establishing not for profit organizations. There are consultants that provide start to finish protocols including running the onsight meetings, interviews and evaluations for employing your next ED. There are even specific investment brokerage firms, “Paley Needleman”, for example that work only with not for profit organizations in maintaining the highest integrity investments and portfolio’s so as to protect membership and officers a like.

There is indeed, a lot to do at the worlds largest inspection organization.
quote]

I agree wholeheartedly. It’s somewhat unsettling that the question even has to be asked, “How should we find our next Executive Director?”, if we are indeed the largest and greatest home inspection organization. There does not seem to be much in the way of stable, systematic organization. Most viable, stable organizations have pre-determined methods for assuring succession, even if vacancies are sudden and unexpected.

I agree with Will H., that perhaps it is time to take a good hard look at the organization and spend some time strategizing, setting realistic, attainable goals and implementing, well though out, comprehensive plans to take us to the next level.

Perhaps John Bowman’s immediate successor should be an “interim” postion, who’s primary task would be to nurture and guide NACHI to the next level.

As a new, dynamic organization, the way NACHI has been operated in the past has probably served it well. But if we are to play in the big leagues, there has to be more stability in the organizational structure. That doesn’t, however, mean that we have to lose our creativity and dynamism. Look at companies such as Google. (yes I know they are a for profit company, and it makes a difference). They have creativity built into their structure, but they also have a definite structure and everyone knows who’s in charge. (Read recent “Time” article).

Harvey’s proposals, generally are pretty good, and I’m sure that by the time I get this posted there will other good suggestions.

I’m proposing, though, that some concerted, deliberate time be taken by our organization to thoroughly look at the organization in-depth from top to bottom, and lay out an all encompassing strategy for moving us onward and upward to the next level. Hire an outside consultant as Will H. suggested. And since this isn’t going to happen within 10 weeks, make John’s successor an “interim” position.

Nick

We are a small dysfunctional family. Like it or not you started NACHI and I do understand that it has grown to the point that you need QUALIFIED help. Be very careful of who your friends are!!

You have (with very little ****) gotten us to this point so don’t change what does not need changing.

You picked John and it worked. Now pick his replacement. We do not have have many $$$ to waste with consulting firms and meetings etc on this matter.

If we get bound up in meetings that are for the purpose of deciding on the time and date of the next meeting NACHI is history

There will be time for a master plan and structure with P&P, SOP’s, MOP’s etc., but not right now. You have a handle on the membership and NOW understand that people will say one thing and be unable to perform when you say “go for it.”

NACHI is also a safe place for leaders to learn how to lead. That is probably one of the largest gifts that you have given to us members. Real simple if you want to lead step up to the front of the line.

Some will be better than others but at least they stepped up to the plate.

Please stay away from all the formal structure that HG has put on the table. We don’t need it yet. He!! we don’t have state Pres yet – elected or appointed in every state – and they don’t have a vote on squat. Who the he!! thinks that one state with 1000 members should have the same vote as a state with 10 members – does not float.

So look at this as just a VERY short term project. Maybe John has some good ideas on who should be his replacement.

This project should be real simple and a no brain er

AND NO this is not a $100,000 a year paid plus expenses position. This is for the most part a volunteer org – lets keep it that way.

Just see if you can find someone you think that you and OUR staff can work with. BTW guts is what is needed and that is something that both men and woman have. — I know of some woman that could do the job but maybe I would have a conflict of interest.

At your service

rlb
home inspector
frostproof fl

What Richard said

OK, then I pick John again.

Nick

Maybe you should call John

rlb

I second that!!!

Let me clear up some points here…

I did not advocate or ask John to step down…but if he is, then I don’t want to find myself back at this board at some future point having the same discussion. I am sure John would agree.

I am not sure that we even need a ED…truth is that what we really need is a competant BoA that will represent the membership and strategize the future needs of the ever growing organization.

We are truly disfunctional, Richard. I am glad you recognize that because the truth is that if you do, it may stand to reason that others do as well. So why would we continue to advocate disfunctionalism…and more importantly why would a member, in this case you Richard, want us to not get or act straight?

I look at this organization and I am not afraid to see it set up structure that after being implemented might mean that not so brilliant guys like me may not have a postion here…that does not threaten me. On the contrary, I welcome the organizational growth that would effectively promote and educate our member base while at the same time promote the functionality that we sometimes lack…if not actually, in the percieved thoughts of others…like you have expressed Richard.

Richard, you seem to have no faith in growth or are very afraid of it. I am not sure what your reasons are, but I for one want to be sure that we serve the membership.

I subscribe to the thought that there is no better time than the present to start to grow and to begin to cleanup ones act. If I ever get to a point that I believe that the status quo is OK…then I have not only failed those who trust in me…but more than that MYSELF.

I futher agree that the next ED should possibly be an intermediate position that would seek to have that ED be the architect of the job functions of the future ED’s.

I do not believe that this organization should seek outside firms that are self-serving and even more ignorant as to our industry. We simply do not have the luxury of the time required to educate such a person.

I further do not believe that the ED position requires a six figure salary…but certainly one sufficient to put food on the ED’s table each month. Truly I would question any member who would ask of another that they work for free. Would you dedicate 260 days a year, 2,080 hrs for free? Why would you think another should?

One last thing, we do have State Chapters as well as State Chapter Presidents…and I do think that we serve our members…be it 10 or 1250+/- as in Florida’s case.

Richard…may I ask you one question? If as you state "There will be time for a master plan and structure with P&P, SOP’s, MOP’s etc., but not right now. "…then when would you start?

Remember, there is only one thing needed for bad things to happen, and that is for good people to do nothing.

I am 100% behind Harvey’s plan.

It’s time to grow up and start acting like a professional organization.

Why not emulate ASHI? Its better than nothing and is a model that can be adapted. Don’t try and reinvent the wheels folks. Apparently Nachi has a thing or two to learn about the chain of command.

For the organization to grow up its going to require a lot of individuals to grow up. Some of the pettiness and people with their own personal agendas and vendettas will have to stop. Just using the poll taken in the MO section only 80 folks have voted. Of those 80 only 40 are disgruntled, dissatisfied, unhappy or whatever their beef is. That represents less than 1/100 th of 1 percent of the total membership if you use 8000 (North America) and even less if you use total membership. Its a simple matter of mathematics. 99.99 % seem to either be okay with NACHI the way it is or they just don’t care. I personally did not join NACHI looking for a “life support” system. It is a professional association. Nothing more. I don’t figure $289 buys me the right the tell the Founder how to run his organization. I get my money’s worth many times over, but I do not expect NACHI to make my business successful, or to take on the worries of my business, or buy me health insurance or even to pay for a Audio Visual system for our local chapter. I am not ready to go out, shave my head and have NACHI tattooed onto my scalp. The day NACHI become so over reaching into my business and the day to day operation of it I will glide out the door. I wasn’t looking for a Daddy then and I sure not looking for one now. In another thread equally inane and pathetic some are saying these people should be thrown out of NACHI for not observing the rules and ethics and what all. We start doing that I figure about 75% of the regulars in here will need to find some other form of entertainment cause they will be thrown out too. Just one perspective.

Harvey:

Plans were presented in the past to move the NACHI Organization to a Member driven level.

They have always been dismissed.

Not likely that anything has changed.

Joe H., NACHI is already the most member-driven association in the world.

One has to admit… there is no other trade association on earth whereby any member can form his own chapter http://www.nachi.org/form.htm , name his own chapter, recruit members, form a chapter website, hold meetings, hire speakers, offer education, form legislative positions, elect officers, co-op market, lobby, manage the chapter’s own money, create chapter by-laws, and even spin off as a separate legal entity http://www.nachi.org/formalchapter.htm with separate legal counsel as several NACHI Chapters have recently done (Chicago & NY), all without really procuring permission from anyone! NACHI really is the world’s most member-driven association, decentralized to the extent that it can be (and still function efficiently).

9 out of 10 items in http://www.nachi.org/whats_new.htm were either done by members, thought of by members, initiated by members, or done by staff in response to members.

I for one think we need SOP’s for this ORG and clearly defined roles for each person who is in a position of power. I have been writing SOP’s for the last 3 years in my other job and I am willing to assist in writing them for NACHI

Since we have a lot of members I think that many things should be voted on.
All members should be notified via US mail that voting may take place on these boards.

Let the active members make the decisions. I realize many members may read these boards but choose not to make posts, these are still considered active members since they most likely use the knowledge they gain here.

The main goal of NACHI should not always be to recruit new inspectors but to make sure that none of the current members ends up in a newspaper article due to an inspection issue.

I kinda like Proxy Voting the same way that Corporations do for their shareholders…

You get a pamphlet call a 1-800 number and record your vote…`

You can have an online election here:

http://www.votingondemand.com/

We did for our local HI org and it went very well.

We’ll it only took about 24 hours for the first signs of a road block with regard to NACHI elevating its organizational system to that of a world class and size operation. My organizational back round lies in the petroleum private sector and the Boys and Girls Club of America with regard to not for profit entities. Not to be redundent, if your operating in a single city, county or even a state you can try and wing it with a loose fitting all volunteer management system. If your trying to move to the next level, “Globally”, you’ll have to expand outside your current thinking, thought process “Box”… In a single facility Boys and Girls Club in Laguna Beach, CA. with only 600 members please note the following:

THE CLUB IS OWNED BY ITS CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

IT IS OPERATED IN THE FORM OF A TRUST ON BEHALF OF ITS CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

  1. Board of Directors - (15-18 Members) - four year term limits, may be re-elected after two years off the board.
  2. All campaigns and programs must be chaired by a board member.
  3. Executive Director salary $72k in 2001.
  4. Annual revenues of $600k
  5. $2,000,000.00 in trust account with not for profit investment specialist firm, “Paley Needleman”.
  6. Board of Directors meets monthly with brainstorming retreats every six months.
  7. Board of Directors is responsible for performance reviews of the ED and Staff.
  8. Board of Directors was chosen with educational, professional, financial and cultural diversity in mind).
    Example: It was established that to properly serve our membership we would need board members who came from every walk of life, black to white, rich to poor, educated and uneducated and tradesman to doctors.

When the organization is structured correctly, there will be no more NACHItape issues. All the problems that have been growing to cause such behavior would have already been confronted, addressed and resolved during the normal course of actions as set forth in the by laws and organizational structure.

You guys don’t want an organization. You want a ‘nanny association’ that will do everything for you.

Why don’t you go join an other association? That is what they do. :mrgreen: